What can we possibly expect at Marathon Worlds?

A tough job to get Liam and Susi to smile. The game faces are on!

Local trad mountain music at dinner ..... whoooo hooooo!

So what and who can be a threat. I suppose Susi is to be considered the favourite, but anything can happen. People will also be looking to Liam, especially after his savage ride at worlds.

Riders to watch are going to be Gilberto Simoni, who many of you may know as a top road rider (Stage win Tour De France, two times champion of the Giro D'Italia with eight stage wins and a formidable MTB rider), Freddy Kessiakoff (who rode very well at worlds), Leonardo Paez (a Columbian Marathon Specialist), Ralf Naf (from Switzerland who also produced a great third place position at Worlds and World Marathon Champion in 2006), Roel Paulisson (Silver Medallist last year), Alban Lakata (current European Marathon Champion), Thomas Frischknecht (the MTB legend, who has won both this title, world XC champs and has an Olympic Silver Medal) and I am sure there will be more, but these are some of the names jumping out.

 The lads are ready. The team are ready.

Stunning - the top of the first climb

A great man with a map and the first person you want beside you in the car, here's Liam on a training ride checking out some of the key points