Reader Story: Trackside at the Leogang DH World Cup 2023

Jun 17, 2023
by Neil Sharp  


No quicker had the thrills of the opening round died down that the circus made the trip through the Swiss and Austrian alps to Leogang. Passing through the microstate of Lichtenstein (you can drive through the country in literally 10 minutes) the team trucks traversed the Austrian Tyrol with its rocky peaks and famous ski resorts before landing safely in the Salzburg region. Home to abundant green pasture lands and picturesque mountain views in whichever direction you looked.

Friendly locals
Friendly locals

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Buildings taking inspiration from the surroundings

Grass cutting time
Grass cutting time

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Skiing here in the winter is a must

Mountains everywhere you look even in the trees
Mountains everywhere you look, even in the trees

How could you not love a place like this
How could you not love a place like this

The second round of the downhill series would be the first triple header of the year. DH, XC and EDR all in one place, all celebrating the simple joys of riding a bike. As such, the schedule is pretty rammed, with multiple events happening on the same day. The small town of Leogang really has been taken over by mountain biking, but despite this, the lifts remain open to the public and it’s great to see bikes of all shapes and sizes together in one place.

Day 1 took the same format as the last round; track-walk in the morning and junior practice in the afternoon. After the “all guns blazing start” of the first round, the junior men had calmed down a little and were taking things more sensibly. Perhaps they were a little tired after the first week of racing, perhaps they were a week wiser. Only they will know. Chris Hauser of The Union was looking confident with a win under his belt, but with riders such as Kuhn, Kiefer, Pinkerton and Jewett hot on his heels, he would have to keep a level head and play it smart. Frenchman Hugo Marini wasn’t present on the first day of practice, he had some school exams to pass (it’s not all rock&roll being a junior!). Given his third place in Lenzerheide, despite an altercation with a tree pad, he would be keen for revenge.

The girls up early for practice
The girls up early for practice

Aimi hiding behind the flowers
Aimi hiding behind the flowers

Kuhn skipping through the rough
Kuhn skipping through the rough

Hauser looking to keep the number 1 plate
Hauser looking to keep the number 1 plate

Everyone was having fun gapping off the road here
Everyone was having fun gapping off the road here

Unfortunately this man would end his week early with a broken wrist and collarbone
Unfortunately this man would end his week early with a broken wrist and collarbone

This guy knows how to turn
This guy knows how to turn

Getting to grips with the track
Getting to grips with the track

On day 2 spectators would have the choice between DH practice, junior qualifying, XCO practice, the XCC U23 short track race and, last but not least, a full day of enduro racing. Whatever they chose, they and the riders would be greeted with the same dry, dusty hard-pack conditions as the previous day. The morning started with Group B practice and the track soon started showing signs of wear and tear; braking bumps, ruts and loose gravel could be seen in key areas of the course. The Elite Women were keen to get on track and figure out some lines in the steeper sections, whereas the juniors were looking to perfect theirs and save energy for the afternoons qualifying round. Speaking of which, it was a carbon copy of round 1 results for the women, with Erice Van Leuven coming in ahead of Valentina Roa Sanchez and Lisa Bouladou. Only 0.9 seconds separated the top two. Could we see a position change come finals day? Aimi Kenyon of Pinkbike racing is looking super consistent, bettering her last round result in 4th place. For the junior men, it would be Henri Kiefer of the Canyon CLLCTV Pirelli team who came out on top, followed closely, of course, by Bodhi Kuhn of Trek Factory Racing. Teagan Cruz slotted into third ahead of Jewett and Pinkerton. Hauser would have to settle for 7th place. Was he taking it easy and saving some for finals? Back to practice, and the Group A men soon got the mountainside (and everyone trackside) covered in clouds of dust. Some are hoping for a spot of rain before finals, just to dampen things down a tad. It really wouldn’t go a miss. Things could get pretty interesting if it were a downpour though. Kade Edwards was one to get caught out by the conditions, while other teams were setting up timing to find the quickest lines. A lot of the men were having fun, throwing shapes down the motorway jumps and finding gaps in the steeps.

Looking good and stepping up for qualifying
Cruz looking good and stepping up for qualifying

Speed n steeze from the Propain Positive rider
Speed n'steeze from the Propain Positive rider

Dust any one
Dust anyone?

