Racers dial in the course and compete in team relay
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Kenta Gallagher (Great Britain)(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Pavao Roset (Croatia) pre-rides(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
The team relay post-race press conference with the medallists(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Julie Bresset rode as the third person on the French team relay squad(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Eva Lechner put in a fast lap for Italy in the team relay(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
A rider out on some singletrack at MTB Worlds(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
A view over a soccer field to the start/finish stadium area.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Russell Finsterwald (United States) goes over a steep drop(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Russell Finsterwald (United States) approaches a steep drop that gave many racers pause(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Jiri Novak (Czech Republic)(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Racers pre-ride the first climb(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Katerina Nash (Czech) on a pre-ride(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
There were lots of snails out on course(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Warning: water crossing(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Julien Absalon (France) was dialling in his lines.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Two riders demonstrate the A-line(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Racers power up a high flyover(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
A muddy section of the course(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
A lovely view with 1km to go, not that racers will have time to enjoy it.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
A typical house along the course(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Kajsa Snihs (Sweden) on a pre-ride(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Spectators will be able to grab a beer from the vendor on the left and hang out and watch the action on the jumbotron(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Polish riders spin out their legs(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Georgia Gould and Mike Broderick (both United States) talk shop(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Manuel Fumic (Germany) and Marco Fontana (Italy)(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
US junior national champion Keegan Swenson(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
The bike wash station was a popular place(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Another snail out on course(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
The views of the Alps are spectacular(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
The start/finish area(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
This rope was super handy in helping spectators get up and down a very steep section alongside the course course(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
A Swiss trials rider(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
A Swiss trials rider in action. Trials events are being held in downtown Saalfelden(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
Racing got underway on Thursday at the cross country portion of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Saalfelden, Austria. Cyclingnews took a trip around the 4.5km course as racers practiced for the team relay later in the day and other upcoming events. The following gallery captures some of what it's like to be at the 2012 Worlds.
Friday's racing will include cross country events for the U23 men and women and the junior women. Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for full coverage.
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Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
