Many things are new, but one thing remains tried and tested: At the Out of Bounds Festival, the world's best downhillers will not only compete in a spectacular race for seconds, but there will also be plenty of supporting programme.
Next weekend, the downhillers will kick off the new season at the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Losinj, Croatia. From 7 to 10 June, Saalfelden Leogang will then be the venue for the only World Cup stop in Austria for the eighth time in a row.
Many things are new at the eighth edition of the World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang, including the supporting programme: a spectacular FMX show will cause a stir for the first time this year. With the Hogmoa Team Challenge, there will also be a relay competition for everyone. This is a team-building event for uphill riders, downhillers and bike acrobats, who have to complete three sections of the course in the shortest time - the winning team will then take to the skies in a helicopter to see the impressive mountain panorama of Saalfelden Leogang from a different perspective. At the kids' pump track race on Saturday, the very youngest get their big performance before an open-air concert with the rock band "Strongbow" awaits in the evening with free admission. Afterwards, the party continues at the "After Show Bar-Hopping". A free shuttle service takes partygoers into the town of Saalfelden, where they can turn night into day in the various venues. The large Expo area is worth seeing and experiencing every year, where you can not only shop to your heart's content, but also get up close to the stars of the scene.
The starting field has also been expanded this year to include a local heroine: for the first time ever, Vali Höll, a Pinzgau native and Austria's greatest young hope, will be competing in the Junior World Cup. The look at the favourites among the top athletes is not new - because there is a reason why the American Aaron Gwin is gracing the poster of the Out of Bounds Festival this year: Gwin made history last year and left his mark on the Austrian bike mecca with his hat-trick success.
2020 Downhill World Championships
Of course, preparations for the next major event in Saalfelden Leogang are also in full swing: in 2020, Austria's mountain bike stronghold will once again host a World Championships after eight years. In autumn 2020, the medal decision in the downhill discipline will return to the experienced World Cup venue.
For all those who can't make it to Leogang, the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup in Leogang will be available live and as video-on-demand free of charge at redbull.tv/uci on the Red Bull TV BIKE Channel: redbull.tv/bike. The Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup in Leogang will also be broadcast live on Servus TV.
