Charlie & M-A go to the 2012 MTB World Champs: Leogang Day 2

So why the heck are the Fearons going to Leogang, you may be pondering. The reason is that Leogang is hosting the 2012 Mountain Bike (MTB) World Champs and our son Connor is racing in the Downhill Junior category. MTB racing actually covers a number of disciplines comprising downhill, cross country (an Olympic event), four cross (like bmx but on bike bikes and big tracks) and trials which is similar to motorbike trials, but on special seat-less bicycles. MTB is big in Europe which hosts a World Cup Series each year, criss-crossing Europe and Nth America with seven events. In the world cup series, riders race for a professional team or as a privateer. The one off annual world champs are an opportunity for the world's best riders, as selected by their respective national MTB federations, to represent their country. This pic shows where all the downhill finish action will be on Sunday......disappointment or glory awaits.

The event hasn't quite got up and going yet so today we took the opportunity to drive 100 km or so to Grossglockner which is the highest peak in Austria. The closest vantage point to this peak is called Kaiser Franz Josefs Hohe (named after a 19th century Austrian autocrat who hiked up to this point) and overlooks a massive glacier. The alpine road leading to this location was originally built in the 1930s and is a wonder to behold. I only wish I could ride it on a motorbike. Here's a couple of pictures to try and convey some sense of the glacier and other scenery.