UCI DH and 4X #3 Andorra

Prediction time again. This is shaping up to be a very interesting year. So far we have Minnaar winning round 1 and Steve Peat taking round 2. The Vallnord course is said to be the same as last year.

You'll be able to see it live here this weekend. (Won't be live until midnight)

Gee stood atop the podium in 2008. It was also a very strong result for Canada's Steve Smith who was 5th in qualifying and 10th in the final.

The top five was:
1. Gee Atherton
2. Sam Hill
3. Greg Minnaar
4. Steve Peat
5. Sam Blenkinsop

Who's it going to be this year?

top five for stevie smith? cross your fingers. I heard rumours of snow for race day, so all the slopfest lovers should do well. hill, peat, blenki, gee, fairclough maybe?

My prediction:

1. Hill
2. Peat
3. Hannah
4. Minnaar
5. Atherton

1.2 KM isn't long enough for a WC race imo… go Hill !

1. Sam Hill
2. Steve Peat
3. Greg Minnaar
4. Josh Bryceland
5. Sam Blenkinsop

1.2 KM isn't long enough for a WC race imo… go Hill !

yea sounds like the crappy Calgary UCI race they had..

more of a hill then a MTN.

the last race was exactly 1.2km, but with more vert at 300m, and it was a great race in my opinion. So Andorra is the same length with only half the vertical. But looking at the pictures of the track up on littermag.com, there are some sections in the woods that are going to make for some interesting racing in the wet. Even if it doesn't rain, there will be constant melting from the 10 feet of snow all around the course to keep it wet and sketchy. Could be a lot of carnage.

I will do top 3.

1. Hannah
2. Hill
3. Minnarre

Very tough this year as a few riders have risen to the Sam Hill occasion. This is the best racing we have seen for some time.

I just added three more videos here.

The riders don't seem too happy at this point.

the last race was exactly 1.2km, but with more vert at 300m, and it was a great race in my opinion. So Andorra is the same length with only half the vertical. But looking at the pictures of the track up on littermag.com, there are some sections in the woods that are going to make for some interesting racing in the wet. Even if it doesn't rain, there will be constant melting from the 10 feet of snow all around the course to keep it wet and sketchy. Could be a lot of carnage.

yeah the course is not the longest here, its a shame atually. they have a really good bikepark here and use this track for the race. blame the uci with their finishing line rule. the tracks we rode yesterday testing the new commencal line were more suitable…

Quali is over, looks like it'll be a close race tomorrow. The top 80 are within 12 seconds.

1 Hill
2 Atherton
3 Peat
4 Minnaar
5 Beer
6 Pascal
7 Smith
8 Neethling
9 Leov
10 Kovarik

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Steve Smith on 7…wow. I watched the vid aboard Ben Reid's ride down the course and was a bit disappointed…although I am not a qualified critic.

The 4x course looks nice.

As for the race, I just wait and watch - my predictions for France were utterly wrong but I was cheering like a bunch of England football fans had done if they had qualified for the Euros.
I am not really a big fan of Sam Hill, don't know why.

enough of this 2 minute long course BS. There needs to be more 4+ minute tracks like wtffffffffff.

enough of this 2 minute long course BS. There needs to be more 4+ minute tracks like wtffffffffff.

I'd rather see some exciting 2-minute-tracks (Andorra [HTML_REMOVED] La Bresse) than a 4-minute pedal fest (Pietermaritzburg).

I agree though, I also think they could've done a better job. Look at the mountains surrounding the Andorra track - perfect terrain for a gnarly, demanding and long course.

I'm really looking forward to riding the Schladming world cup track this summer.