U23 XCO

Martins Blums could make it an amazing event for Latvia if he lands this title - and compatriot Paula Zibasa takes out the junior women’s DH. Blums, 22, has been progressing at a rapid rate and highlighted his strength by winning the 2017 World Cup events at Lenzerheide and Mont Sainte Anne.

Expect Italian Nadir Colledani, also 22, to also be challenging after he won in Albstadt, while the home fans will hope that Reece Tucknott or Tasman Nankervis can pull out something special with a big crowd cheering them on.

In the junior women’s race, it’s likely to be an Anglo-American battle between Evie Richards and Kate Courtney. Richards, from England, was fourth in worlds last year and has carried that form into the 2017 season with a string of podiums and a first place in Albstadt.

But Californian Courtney, 22, won three of the first four World Cup events she entered this year and is likely to have great memories of Cairns having ridden to victory on the course last April.

However, don’t rule out Switzerland’s Sina Frei who has never been off the podium in her nine World Cup races at Under-23 level.