World Cup DownhillLa Bresse France Steve Peat Crushes Field In The Rain
Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate), once again achieved an amazing ride to win his 16th career title in the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at La Bresse in France. This was equal to Nicolas Vouilloz’s all-time record. Peat’s win also saw him take the World Cup lead. He beat Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing), by more than five seconds.
French downhill enthusiasts were not affected by rain. They were cheered on by huge crowds. Gary Perkin photo
This short course demanded the skills of an all-around rider. There were sections of fast pedaling and jumping at the top and sections of steep, technical, and rocky sections at the bottom.
Sabrina Jonnier, a French downhiller who is renowned for being incredibly fast, won by more than 5 seconds in front of her home crowd. Gary Perkin photo
WOMENS DHFINAL
Melissa Buhl was the first to sub.
Gros was so close to realizing she was leading before Myriam Nicole, her compatriot, blew her away by almost three seconds. Emmeline Ragot (Suspension Center), a former Junior world champion, and Japan’s Mio Sumasa came within one second of Nicole. However, the Frenchwoman was still in front with two riders to go Jonnier, Moseley, who qualified first and would ride last.
Jonnier rode flawlessly, setting the fastest splits at the first intermediate station and the second, respectively, and recording the only sub-second.
Jonnier said that he was thrilled to award Maxxis-Rocky Mountain their first World Cup victory. My race was dedicated to my mom, who just lost her dad. Rocky, Maxxis and the team thank you for your support. Tracy won the qualifying but I was confident and happy to win in France. This was an important win for me as it was my first win in a whole year and I wanted to prove that I’m still one of the top Downhillers.
Learn from the experts. Steve Peats amazing ride, the last racer to descend on a rain-soaked Crourse, was beatento a rocky, rooted mireby the restof the field earned him victory in France and the top spot in the World Cuppoints chase. Gary Perkin photo
MENS DH FINAL
A potential upset was in the making in the men’s race when heavy rain swept in just after American Kyle Strait (Specialized Team America), took the Hot Seat. Strait started 29th, the track was dry and hard up to that point. Favorite Chris Kovarik (Chain Reaction/Intense), crashed shortly after, showing just how slippery it was becoming.
Straits time
Andrew Neethling, Leovs teammate, was the first to beat Leov’s time. He dropped the leading time to just below
Fairclough held onto the lead by Sam Blenkinsop, Yeti Fox Shox, before his teammate and perennial favourite Sam Hill, who clocked an impressive second-and-a-half off the leading time. The rain continued to fall, with only three riders remaining.
Next was Michael Mick Hannah (GT Bicycles), which he placed between Hill and Fairclough. Then it was Gee Atherton, Animal-Commencal, who finished behind Fairclough but ahead of Minnaar and secured himself a podium place.
Peaty, the legendary rider from Sheffield (Yorkshire), was finally victorious. Peaty was only 17th fastest through speedtrap. However, he kept getting faster and harder as the course became more difficult.
Peat commented that he was happy to win after such an extended period and to have broken Vouilloz’s record. He was referring to the fact this is his first World Cup victory, since Willingen, Germany, in 2006. He added that it was good to keep the jersey in team.
MOSELEY AND PEAT LEAD THE WORLD CUP POINTS CHAASE
Peat leads Hannah by 25 points as they head into the third Downhill round at the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Vallnord (Andorra). Minnaar is 62 points behind in third. Duncan Riffle (Duncan Riffle Racing) is the top-ranked American, in 14th place, two spots ahead Smith, and Gwin 19th overall.
It is still Moseley who leads the women’s standings with 460 points. Jonnier, however, has moved into second place, 68 points behind Ragot. Ragot is a distant 125 point in arrears. Buhl is seventh. Canada’s Claire Buchar (Chain Reaction/Intense), drops from fifth to ninth due to not racing round two of the season.
HOW THE HOME TEAM ATTACKED UP
Aaron Holmes Gwin (Yetifox Shox) was the top American finisher in men’s racing, finishing 14th, just behind Canada’s Steve Smith (Evil Bikes). Melissa Buhl (KHS), finished eighth in the women’s race, while Canada’s Micayla Gatto placed 19th.
Trek World Racing is the fastest team of the day. Gary Perkin photo
RESULTS: TOP 20 MENS
Legend: position, name, team, time, time differential
1 Steve Peat (GBr). Santa Cruz Syndicate 2. Samuel Hill (Aus). Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Cat 3. Michael Hannah (Aus). GT Bicycles 4. Brendan Fairclough(GBr), Santa Cruz Syndicate 7. Mickael Pascal, (Fra), MSC Bikes 8. Andrew Neethling (RSA). Trek World Racing 9. Justin Blenkinsop (NZl). Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 10. Justin Leov. (NZl).
TOP 20 WOMEN – RESULTS
Legend: position, name, team, time, time differential
1 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 2 Tracy Moseley (GBr) Trek World Racing 3 Myriam Nicole (Fra) 4 Mio Suemasa (Jpn) 5 Emmeline Ragot (Fra) Suspension Center 6 Celine Gros (Fra) Morzine-Avoriaz 74 7 Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Norco World Team 8 Melissa Buhl (USA) KHS 9 Floriane Pugin (Fra) Iron Horse-Kenda-Playbiker 11 Petra Bernhard (Aut) Ancillotti Doganaccia Racing Team 12 Miriam Ruchti (Sui) Team Vario Racing 13 Joanna Petterson (RSA) 14 Diana Marggraff (Ecu) 15 Helen Gaskell (GBr) 16 Anita Molcik (Aut) 17 Jessica Stone (GBr) 2stage Factory 18 Antje Kramer (Ger) 19 Micayla Gatto (Can) 20 Caroline Sax (Fra)
