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UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships 2012 preview

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Written by Una McKay

Salzburger Land, Saalfelden Leogang Austria, August 2nd 2012 – The summer of sports 2012 has some big events in store.

All eyes were on the London Olympic Games, but for the Austrian MTB community the actual highlight is still to come: The UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in Saalfelden Leogang. From August 29th to September 9th the two venues in the Salzburger Land will be the epicenter of the mountain bike universe. Alongside big names and top class bike action there will also be big celebrations, appropriate for such a Mega-event as the world championships. These two fantastic weeks will offer great athletes, competition premieres like the cross-country eliminator as well as a diversified side program packed full of action.

Stefan Pühringer, director of the Saalfelden Leogang Touristism GmbH describes the ambiance on site; "The worlds is the ultimate supreme in the discipline of Mountain biking and it is a great honor for us to organize it. We are all very proud to host such a prominent collection of events. What started over ten years ago with a small pioneering project – the Bikepark Leogang – has become one of our core touristic markets. We are especially happy, that Saalfelden can continue to branch out in to the endurance discipline of cross country and establish itself as a true sporting city.”

In order to help you plan in advance, here is the final schedule with a selection of the most important events at the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships 2012:

*Please note these are local Austrian times.  There is an 8 hour time difference to AEDT: Sydney local time.

Friday, August 31st: Men and Women 4X Qualifying Round (5:30 p.m.)

Saturday, September 1st: Men and Women 4X World Championships (5:30 p.m.)

Sunday, September 2nd: 

Women Juniors and Men Juniors Downhill World Championships(10:30 a.m.)

Women Elite Downhill World Championships (1:00 p.m.)
Men Elite Downhill World Championships (2:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, September 5th: Women Trials World Championships (10:00am – 2:00 p.m.)

Thursday, September 6th:

Cross-country Team Relay World Championships (5:00 p.m.)
Men Juniors Trials 20’’ World Championships (7:00pm – 8.45 p.m.)
Men Elite Trials 20’’ World Championships (9:00pm – 10:45 p.m.)

Friday, September 7th:

Women Under 23 Cross-country World Championships (11:00 a.m.)
Men Under 23 Cross-country World Championships (2:00 p.m.)
Women Juniors Cross-country World Championships (5:00 p.m.)
Men Juniors Trials 26’’ World Championships (7:00pm – 8:45 p.m.)
Men Elite Trials 26’’ World Championships (9:00pm – 10:45 p.m.)

Saturday, September 8th:

Men Juniors Cross-country World Championships (9:00 a.m.)
Women Elite Cross-country World Championships (11:00 a.m.)
Men Elite Cross-country World Championships (2:00 p.m.)

Sunday, September 9th:

Cross-country Eliminator World Championships (1:30 p.m.)

The opening ceremony for the World Championships took place in the city center of Saalfelden on August 29th.  A parade of participating nations including all participants started on the Rathausplatz. Salzburger Land’s official delegate Mag. David Brenner, the mayors of Saalfelden and Leogang, as well as an official delegate of the UCI commenced the ceremony with some welcoming words. Afterwards, the region presented its finest performers offering a full hearted Austrian experience: traditional folk music and Jazz, as well as Schuhplattler (well-known from the Oktoberfest) and Goasslschnalzer (a “gaudy” specialty from the German-speaking Alps area) underlining the cultural heritage of the region.

The Trials Nights is an evening activity highlight at the worlds’: On Thursday September 6th and Friday 7th the Trials finals will take place under floodlight in the city center of Saalfelden, supported by hosts and DJ.

The organization committee, the UCI as well as all participating athletes are looking forward to the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships and hope to see a great turnout from the entire MTB community!

Follow our Austrailian riders here 

Best wishes to all our National representatives.

(Image: Austraila's Troy Brosnan, 2011 World Junior Downhill Champion, courtesy of Gary Flipper)