Lenzerheide MTB Worlds 2018 - Walking on Sunshine (for now)

Autor:Maximilian Munteanu | 5 septembrie 2018

Esti aici:

12 o' clock Wednesdays during Worlds week is track walk time. Teams take the chairlift to the top of the track, officials smile while welcoming them between the tape and all media squids do their best to hustle for the shots that will fuel the rumour mill on the interwebs. Riders hmmm about possible lines, youngsters ask their mentors questions that makes some eyes roll and quicker pros complain about the number of participants and countries that will affect the development of the soil. All in all, it's just business as usual. We are DirtBike.ro and usually we write for a Romanian audience, but this year we decided to broaden our international horizons a bit. Here's this year's track walk through our eyes; enjoy!

Mornings in Innsbrooklyn be like... We can't imagine many better cities than this, really. Not only that the surroundings guarantee awesome riding pretty much all year long, but the city itself is a beaut and a healthy student life equals a mellow attitude with creative sparkles. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

The Bulldog still has to be patient with Lady Luck, but his riding won't be doubted by anybody. Except fools. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

It's obvious to anybody who follows the World Cup circuit that the MS Mondraker team is tightly knit. Laurie is another rider whose sheer racing success is rather a matter of ”when”, not one of ”if”. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

The Romanian National Team dared looking west and took the trip to this year's Worlds. We'll just have to wait and see what the cat will drag in... - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Mick Hannah has been a long time player of this game and the young Aussies around him can only benefit from his wisdom. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Lenzerheide must be one of the most beautiful places on Earth, if you're a mountainbiker or just a human being. The place rocks, really! - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

National team colors don't matter much when you live in the nation of Good Vibes and you ride for Intense Factory Racing. Here Dean, Jack and Charlie are super worried about all the nations who will be abusing this track come Sunday. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Mr. Minn has been mistaken for a GOAT since quite a while and who are we to question that? This man is an institution, period. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Caption this! - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

When Sheffield Steel does this gesture, you just know his eyes are stuck on the proper target! - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Gee and Rach follow their trusted manager through the steeps of Switzeland for yet another well-prepared race plan. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

It's pretty awesome to see Rachel Atherton and Vali Höll hanging out together. Firing on all cylinders, the future seems to belong to the young Austrian rider and what better mentor than Rach can she find? - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Photographers come in many flavours, but none as entertaining as Boris Beyer. Troy and his fellow Canyoning team can testify in this respect anytime. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Mark Wallace, just Jackie O'ing around... - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Composition with trees, tape and gondola, on a stoned green canvas. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

We know it's cliché. You also know we just had to. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

A Canadian maple, lost among Euro trees in marshmallow suits. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

The Ruthless and Mischievous. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Just when we were worried about traction on this mountain side... - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Just one of the many postcard-worthy views around us. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Lenzerheide is a very lively bike park with a lot of activity. These people were keen on the track and the action in the days to follow. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

When The Mob escapes the treacherous gondola tail. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Can a simple track walk between two best buddies be considered a reason for #TeamRumours? Hm! - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Whatever he is doing, Loris is definitely having the time of his life. - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Switzerland is one hell of a host, but come see for yourself, don' take our word on that! - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Hopp Schwiiz! - photo: Ioan Sava / DirtBike.ro

Another one avec le contagious backdrop... - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

Just a normal Swiss mountain side! - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

Aussie troops swarming the Alps. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

They have snakes in Switzerland too! - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

On Sunday this place will be crowded. Or the duty of a man in wet clothes, keen to go home sooner rather than later. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

When Mick shows you lines, you pay attention! Australia has been doing mentoring the right way since a good while now. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

My buddy said this rubber duck head reminded him of Eddie Masters and I just had to write this here. I had to. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

Them young Aussie ladies were all smiles at this road gap. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

To the lake we go! - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

Dan Brown is one of the key pieces of the well-oiled Atherton machinery. Here is Rachel paying attention. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

Oh, you will so love the bridge! - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

It's all perfect down in the finish area!

Scott brought back some of these old gems. How about a Gambler with a throwback theme? Just sayin'... - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

The Romanian team doesn't have uniforms, but they have some Will and that is far more important. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

South Africans, just happy to be here, as we are, we assume. - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

Superfans look like this! - photo: Maximilian Munteanu / DirtBike.ro

We really don't know what to make of the cheerleader show in the opening ceremony, but it was definitely stunning!

We shut things down with a nice song for everybody:

See you soon!

Mesaj pentru publicul din România: Ne-am făcut și anul acesta bagajele și am luat calea Campionatelor Mondiale, ca de multe alte dăți până acum. Fiindcă ne place sportul ăsta mai mult decât aproape orice altceva. Și dacă-ți place ceva, atunci vei urmări acel ceva ca un bezmetic, până te-oi sătura într-o zi. E limpede că încă nu ne-am săturat. Anul acesta materialele de la Campionatul Mondial vor fi însă prezentate cu o mică diferență față de ce ați văzut până acum: vor fi în limba engleză. Suntem un pic curioși dacă există oameni din alte țări care ar putea fi interesați de ce facem, iar acesta este micul nostru experiment. Știm că ne înțelegeți și nu ne-o luați în nume de rău. Mulțumim! :)

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