September 4/11 7:25 am - MTB World Championships DH UPDATE

Posted by Editoress on 09/4/11
 

The weather in Champery Switzerland has turned UGLY.  Heavy rains started overnight and the DH course is a mess.  Currently the heavy rain has backed off a bit, but as the temperature rises, the fog has started to move in.  This is a major problem as too much fog means that the medivac helicopter cannot be used... it is a necessity.

The helicoptor has been on the MTN 4 X already today and that is JUST the juniors.

The JR Women completed their runs (results to be posted shortly) and the Junior men began, but a crash has had the race on hold for a while as they evacuate the rider.

The officials have lowered the some of the start gaps to 1 min (race is already an hour behind), but if the fog continues the helicoptor cannot fly and the race will be cancelled.

UCI just issued a communique

Due to the delay at this moment, the time intervals have been changed as follows:
• Junior Men will start again at 13:45.
The last 15 riders will start with 1 minute intervals instead of 3 minutes.

• The Elite Women's race will start 2 minutes after the junior men race.
The intervals will be 1 minute for all women riders.

Due to the reduced time gaps and assuming there will be no more course holds, we aim
to start the men elite race on time.