The world of mountain bike racing has had a bit of a summer holiday, albeit a busy one. With this year’s UCI Cycling World Champions crowned in Glasgow, Scotland over the first mega event of its kind it is finally time for the UCI Mountain Bike World Series to roar into life for the second half of the season.
And what a place to do so - Pal Arinsal - Andorra is a unique venue for a few reasons and some riders are arriving here off the back of huge wins, whilst others remained on the hunt for a badly needed ‘W’. Here then are some of the names to watch this weekend in Pal Arinsal - Andorra:
Charlie Hatton (Continental Atherton Race Team)
What a difference a day makes, eh? So long a protege of the Atherton family’s race team, mild-mannered yet searingly fast Charlie Hatton is the newly-crowned UCI World Champion in elite men’s Downhill. The 25 year-old beat the world’s best on a wet afternoon in Fort William and having been in and around the top 10 for a few seasons now, he will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Danny Hart (Cube Factory Racing) and Reece Wilson (Trek Factory Racing) and back up that Worlds win by taking a debut UCI World Cup victory. All eyes are on Charlie.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Ineos Grenadiers)
A living legend of the sport, France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot openly admitted that the first half of the season was a dress rehearsal to help her to adjust to life in her new team. Her performances at the UCI World Championships in Glentress were every bit as impressive and dominant as those conjured up in Les Gets 12 months prior. The last four UCI World Champion Cross-country titles have now gone her way. Will we see the same all-conquering realignment of what’s possible in Andorra?
Camille Balanche (Dorval AM Commencal)
The Swiss racer was third last time in the elite women’s Downhill round in Andorra, but she desperately needs to go two spots better in 2023. Her arch rival Valentina Höll (RockShox Trek Race Team) is currently running amuck at the front of the field, has a new set of rainbow stripes and looks as though she’ll hit the second half of the season like a wrecking ball. If Balanche wants to keep her crown, she needs to get on terms and a win in Pal Arinsal - Andorra would feel like the place to start.
Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate)
An 18 year-old leads the overall points chase in the elite men’s ranks of the UCI Downhill World Cup. It’s a staggering stat that puts him already comfortably into the pages of the mountain bike history books. The Canadian missed the UCI World Championships to hopefully put pay to his season-long battle against (what was left of) his own appendix. The Santa Cruz Syndicate rider took his debut elite win in Val di Sol - can he add to it at a track that he’s won at as a Junior?
There is plenty of action and intrigue set to unfold at the latest round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series when racing gets underway this weekend in Pal Arinsal - Andorra.
