UCI World Cup Track Preview: Lenzerheide.

For the very first time the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup pays a visit to Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Boasting a newly built track, that's been specifically designed with racing in mind, and surrounded by snow-capped mountains and an emerald lake, it's the picture-perfect setting for a new round.

Course commentator, Claudio Caluori, has been involved with the track from the start and has seen it turn from an untamed mountain to a World Cup worthy run. Join him and Colombia's Marcelo Gutiérrez as they take you on a loose, dusty and rough ride down the epic new track.

What's your involvement been with this course build?

Claudio Caluori: Many people think I built the track but I didn't. Rafael Rhyner from Trailworks built and designed it. Before the course was there I walked down the mountain with Rafael and we discussed what lines would be good to use, so I've seen it transform from a mountainside to a World Cup course.

What were you looking for when scoping out the course?

We tried to have a good mix between bike park style and natural stuff as more and more riders were asking for natural stuff. They don't want to just have a freeway bike park track. I think Rafael got a good mix.

Is the course comparable to any other on the circuit?

No, it really has it's own style. It's not completely natural but it's not bike park either because even the built stuff is rough and loose. I had my concerns when I looked at it and walked down the course. It seemed that some parts might be a bit weird. But when you ride it on your bike it all works out. My favourite part is the jumps, they're shaped so well. It's really good fun. The last drop is a bit scary, it was good to survive that one without a crash.

What's the most challenging aspect of the track?

The first rock garden isn't that easy if you come into it with speed. Before that there's an off camber section which is really soft and loose. We wanted to leave it completely natural, but the ecologists here said we're not allowed to ride on top soil, so yesterday we had to scrape it off, put it on the side and will have to put it all back after the race.

What's the style of the course?

Every track builder has their own style. Rafael comes from a bike park background, not race tracks, and you can see that, but he managed to merge both worlds together and create both natural stuff and bike park elements.

Some people are saying its way too bike park, but as soon as they ride it they'll see otherwise.