MTB World Championships: Val di Sole, Italy

The mountain bike world championships hit full stride this weekend with cross country, downhill and four-cross finals. This year, the event is being held in Val di Sole, Italy, and looks to be one of the most exciting yet.

The Juniors and U-23 cross-country teams started the competition early in the week and the Junior downhillers hit the course Saturday morning. Then it’s time for the big boys and girls to take over. First up are the Elite men and women and men DH races. Then, on Saturday night, four-cross racers take to the course. Sunday is all about elite XC racing.

The downhill course is a harsh, steep, technical affair that should challenge the world’s best. “It’s a tough track, there’s no other track quite like it. It’s steep with big rocks with lots of bottoming out going on,” Santa Cruz Syndicate team mechanic Doug Hatfield said.

There’s a handful of riders who could take the rainbow stripes. Gee Atherton is having a great year and put down the fastest seeding run. But Greg Minnaar seems to be in top form. And even though two-time World Champion Sam Hill has proven beatable this year, he still has the ability to crush the competition, and excels on steep, technical courses like the one found at Val di Sole.

On the women’s side, it should be a three-way battle between Sabrina Jonnier, Rachel Atherton and Tracey Mosely, who have been battling it out all year for the top three spots. In four-cross, reigning World Champion Brian Lopes is always the man to beat and is America’s best for World Championship gold. Jared Graves should be his toughest competition. For the women, Intense rider Anneke Beerten is the women to beat with American Jill Kintner taking the year off from mountain biking to prepare for the Olympic BMX competition.

Todd Wells has a top-ten finish and Adam Craig has consistently placed in the top 20. If either have good legs they could ride away with a solid finish in the men’s XC. Julien Absalon, followed by a handful of Swiss riders, should be the race favorites. For the women, Marie Helen Premont is enjoying a great year, and last year’s winner Irina Kalentieva will be looking for a repeat performance. The Chinese women have been relatively quiet this year, but expect them to put in a strong race before this summer’s Olympics in China.

You check out the downhill action live at FREECASTER.TV.