I hadn’t raced in Leogang since the 2023 season where I had my best World Cup result of the year. Although the 2025 World Cup season had been a bit of a slog until this point, I was optimistic of a good result and feeling happy to be back on a track that I had produced some of my top performances on.I chose to use the hardtail for the first and probably only World Cup this season due to the steep, long climbs on the track. During the week it was dry but we woke on Sunday morning to rain and treacherous conditions. It would be the first time riding the track in the wet so tyre and line choice was anyone’s guess!
I started off the 6th row and was quickly able to move up around 25 positions on the first lap, feeling the best I’d felt in a long time. The lightweight hardtail was flying up the climbs and I was able to pass a bunch of people. Moving up to 21st at the end of the first lap. I suffered a bit from the first lap effort on laps 2 & 3 but had settled into a position in the mid 20’s and on lap 4 I was starting to feel like I had good legs again and gained some positions back.
Unfortunately, I was a bit overconfident on the trickiest descent and paid the price with a heavy crash costing me at least a minute and 10 or 15 positions. I’d twisted my saddle and bars, my shifter had broken and was no longer working properly and I’d grazed myself up quite badly along with putting a hole in my knee and damaging my left thumb. I was able to regain my composure well enough to take back a few positions and come home in 34th position.
Overall, I was very happy with how the body felt but frustrated to have thrown away the chance at a top 20 and an almost certain top 25. It was good to feel a resemblance of my old self and a good confidence boost that things are heading in the right direction.