‘Unstoppable’ Grondin set for date with destiny in Montafon

Haemmerle is frustrated with his own recent performances in Sierra Nevada and Cortina, having exited at the quarterfinal stage on tracks shortened by around 300 metres due to a lack of snow. It is little surprise, then, that he is keen to get back to longer-format racing in front of his family and friends in Montafon, where he won the last World Cup held there in December 2021.

“It’s always a big push to ride in front of your home crowd – it just feels different, and it’s really a privilege to have this possibility,” Haemmerle says. “I am hoping for a more challenging course. We have a lot of snow at home, which opens up the range of elements which can be built.”

So much snow, in fact, that organisers were forced to cancel a testing of the course on Wednesday.

“Montafon always puts on an incredible event and it’s one of my favourite stops on tour,” Bolton says. “I’ve seen snippets of the track and it looks incredible – I can’t wait to race it.”

A familiar name sadly missing from the men’s start list for Montafon is Lucas Eguibar (ESP). The 2021 world champion ruptured the Achilles tendon in his left foot in Cortina and underwent surgery in Innsbruck, Austria, on Tuesday.