This girl has the speed
This girl has the speed

Cabirou sampling one of the many off camber sections
Cabirou sampling one of the many off camber sections

Watch out for this one
Watch out for this one

Vali gleaming in the morning sun
Vali gleaming in the morning sun

One marshall prepared for the dust fest that would ensue
One marshall prepared for the dust fest that would ensue

Kiefer enjoying the lush green views
Kiefer enjoying the lush green views

Some team were timing lines not that there was much choice
Some teams were timing lines, not that there was much choice

Entering the tunnel
Cruz entering one of many tunnels at warp speed

The Pinkbike racing junior looking good on track
The Pinkbike racing junior looking good on track

Dane Jewett struggled to match last weeks performance
Dane Jewett struggled to match last weeks performance

Cabirou would just miss out on a podium spot
Cabirou has the skills on the steep stuff too

Braking bumps were showing up all over the track
Braking bumps were showing up all over the track, they would triple in size come finals day

Easy for Kuhn through the stumps
Easy for Kuhn through the stumps

Danny taking the sneaky line to the side of the rock slab
Danny taking the sneaky line to the side of the rock slab

Day 3, where to begin. The day started out much like the others until a sprinkling of rain would sew doubt in the minds of many. Given the dust on track, the first spots of rain didn’t do any harm. They were absorbed quicker than the fastest junior men (that's pretty damn quick). Group A and B practice went on just fine with the sun out but with clouds passing at some speed. Trackside, hundreds of local school kids were cheering on the racer. Friday is school kids day apparently; it seems like a great way of getting younger fans into the sport. The junior women were the first to ride against the clock and did so without any interruption from the weather. French junior Bouladou would claim her first world cup victory and take the leaders jersey, 5 seconds ahead of Kenyon. The Brit was riding well all week and will be stoked with her 2nd place finish. This result boosts her into third place in the overall, just 5 points off Roa Sanchez. The Transition rider failed to capitalise on last weeks second place result and rolled over the line into 4th, but would remain in second overall, 15 points behind Bouladou. Fastest qualifier Van Leuven came a cropper in the top section and unfortunately ended up with a dnf. This would mean that she dropped down to sixth in the overall standings.

Kenyon crossing the line to and into the hot seat
Kenyon crossing the line to and into the hot seat

Aimi clearly happy Wirth this weeks work
Aimi clearly happy with this weeks work

It just wasn t to be for Roa Sanchez
It just wasn't to be for Roa Sanchez

Bouladou happy with her first win
Bouladou happy with her first win

The girls sharing the love
The girls sharing the love

Happy girls
Happy girls

For the junior men, the rain would interrupt play. Frenchman Leo Abella, 18th qualifier, would be last to come down before any major weather came in, and in doing so would secure his first world cup win, and the second French win of the day. High winds and rain brought the racing to a standstill for a good 30 minutes before William Pope would get things rolling again. For the likes of Jewett, Pinkerton and Cruz, track conditions meant it would need something special to better Abella’s time. It wasn’t until Kiefer came down into a provisional 3rd place that things got exciting. Maybe Abella could be beaten? Marini and Hauser both failed to better Abella, so it was left up to Kuhn to pick up the pieces. Putting down a solid run despite the conditions, the Trek rider managed to snatch 2nd place and jump to the top of the overall standings.

Abella crossing the line as the rain starts to fall
Abella crossing the line as the rain starts to fall

Leo Abella stoked on the win
Stoked on the win

If only things would have been different for Cruz
If only things would have been different for Cruz

Kiefer would manage a respectable fourth given the conditions
Kiefer managed a respectable fourth given the conditions

The boys giving each other respect
The boys showing their maturity

Marini will still have time to prove himself
Marini will still have time to prove himself

Hauser gutted on the result
Hauser gutted on the result

The boys can spray too
The boys can spray too

Happy with his ride this week
Happy with his ride this week


Next up was Elite Women’s qualifying. All eyes were on the weather radars, as well as last weeks winner Atherton. One by one the ladies came down with track conditions drying up nicely. You’d be forgiven for thinking it hadn’t rained. Widmann, Hemstreet, Gale, Cabirou, Seagrave; all the usual suspects were putting in decent times. But it was Hoffmann, Balanche and Holl, sitting in 3rd, 2nd and 1st respectively, that were waiting for Atherton to cross the line. It's always a pleasure watching the women race as you can just feel the camaraderie they have for each other. They need not worry for the moment though, as Atherton only managed 6th place. There would still be time to change things around tomorrow.

The girls waiting for Rach to descend
The girls waiting for Rach to descend

Widmann would progress through to finals
Widmann would progress through to finals

Happy with her qualies result
Happy with her qualies result

Look at the time
Holl checking the time


I have to admit, I don’t ever remember a race being stopped due to weather. But today it happened twice. This time for the Elite Men. It would really mix things up for the semis on Saturday. Some protected riders like Minnaar would finish way down the pack, while Italian rider Davide Palazzari would qualify first, ahead of Madison Saracen rider Matt Walker and unknown Frenchman Ian Guionnet. Here’s hoping the weather holds of tomorrow and things can get back to normal for the elite men.

