Here it is again folks, World Cup round one. After a seemingly endless off-season it’s time to let the times do the talking.
Written by Wideopenmag’s resident race head and team manager Big Dave Konstanz
Round one is always an interesting one, it’s all a bit on an unknown. Sure, you know that everyone is still going to be fast, but who has made changes in the off season that can contribute to them being even faster?
Who has got new kit, new teams, new bikes, new wheel sizes and who has trained in the best way to put down their best time come race day?
Often when the World Cup kicks off it’s at a venue that has been used before on the circuit. That means it’s possible to look at past results at the venue and surmise who is likely to do well this year. Not so much this year!
Where is it?
This year’s round one is at a fresh venue in Croatia.
So, what do we know about the track?
Firstly, it’s on the island of Losinj off the coast of the Croatian mainland. Any race that’s held on a Mediterranean island surely can’t be a bad thing?
The track.
From headcams from sneaky practice and a local race, it’s fair to say that it’s rocky. And when I say rocky, I mean proper rocky. It’s got more rocks and sharp edges than Fort William and by all accounts it finishes with a street section ending up in the city centre.
There’s been a lot of chat about the track not being up to World Cup spec because it’s not super technical and it’s got a street section as well as being relatively short.
It’s the same for everyone though, right? And it’s bringing racing into the heart of a city, making access better for spectators and improving the reach of the sport. That’s got to be a fantastic thing?
Who is going to go well?
It’s a bit of an unknown, but I think that it’s fair to say that the normal heavy-hitters will do well.
Gwin rides dry rocky tracks year round at home in California and after having a masked bike for most of the off season, there is obviously something new that they are poised to reveal.
Minnaar, what is there left to say about Minnaar? He’s super fast at the rocky Fort William, was second overall last year and is the G.O.A.T.
Bruni. Bruni’s World Cup season last year wasn’t great and he openly admitted that it wasn’t.
However, he set his sights on the rainbow stripes once again in Cairns and he put down a stormer of a run that got him the rainbow jersey for a second time.
Cairns as we well know has a big pedal at the end and so does Losinj, so could Superbruni win the first race of the season in his rainbow stripes?
Girls.
It’s quite probably the most competitive field in years.
Rachel went on a run of dominance that was stopped abruptly with a dislocated shoulder in Fort William last season and then a broken collarbone at World Champs. Myriam Nicole ended with the overall, but with wins for Seagrave, Nicole and Hannah, it’s anybody’s guess as to who is going to win in Croatia. This is awesome.
Atherton comes into the race off the back of a win at the first British National of the year, beating Tahnee into second place and Nicole comes into the race off a win at the first IXS round beating Hannah into second place.
Others to watch…
Flying Frenchmen.
Loris Vergier had a strong first year with the Syndicate with some podium finishes and he will be keen to continue his success this season that is for sure.
Amaury Pierron. Stepping up from the 100% Commencal team to the full factory Commencal team this year off the back of an amazing season culminating in a 2nd place at Val Di Sole last year, he’s going to want to build on that this year.
British Bulldogs.
Hart was probably one of the biggest moves of the off season and is back working with Dave Garland at Saracen alongside Matt Walker who steps into his first year in elite having successfully graduated the junior ranks with a rainbow jersey. These two were one and two at the British National and they were all business, these guys are flying and certainly ones to watch out for.
Laurie Greenland. Ex-Wideopen rider Laurie is happier than ever with his set up and has got one thing on the agenda, top step of the podium at a World Cup. He took the top step at he first IXS of the season so the speed is there for sure.
Rest of the world.
Luca Shaw will be keen to win the title of fastest on the team and with team mates Vergier and Minnaar, it’s certainly going to be at the pointy end of the rankings.
The Bulldog has made a return to the team that he clinched his only World Cup victory with and with a good showing at the NZ regional races, it’s easy to see that he is back in the groove and ready to show the rest of the field that he is back stronger than ever.
Wideopenmag Staff Picks.
Pete Scullion – Web editor.
Hart, Gwin, Bruni.
Seagrave, Atherton, Nicole.
Dave Konstanz – Team manager.
Gwin, Brosnan, Greenland.
Atherton, Hannah, Seagrave.
Jim Smith – Deputy editor.
Gwin, Hart, Bruni.
Atherton, Hannah, Nicole.
