World Cup Season Finals in Schladming

The 2009 Nissan UCI Mountainbike World Cup on Planai in Schladming, Austria promises to be another thriller! The Season Finals with the disciplines Downhill, Four Cross and Olympic Cross Country will be very exciting.

For the sixth year in a row from September 18th – 20th, 2009, the world’s best mountain bikers will perform a mega show on the world famous Planai ski slope in Schladming (Styria), Austria. At the same slope where during the winter the stars of the alpine ski circuit race into the valley at ridiculous speeds the mountainbikers will fight for the Overall World Cup 2009. For the spectators it will be an unforgettable event with sport and party.

The start to this event will be the Qualifications for Downhill and Four Cross on Friday, 18th September. Everybody who buys his tickets for Saturday or/and Sunday in advance will get a free ticket for Friday.

On Saturday, 19th September, two World Cup decisions will fall. During the day the Cross Country Bikers climb up the Planai, go through woods and the city centre of Schladming. Olympic Champion and Tour Dominator Julien Absalon (FRA) is the favourite for this race and he has his hands already at the Overall World Cup Trophy.
The women race promises to be a thriller. Before the last two races in Champéry and Schladming five women are within 85 points. Currently in leading position is the Norwegian girl Lene Byberg in front of the Austrian rider Lisi Osl and Irina Kalentieva from Russia.
Which woman will win the Overall World Cup in Cross Country. This question will be answered at the Cross Country Finals in Schladming Austria.

All the big names of the Downhill and Four-Cross biking scene will be there, including Sam Hill (AUS), Steave Peat (GBR) and co.
The female participants will not give way to their male colleagues and will also descend Planai at breakneck speeds into the valley.
In 2008 Rachel Atherton (GBR) was the winner in Downhill and Romana Labounkova (CZE) dominated in Four-Cross.

Thrill seekers can watch the action under the floodlights during the dramatic Four Cross Nightrace on Saturday evening on the finish slope of the Planai.

On Sunday, 20th September, the Downhillers ride from the Middle Station of the Planai cable car to the valley of Schladming. The track with a length of 2,2 kilometres promises more than only speed. The riders will need a good technique to go through the jumps, wood sections and steep turns.

As in the last years, the World’s top mountain bikers will once again change the 5,000 square metres Expo-area in the new Planai Car Park and around the Planai Station into a Mountain Bike heaven creating and exciting atmosphere in the village of Schladming.

http://www.mountainbike-weltcup.at/