Moody scenes
Moody scenes

Kade will always find time to style it out
Kade will always find time to style it out

Commencal riders getting a bit muddy
Commencal riders getting a bit muddy

Edmondson obviously hit the ground at some point
Edmondson obviously hit the ground at some point

Macdonald would not qualify this time around
Macdonald would not qualify this time around

Atwill pleased to get into semis two weeks in a row
Atwill pleased to get into semis two weeks in a row

Loic looking remarkably clean
Loic looking remarkably clean

What is behind that cover
What is behind that cover???

Always smiling. One of the nicest riders on the circuit
Kolb always smiling. One of the nicest riders on the circuit

Still up there at the top of the results
Still up there at the top of the results

Day 4 - elite riders race day. After a wet night, riders would be met with a cloudy morning and slightly damp track. The first few practice runs of the morning were a little tentative, but the sun soon burnt off the clouds and dried out the track. The Austrian fans were on the hill early, bringing with them maximum support for home riders Holl and Kolb. Before we knew it, practice gave way to the women’s semi-final. Much like Lenzerheide, 15 riders would be narrowed down to 10. After putting down a good qualifying time, Seagrave would miss out on finals by a couple of seconds. Ferguson, Rønning, Parton and Newark would join her. Holl kept the top spot, with Hoffmann and Balanche around 5 seconds back. In the mens semis, it was again 60 down to 30. After the previous days qualifying chaos, the start list looked a bit more normal again, with Iles, Bruni and Brosnan at the top. Finals were epic. The Austrian duo of Holl and Kolb laid down the magic and brought home a double win for the home crowd. Legonag delivered

The cloud would soon clear
The cloud would soon clear

Holl only needed a couple of early practice laps
Holl only needed a couple of early practice laps

Seagrave would miss out on final this time round
Seagrave would miss out on final this time round

Style from the get go
Style from the get go

Race day morning and the track was looking prime
Race day morning and the track was looking prime

Dunne was looking solid all week
Dunne was looking solid all week

One of three Pierrons smashing berms
One of three Pierrons smashing berms

Eyes on the prize for the European champ
Eyes on the prize for the European champ

Kolb was having fun all week long
Kolb was having fun all week long

Atherton with another podium
Atherton with another podium

Out the gate and straight up to speed
Out the gate and straight up to speed

Bruni keeping clean
Bruni keeping clean

The German Syndicate rider is keeping consistent but would have wished for better
The German Syndicate rider is keeping consistent but would have wished for better

Holl on the hunt for gold
Holl on the hunt for gold

Hill had quietly snuck into semis
Hill had quietly snuck into semis

Goldstone going for podium
Goldstone going for podium

The crowds lines the whole track
The crowds lined the whole track

Everyone was styling the last jump just like Levesque here
Everyone was styling the last jump, just like Levesque here

A whip to the face
A whip to the face

Happy fans
Happy fans

The girls love a good shower
The girls love a good shower

Pleasing the home crowd
Pleasing the home crowd

Kolb clearly happy with the win
Kolb clearly happy with the win

Leogang 2023 done and, well and truly, dusted. Time for a well earned break for the riders after two weeks of non stop racing. It will be interesting to see if any teams make adjustments to their schedules now they are a little more accustomed to the new racing format. See you all in Italy in just over a week for more of the same!

Author Info:
sharpography avatar

Member since Oct 11, 2006
3 articles

16 Comments
  • 9 0
 Well done, with some good narrative in between. I know that "pics should thell the story", but not all the stories are on the photos, some stuff needs to be written down. Thanks!
  • 4 0
 Thanks for the comment, there is always more story to tell !
  • 4 0
 Amazing pictures. Back in summer of 2014 I spent a semester studying abroad in Prague. Convinced some classmates to come watch the Leogang world cup one weekend. 7 hours on a train later, and we were there! Spectacular scenery and they loved the whole MTB scene. These photos take me back. Bravo!
  • 3 0
 Thanks ! Glad the pictures brought back some good memories for you.
  • 4 0
 Great insight and photos! More of this please.
  • 2 0
 Thanks ! I did one for Lenzerheide too, you can read it here - m.pinkbike.com/u/sharpography/blog/2023-lenzerheide-dh-photo-journal.html
  • 1 0
 Great work! FYI, the pics you have with "Loic looking remarkably clean" are of Finn, just wanted to point that out!
  • 1 0
 You are correct ! Thanks for pointing that out. I did the article at the end of a long week so I'm not surprised I got a few things wrong. Unfortunately, once it's up on the Pinkbike homepage I can't do any adjustments.
  • 2 0
 Good stuff, thanks.
  • 2 0
 Glad you liked it, thanks !
  • 1 0
 Very nice! Love the narrative! And the photos too.
  • 1 0
 Glad you liked it. There'll be another for Val di Sole.
  • 1 0
 Vali on that new air shock…
  • 1 0
 Sex dating➤ u.to/mWPGHw
  • 1 0
 Big fan!
  • 1 0
 Cheers boss !







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