CRC/Nukeproof team - 2011 MTB WC - PMB Day 1

CRC/Nukeproof team - 2011 MTB WC - PMBurg Day 1 from chainreactioncycles on Vimeo.

The first round of the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup takes place this weekend in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where Team ChainReactionCycles.com/​Nukeproof downhill riders Matti Lehikoinen and Joe Smith will be gunning for top spot in the downhill, with Lukas and Michael Mechura aiming for the win in the 4X.

Day one of the race weekend started like any other with all the bikes being assembled, tweaked and tuned; a track walk to suss out course changes and the best lines; plus the Mechura brothers got the chance to practice on the new 4X track.

Weather conditions could play a huge part throughout the weekend, with any rain likely to transform the track into an energy-sapping mud-fest. Team mechanics Dave Garland and Carl Lottering-Geeson are ready for anything the course can throw at the riders though, and here’s Dave Garland talking us through Matti’s personal setup, come rain or shine (courtesy of MTBCut.tv).