Round 6 Preview - Pal Arinsal, Andorra
Round 6 of the Downhill World Cup takes us to the legendary Pal Arinsal track in Andorra, where high altitude, dry conditions and one of the fastest courses of the season promise another unpredictable weekend of racing. With huge jumps up top and rough, technical terrain in the lower woods, riders will need the perfect balance of speed, fitness and precision to take the win.
As usual, qualis happen on Friday and the racing is on Saturday and we'll have live tracking for both, live on our dedicated Race Timings page here.
As boss of your MTB Fantasy team, you've got some big decisions to make as we head into the business end of the season! Seen our Insider Tips blog post yet? If not, head over there now to get the low-down on key stats and cheeky tips on which riders to be looking out for to maximise your winnings!
RIDER WATCH: WHO’S IN
It’s hard to ignore Vali as the clear favourite here - off the back of a win last weekend and second here last year. However, there are some fast riders pushing her every round: Anna Newkirk is on fine form, Lisa Baumann is now consistently challenging for the podium and you can’t write off the likes of Myriam Nicole, Gracey Hemstreet, Gloria Scarsi and Harriet Harnden. This will be a tough one to call!
Amaury Pierron is leading the men’s overall but seems to have lost a bit of momentum, he also finished a very disappointing 27th here last year. Jackson Goldstone and Loris Vergier will be ones to watch, having finished 2nd and 3rd here last year. In the Juniors last year, Max Alran and Asa Vermette finished 1st and 2nd, Till Alran coming in 5th - but they were a fair chunk back from the winning elite times. Can they step things up here?
It’s worth pointing out, in both the women’s and the men’s categories, the racing is super tight and becoming very difficult to call. This is a refreshing break from a season where one or two riders dominate, and it makes it even more exciting!
INJURY NEWS: WHO’S OUT
Last years winner in Andorra, Tahnee Seagrave, just announced she’s taking a break from racing at least until the World Champs next month - wishing you the best Tahnee!
With the championship battle heating up, every fantasy point counts. Double-check your lineup before qualifying begins, back your instincts, and let's see who comes out on top in Round 6!