URT Photo Special

10 Jul 2012

The summer of 2011 and the Ultimate Road Trip around the Alps - more than 2 months on the road (67 days to be exact), 19 bike parks, countless incredible trails, stunning mountain scenery, friendly locals and some damn cool mountain bikers. These are just some of the amazing images from the trip...

1. LES DEUX ALPES

Kicking it all off at the Mondial du VTT in Les Deux Alpes, there is just so much riding on offer here. A local rider no-hands the step up jump...

2. TIGNES, FRANCE

An evening photo-shoots gives some great light conditions - this is Dan from WorldBikeParks down the last few turns of the Black Metal trail.

3. ALPE D'HUEZ, FRANCE

Stormy conditions in Alpe d'Huez as riders practice for the 2011 Megavalanche race, but fortunately the rain held off.

4. VERBIER / LA TZOUMAZ, SWITZERLAND

A panorama shot looking out at Verbier and the St Bernard valley. Taking a break at the top of the 'Wouaiy' trail.

5. WIRIEHORN, SWITZERLAND

Race action from the iXS Swiss DH Cup, this is the only trail at Wiriehorn but it's a cracker and there are more on the way.

6. TODTNAU, GERMANY

The famous iXS DH race course at Todtnau in Germany, here David chases Dan into the berm.

7. BAD WILDBAD, GERMANY

More race action, this time the iXS German National Championships. Image courtesy of our friend Thomas at Extreme Pics, showing the huge root sections to be found in the Black Forest.

8. BELLWALD, SWITZERLAND

Dan follows David through the rocks at Bellwald, which has 2 cracking DH tracks in the heart of chocolate-box Switzerland.

9. LIVIGNO, ITALY

Riders discuss the trail options at the top of Livigno - no need to hurry with views like that!

10. LEOGANG, AUSTRIA

On the 'Freeride' trail at Leogang, a rider gets it just about high enough over the bridge jump.

11. SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM, AUSTRIA

Locals Sasch and Sabine on one of the northshore sections of the awesome X-Line trail - one of the best trails of the entire URT.

12. WAGRAIN, GERMANY

The huge 180 degree wallride at the top of the 'Upper On Air' trail.

13. PLANAI-SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA

David from WorldBikeParks rides the roots on the famous UCI course at Planai-Schladming.

14. FASSA, ITALY

Incredible views in the Dolomites - David follows Fassa rider Mauro down the ridge line.

15. VAL DI SOLE, ITALY

Eating dirt - one of the race course 'sweepers' bites the dust in the monstrous rock garden at the top of the Val di Sole UCI World Cup course.

16. BARDONECCHIA, ITALY

Riko gets high in a huge berm on the beautifully named '25D' trail.

17. LES GETS, FRANCE

Ian from Alpine Elements drops the big one on the 'Jump Park' trail at Les Gets.

18. CHATEL, FRANCE

Some great northshore sections in the woods pretty much everywhere at Chatel. David from WorldBikeParks on one of the easier sections of the 'Shore 1' trail.

19. CHAMPERY, SWITZERLAND

Had to be this really - it will be talked about for years. Danny Hart on his Friday afternoon practice session, 2 days before one of the greatest DH race rides of all time!