Bike icon spills on top picks

MOUNTAIN bike icon Claudio Caluori has tipped Cairns’ Hannah siblings to take it to the competition when the 2017 UCI MTB World Cup season starts this weekend.

The Swiss-born former downhill competitor is one of the best-known figures of the mountain biking paddock, not only as team manager of the Scott-Velosolutions team, but also as a commentator with his hilarious track previews and quirky take on the action on Red Bull TV.

Caluori said Europe was “going nuts” about the season resuming.

“As usual, the time away from racing was way too long, so people are going nuts to finally get back to the World Cup,” he said.

“With all the team changes and possibly some new technology of some teams, we really don’t know what to expect from the first race, so it’s very exciting.”

Caluori said in the elite men, world champion Danny Hart would not dominate as he did in the final four events in 2016, but expected last year’s World Cup winner Aaron Gwin to continue setting the standard and Mick Hannah to give the competition a shake.

“I think there will be plenty of guys up there and I have my doubts that one person will be dominating like Danny did last year,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Gwin comes back winning the first few.

“Everybody knows Mick can always be right up there, you just don’t know when.

“He has become a very complete rider over the years, and his long time experience certainly helps him.”

Caluori said Tracey Hannah could well be the one to bring the Rachel Atherton dynasty to an end and potentially win the world championship on home soil.

“At some point, Rachel will be beaten,” he said. “She can’t win every race for the next 10 years.

“I would say Cairns will be a good shot for Tracey, but who knows what the season (will) bring until then.

“Personally, I’m really looking forward to coming to Cairns again, and also to riding the track.

“I’m just hoping the snakes leave me alone on it.”

Caluori was hopeful his Scott-Velosolutions could impress in the elite men’s competition with “extremely motivated” Brit Brendan Fairclough and speedy French young gun Gaetan Vigé. Check out our videos with Mick and Tracey Hannah at