Mountainbike Leogang: resurrection after lockdowns
Sports
The mountain bike center in Leogang (Pinzgau) started the summer season on June 10 with a double World Cup. The preparations for the downhill and cross-country elite guest performance are underway.
Laura Stigger was a cross-country Olympic competitor. Your Tyrolean compatriot Mona Mitterwallner is also considered a specialist in this discipline. And downhiller Valentina Höll from Saalbach (Pinzgau) is also one of Austria’s hopes for the future in cycling.
Stigger is also a junior world champion in road racing: “It’s amazing how cycling is growing in Austria. And that we can take part and show how easy it is to ride a bike.”
Local hero with ups and downs
Cycling was born to Valentina Höll from Pinzgau. She already dominated the scene at junior level and, in her elite year in first class, immediately won the overall World Cup. she also knows the bumpy stages on her way.
Even second after a fall
Höll injured himself in 2020 at the home World Cup in Leogang, fell last year at the home World Cup with the best time just before the finish and even finished second. Getting back up and learning from mistakes is what motivates the 20-year-old, who leads the local mountain bike scene with her colleagues. Höll emphasizes that she tries to earn the same amount of money as the men: “Because we do exactly the same thing.”
New hope after lockdown years
Kornel Grundner is head of organization for the races in Leogang. He is happy that after the lockdown years, the public is now allowed again: “The be-all and end-all are fans along the route, that the athletes are cheered on.” Cross-country world champion Mona Mitterwallner says if you have fans from home or hear a cowbell along the route: “Then it’s possible that 20 watts more are possible.”
The organizers expect 7,000 to 10,000 fans per day. ORF Sport plus reports live on the decisions in Leogang.
Mountainbike Leogang: resurrection after lockdowns
The mountain bike center in Leogang (Pinzgau) started the summer season on June 10 with a double World Cup. The preparations for the downhill and cross-country elite guest performance are underway. Austria’s “young wild ones” – around local hero Valentina Höll – also ensure a rush of spectators.