British double victory in Lenzerheide
Rachel Atherton takes first UCI Downhill World Cup victory of the season in Lenzerheide.
In the first semi-final of the day, Swiss local hero Camille Balanche (DORVAL AM COMMENCAL) once again showed her class and secured her ticket to the final with a commanding first place. British downhill legend Rachel Atherton (ATHERTON CONTINENTAL) and German champion Nina Hoffmann (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) followed in second and third place.
The final was also captivating with first-class downhill action: Best time followed the best time until Rachel Atherton replaced Nina Hoffmann on the hot seat as the penultimate starter. The British rider's time was not to be threatened by the last starter, the reigning overall World Cup winner Camille Balanche. The Swiss skier came in second between Atherton, who celebrated her 40th World Cup victory in Switzerland, and Hoffmann.
Podium Downhill Elite Women
1st Rachel Atherton (GBR | ATHERTON CONTINENTAL) 3:07:514
2nd Camille Balanche (SUI | DORVAL AM COMMENCAL) 3:08:048
3rd Nina Hoffmann (GER | SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:08:301
4th Valentina Höll (AUT | ROCKSHOX TREK RACE TEAM) 3:09:270
5th Marine Cabirou (FRA | SCOTT DOWNHILL FACTORY) 3:11:118
Overall World Cup Standings
1st Rachel Atherton (GBR | ATHERTON CONTINENTAL) 370 points
2nd Camille Balanche (SUI | DORVAL AM COMMENCAL) 360 points
3rd Nina Hoffmann (GER | SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 250 points
4th Valentina Höll (AUT | ROCKSHOX TREK RACE TEAM) 192 points
5th Marine Cabirou (FRA | SCOTT DOWNHILL FACTORY) 176 points
Newcomer Jordan Williams gives the competition no chance in the Elite Men's Downhill World Cup opener
The men already showed how hot they were for the Downhill World Cup season in the semi-finals. World Champion Loïc Bruni (SPECIALIZED GRAVITY) from France, European Champion Andreas Kolb (CONTINENTAL ATHERTON) from Austria as well as Bruni's compatriot Loris Vergier (TREK FACTORY RACING GRAVITY) entered the final after strong runs in first to third place. Overall World Cup winner Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION) from France did not start after a crash in yesterday's qualification.
However, the final belonged to newcomer Jordan Williams (SPECIALIZED GRAVITY). The young Briton secured his first Elite World Cup win in his first Elite World Cup race. Loïc Bruni, as the last starter, threw everything he had into the scales, but could no longer oust his teammate from the hot seat and finished third. Second place went to Loris Vergier.
Podium Downhill Elite Men
1st Jordan Williams (GBR | SPECIALIZED GRAVITY) 2:39:222
2nd Loris Vergier (FRA | TREK FACTORY RACING GRAVITY) 2:39:717
3rd Loïc Bruni (FRA | SPECIALIZED GRAVITY) 2:39:907
4th Laurie Greenland (GBR | SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 2:40:058
5th Finn Iles (CAN | SPECIALIZED GRAVITY) 2:40:232
Overall World Cup Standings
1st Jordan Williams (GBR | SPECIALIZED GRAVITY) 322 points
2nd Loris Vergier (FRA | TREK FACTORY RACING GRAVITY) 320 points
3rd Loïc Bruni (FRA | SPECIALIZED GRAVITY) 305 points
4th Laurie Greenland (GBR | SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 239 points
5th Finn Iles (CAN | SPECIALIZED GRAVITY) 216 points