One year before the first World Cup event in Lenzerheide, the brand-new downhill course will undergo its baptism of fire. Just one week after its completion, the two-kilometer-long slope will serve as the race venue for the second round of the iXS Swiss Downhill Cup. The race weekend started with good weather on Friday, but it started to rain on Saturday morning. At times it poured down like a bucket. The weather conditions were better on Sunday during the race, but the track was muddier and more slippery than the day before.

British rider Brendan Fairclough seems to have taken a liking to the track and the slippery surface. On Saturday, he won the seeding run on a grippy surface ahead of his compatriots Steve Peat and Joe Connell. On Sunday, Fairclough also proved his ability on the slippery terrain and secured his first Swiss Cup victory with a three-second lead over Joe Connell. The latter was able to relegate track godfather Steve Peat to third place.

Just behind Peat, national coach Lars Peyer was the fastest Swiss rider in fourth place. Frenchman Billy Caroli also came very close to Peyer in fifth place. After his victory in Spicak, Noel Niederberger was also on the list of favorites for the podium. However, things turned out differently for the 19-year-old in the race. A crash prevented Niederberger's chance of a place on the podium. Although he was still among the top ten riders, he had to settle for seventh place.

Wunderlin wins without Siegenthaler
Emilie Siegenthaler dominates the seeding run on Saturday. Behind her, Alba Wunderlin and Géraldine Fink are clearly behind her. On race day, the race takes place without Siegenthaler. The Swiss champion crashes during a training run on Sunday morning and has to go to hospital due to a kidney rupture. Siegenthaler will miss the World Cup races in Canada and the USA. However, she hopes to be able to get back on her bike in a few weeks. In the race, it is Alba Wunderlin who takes the win. She clearly beat Géraldine Fink and Lea Rutz.

Challenge mastered with flying colors
The fact that the race course from the Scharmoin middle station down to the Rothorn lifts is only a good week old makes things difficult for the Lenzerheide downhill debutant. During training, minor changes have to be made to the course time and again. These are always done quickly and professionally, so that there are hardly any delays. Even the rain and the resulting mud battle can't knock anyone out of their reserves. Even the participants have fun on the slippery track and often shoot down the valley with cries of joy.

Much praise goes to the large rescue team, which was well positioned to quickly rescue injured riders. Lenzerheide definitely sets a new benchmark in downhill racing with its rescue arrangements. In addition, the event boasts an exemplary secured course. This is also acknowledged by the large number of around 300 riders.

Swiss Gravity is also making its debut in Lenzerheide. Swiss Cycling's specialist group for downhill-oriented mountain bike disciplines will be holding a riders' meeting for the first time on Friday before the start of training. At this meeting, the Swiss Gravity team led by coordinator Matthias Wanner introduces itself and distributes some important information to the riders. Information that is intended to improve the safety of the riders. The applause from the riders is proof that a hub between riders and organizers as well as the association represented by the commissaires was sorely needed.

The next race of the iXS Swiss Downhill Cup will take place on August 31, 2014 in Anzère. The Swiss champions will also be crowned from the same race.

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