Yuping, China - The IDF tour touched down in China amidst the spectacular mountain scenery of Sichuan. A truly international field of riders tore up the long and technical Yuping track in practice today; an endless series of hairpins, chicanes and with a couple of straights thrown in for good measure.
While the Chinese riders might have the local knowledge, the strong Brazilian contingent comprising current Word Cup leader Max Ballesteros, last year's No. 3 Thiago Gomes Lessa, and Tiago Mohr look set to dominate. In their path lie a group of Australians led by veteran Adam Yates, and a Korean contingent riding deep.
Tomorrow will be timed qualifying, which promises to reveal some of this track's secrets. The weather is likely to be a factor; today the rain held off and the track remained 90% dry, however the misty mountain weather is totally fickle and rain never seems far away.
