Round 5 Preview - La Thuile, Italy
Well, that break didn't last long! We're straight back into it after Round 4 Lenzerheide, and this weekend the World Cup rolls into La Thuile in Italy for Round 5.
This one's different. Really different.
What's the track like?
La Thuile only joined the calendar last year and it's already got a reputation. It's the steepest course on the whole circuit, a raw natural hillside with none of the manufactured jump lines the riders leaned on at Leogang and Lenzerheide. You can't fake your way down this one. Get twitchy on the steep stuff and it'll spit you straight into the tape. Find out more about the La Thuile track here.
It's going to be hot and bone dry all weekend too, so the track will only get rougher as the runs pile up. Late seeds, watch out.
Who to watch
Track history counts for a lot here, so keep that in mind when you're picking.
Vali still leads the women's overall, but the wins have been going elsewhere. Anna Newkirk took her first elite victory at Lenzerheide, Lisa Baumann half a second behind her. Our pick, though, is Nina Hoffmann. She won here last year by nearly three seconds. Three! She's been quiet since, but that kind of track form is gold and she's the differential we fancy.
Finn Iles leads the men's after three wins and he'll take some stopping. But La Thuile is Jackson Goldstone's back yard, unbeaten here, and he's who we're backing. Our wildcard is Lachie Stevens-McNab, who qualified second at Lenzerheide before he lost a tyre in the final and binned it. Keep the rubber on this time and watch out. Amaury Pierron's flying as well, so good luck calling a clean podium.
Who's out?
Still no Loic Bruni, who's grinding through his recovery from the wrist surgery he had after that horrible Loudenvielle crash. Get well soon Loic, we miss you out there! Those are big points sitting on the table with him gone, so make them count.
Don't forget to update your team!
The deadline's coming, so get your team sorted before racing kicks off.
Head over to the website, click on My Team and then Edit My Team. Remember you have two free transfers each round, and don't forget to hit the Update Team button to save your changes! On a track this wild, one brave differential could win you the whole round.
Follow it all live!
Our La Thuile Downhill Live Race Timing page is THE place to be this weekend. Keep it open through qualifying on Friday and finals on Saturday, watch the splits drop in and see how your picks are holding up as it happens. Head to the Live Timing page here.
Sessions to have your eye on (UK time):
Friday 3 July
Elite Women Q1 from 11:30 UK / 12:30 France / 06:30 US East / 03:30 US West
Elite Men Q1 from 12:00 UK / 13:00 France / 07:00 US East / 04:00 US West
Saturday 4 July
Elite Women Finals from 12:00 UK / 13:00 France / 07:00 US East / 04:00 US West
Elite Men Finals from 13:10 UK / 14:10 France / 08:10 US East / 05:10 US West
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Bring on La Thuile!
Good luck,
Jon and Tim MTB Fantasy