RESULTS: Leogang World Cup DH Race 2017 6

The third UCI Mountain Bike World Cup downhill of 2017 concluded in Leogang, Austria, today under sunny skies with dry, fast conditions. The Leogang track, which is void of many technical features, provided exciting racing across all categories with fractions of a second separating competitors.

The 29er vs 27.5 debate rages on as the bigger wheels seemed to pull time on the longer, flatter sections but they weren't necessarily faster in the tech, tight sections for all riders. That was until Loris Vergier came down crossing the finish line with a 3:08.3, decimating nearly perfect pinned runs of riders like Bernard Kerr and Laurie Greenland who were on 27.5-inch wheels. Troy Brosnan flew down the course and could only come within 1.5 seconds of Vergier's time leaving Greg Minnaar and Aaron Gwin left to race.

Minnaar seemed relaxed through the top of his run, but despite his poise on the bike, it was clear Greg was pushing but could only come within 1.2 seconds Vergier.

Aaron Gwin, the Leogang dominator remained, in search of his third consecutive win at the venue. He was fastest at the first split, then lost time by the second split. Gwin, the master of the pumping section who won in Leogang without a chain, took a .5 second lead after the motorway then a pulled up with a 1.4-second lead at the last split. As he approached the finish line with Warner and the watching world in a disbelief we've come to expect when Gwin is on track, he crossed the line and he took his 17th World Cup DH win and 3rd win at Leogang by a whopping 1.4 seconds, all aboard 27.5-inch wheels. The margin by which Gwin won is a testament to his skill, focus and preparation and also keeps 27.5 alive.

Wheel size aside, speed tucks and precision riding were the keys to success today. If a rider mis-timed a pump, jump or corner, they could be set back multiple places on the results sheet.

• Loic Bruni did not race today despite qualifying due to a complicated and inflamed bruise on his leg. He stayed at the hospital the night before the race and could not compete.
• The finish line jump that claimed Remi Thirion and a few others was considerably refined and mellowed out for safety.
  

Elite Men's Results

2017 Elite Men's Overall Standings after 3 Rounds

Elite Women's Results

Junior Men's Results

Junior Women's Results