I may be saying this too soon, but finally the sun is out for a European World Cup weekend. I arrived on Thursday and wanted to go home on Thursday afternoon; pissing down yet again. Friday started bright but then the rain came back. However, I kept the faith and didn't wear a jacket out and now, Saturday, the sunshine is beaming through and its glorious.! The rain though has taken its toll on the course in places, the holes and ruts are deep and the soft soil has made some reeeet nice braking bumps. Bumps and all though, dry is faster than wet, and we all like it faster. So we are all hoping we don't get a repeat European weather performance like Vigo and Champery.

 Schladming has had some work on it since last year, with all the roots being moved from 3 or 4 sections into one massive root fest part of the track. After the infamous step up jump hard right into the woods the real technical section of the course, tight corners, sprawling roots and sloppy mud that the sun can't get to. Roots take some skill to get over, but this many roots can prove to be a lottery with some many people just pinging their way through hoping they don't caught and end up on the deck. The rest of the course is pretty much the same.

Tracy Hannah - Roots Roots and More Roots

Most of the talk at the moment is about Sam Hill, will this be the year that he finishes top of the pile overall? Again his riding style and choice of lines are like no one else's, he is picking his way out of the rough sheep lines and keeping to the smooth untouched track wherever he can, whilst everyone else takes a battering going through all the holes and braking bumps. Sam vs. Steve is going to be a close affair this year when it comes to the overall, this race is critical for both of them. I always find it difficult to see who is looking fastest when stood on the side at times, Sam always seems to hold back in practice, and Steve's bike control is such he never looks fast, but we all know that isn't true.

Sam Hill - One of the kind with the line choices and the man Steve Peat needs to beat

On the flip side to this you have the balls out fast riders. Brendan looks like he is flying and is flat out whilst also looking like he is rapid, balls out style. Another tip who is also looking faster than a lot of riders is Fusions James Maltman, if he can stay on the bike then he is going to be up there this weekend, so ragged and on the edge. Matti has had a tumble today but it doesn't appear to be slowing when I see him. Martin Whiteley has been saying that he is fitting and better prepared than he ever has been, and it looks no gimmicks just flat out racing speed. Its going to be hard to pick a winner this weekend. Sam and Steve battling for the overall, Brendan loves this track and is looking super quick and will want to be on that podium for the second year running.

James Maltman - Fusion - Ragged, on the edge and a bit of a nutcase, a clean run will give him a good place.

Matti Lehikoinen - Honda G-Cross - Pretty much on it which ever section you see him

For the women, well i'm hoping its going to be top spot for Tracy, she has looked quicker than anyone out here and much quicker than Jonnier. Tracey Hannah says she is riding badly, but I have seen her go past and it aint too shabby from where I'm watching, she could also be a contender. Aimee Dix has been impressing back home and has made it out for her first world cup race and is loving it and should lose her number 33 board pretty quickly.

Aimee Dix - Team Skene - First World Cup and loving it.

The one section that is causing people a lot of problems is the root of death as I have now named it. You have to hop over one elephant trunk sized root, only to have land on the other side and turn on yet more roots. If any of you ladies out there wanted Adam Braytons children you can pretty much forget it, his nuts were probably the only thing left on the bike as he tackled the root of death. He managed  to hold it though somehow and carry on and has been yet again pinned all weekend hopefully pushing the Mtb-Direct team back into the top ten trade teams.

Adam Brayton - MTB-Direct - Its a unique style you have to give him that, it has to be style because somehow he held onto it, shaddy!

Is usual, qualifying and the finals are tomorrow. So check back here for the report tomorrow evening. Boxxer 151's are back in town, the new Intense Team Bus is enormous; hopefully I will get a scout around that tomorrow but don't go wishing after on as you won't get it into Molfre and you get beer in the supermarket in mini keg form which is ace, just so happens to be called minger. Oh and Sue destroys toilets, women don't smell of roses! 

The Infamous Dependance 1 Toilet Door

Local Beer at its finest.... 3 pints of Minger please luv...

Keep it on the wheeeeeels...... Yid. 

See what happened in the finals HERE.