Practice makes perfect - Day 1 in Cairns

The allure of the tropics seems to be stronger in 2016 than it was in 2014. It seems like a greater depth of elite riders have descended on Cairns from around the world. Whether it is due to a slightly different calendar, rider preferences, or more than likely the World Championships being here in 2017 – the result is the same. Just about anyone who is anyone is here in Cairns for the World Cup this weekend.

With track walks taking place on Wednesday, the courses were open today for practice. As you’d expect, social media soon exploded with photos and videos of riders runs, their equipment, and their crashes. There were some delays, and changes in the weather, but overall the response is positive. The trails of Smithfield are home to two quality World Cup courses.

A lot of the focus has been on the downhill track, and riders have commented that it was feeling super fast in the dry conditions. Baxter Maiwald took a heavy hit early in the day, with a serious accident near the top of the course. The Rock Garden is still likely to cause drama no matter the conditions, and certainly created traffic in practice as riders searched for lines.

Rain through lunch and into the afternoon settled the dust but also changed the course a lot. Dan McConnell said that while the sun had the strength to dry the trails, it was still wet under the trees, making line selection crucial when he was practicing lines with his Trek Factory Team.

We heard from the Trek Factory Racing Team at a signing at Discovery Cycles in Smithfield, and they all had positive things to say about the course. Sergio pointed out that the course is actually shorter, without the last climb and descent that included Barracuda. Michael Potter and Reece Tucknott of Trek Racing Australia actually find the course is much easier to ride than when they were here after the World Cup in 2014 for a Junior development camp.

Rachel Atherton admitted that she’s glad there has been a little bit of rain, to drop the speed of the course and include a slightly more technical element.

With more official practice to come on Friday, and seeding in the afternoon, there’s a lot more that can happen on the hill before race day. Regardless, it’s clear that riders from home and abroad are enjoying their time in Cairns. Few other World Cup locations bring the riders to tropical beaches and a true adventure wonderland for outdoor athletes.

Photos: Matt Staggs Visuals and Robert Conroy Creative