IXS European Downhill Cup 2012 - Round 7 Preview
21 September 2012 | By AngusMcIntoshWe are finally there. After the World Cup finished on the last weekend, the iXS European Downhill Cup will finish for this season as well. The seventh and last race of the series will be held in Todtnau/Germany and will definitely be another highlight of the season.
The long, and for some boring, off-season will soon be here, but one more big event is still to come. On the next weekend the iXS European Downhill Cup will have its final round, with Todtnau expecting one of the most thrilling races of the season. The course in Germany's oldest bike parks has been shaped perfectly and is in mint condition. The course with 3km length and a vertical drop of almost 500m is ready for the European downhill elite.
The most exciting fight for the top spot on the podium is expected in the Elite Women, as the four candidates for the overall win are just a few points apart from each other. Floriane Pugin (FRA - Scott 11) leads the overall rankings with 132 points. She is followed by Swiss Champion Miriam Ruchti (SUI - SC-Intense) with 128 points ahead of Slovenian Champion Zarja Cernilogar (SLO - Crn Trn GT) with 126 points and vice World Champion Emmeline Ragot (FRA - MS Mondraker) with 122 points. Unfortunately Floriane Pugin will not be able to defend her position due to a broken bone in the hand during the last World Cup race.
The elite men things are not quite as close together, but there are some top favourites for the win. After the last race in Chatel/France Robin Wallner (SWE - Team Ãre Bikepark) has put himself in the lead with 488 points ahead of Johann Potgieter (RSA - Canfield Factory Racing) with 459 points. Ranked third is Damien Spagnolo (FRA - MS Mondraker) ahead of his teammate Markus Pekoll (AUT - MS Mondraker) with 350 points. Pekoll's only chance to secure a podium spot though would be a bad result of one of the leading riders.
Last year Ruchti and Pekoll took the win in the overall series and could enjoy the price money as well as a TAG Heuer chronograph. This is the same story this year, as on top of the price money of 7000 Euro all winners of the series will take home a Formula 1 watch of the traditional Swiss brand.
For everyone who wants to enjoy a race before the way-too-long-break with all the stars of the downhill scene, the final at the Hasenhorn in Todtnau is not to be missed. All other information, results and the in cooperation with Red Bull Media House produced videos can be found at
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Photo Credit: Thomas Dietze
