<b>Aaron Gwin looked unstoppable all week, and this shot says it all. Fully committed and visibly quicker than anybody else through this section. He would go on to put together the only run under 3-minutes claim the season’s first World Cup win.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Gwin had a few lines that not many were running. Here is one of them, monster trucking through the rough in the gully and some of the reason for his blistering split 2 result.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Some how, some way, Gwin thinks the SoCal dust prepares him for scenarios likes this. We're not questioning it.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Faster than you. Nothing else matters.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>With all the attention on Manon, Rachel and Tracey, it was Emmeline that stormed home for the win.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Ragot no stranger to the champagne.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>It's all in the details.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Final man down the hill to the roaring French crowd. Not enough for the win, but you wouldn't have thought it by the sound of it. What a great venue and crowd for the season opener. Loic Bruni.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>The sun hadn't hit most of the track yet and the crowds were already out in force to support Loic Bruni.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Superbruni superbly selfies with sweet smiling swooners.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Your UCI World Cup Downhill leader thanks to a first place qualifier and 2nd place race finish.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Andrew Crimmins was on it all week. Flat out, loose, and confident from this powerful Aussie second-year Junior. A well-deserved win and a time that would have been 21st in Elite. #whoa</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Crimmins confidently committed.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Andrew angling advantage and advancing accordingly.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Proving that his Top 10 result last year was no fluke, Mike Jones crushed the bottom section of the track and sped into 3rd place. With 7 Brits getting a Top 20, the World Champs team has been filled. Looks like they may have to revise the criteria.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Seriously...nuts. Gee went back and forth trying to decide if he should ride after being diagnosed with a broken wrist. By finishing top 80 he will be able to practice in A group at Fort William. #allornothing #manofsteel</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Rachel up at both split 1 and 2 made a small mistake in the last woods which may have cost her the win. Always in for a season-long fight and motivated for more.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Rachel, onward and upward to Fort William.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Gee followed Greg's example and strapped himself in with Velcro to allow him to hold on the bar for the few points on offer. Nuts.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>The French wildcard that delivered! Rudy Cabirou advanced his 13th in qualifying to a Top 10 result come race day.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Downhill racing, one and done...if you can even get one. Andrew Neethling destroyed his rear wheel at the top during his finals run.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>But Needles made the most of his walk down the mountain. #SouthAfricanChainsawMassacre</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Peaty, equally loud and proud trackside.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Laurie Greenland was the favorite after his seeding run, but he was pipped today in the final. Saying there's more to come from this young racer is an understatement. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Greenland growls and grits through grotesque geologic gouges and gaps.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>3rd place, Myriam Nicole, was looking on pace in practice with plenty of corner speed and poise in the technical sections and has the skills to gun for the top step.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>The new bike working like a charm for Pompon.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Moving to a new team did Danny Hart no harm at all. Looking relaxed and fast, he claimed 4th to remind everyone that he’s always to be reckoned with when things turn steep and gnarly. His first split indicates some issues, so with a flawless run, we know he's capable of even more.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Sam Dale attacked from the very first practice run, ultimately bagging 5th place and confirming that last year’s run of good results was no fluke. #firstpodium</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Sam Dale rewarding himself. Bless his soul.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Hardware that's even heavy for the Bear.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>The morning didn't start well for Tracey. Then the day went from bad to worse. Her speed is clearly there and that bodes well for the season ahead. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Angry at her mistake and sore from a seperated shoulder, Tracey Hannah will be looking to Fort William to redeem herself.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Bernat Guardia is one of the more experienced riders on the circuit and in his 16th season of racing, he's not backing down with a 13th place today.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Mick Hannah, 35th. Not the start to the season he was hoping for. He was in the 3:12 range, along with 7 other riders between 30th and 38th.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Looking like one of the dangermen all weekend, Brook MacDonald had a slow mid-section leading to him narrowly missing out on that Top 10.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Remi roosts under perfect bluebird conditions. The racing wasn't hampered by weather. 29th wasn't what the 2nd place qualifier hoped. A flat tire toward the bottom ruined his day.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Rupert Chapman, your loveable Kiwi with a solid Top 15. Quite a few new faces in the Top 20 this race as the leader board was turned upside down somewhat.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Alex Marin gets some on-track advice from Oscar Saiz between training runs before the finals. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Alex Marin, uses the advice. 5th place Junior.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>With the press center closing early, the media squids retreat to the hospitable GT pits where burgers arrive via scooters and beer magically appears from under tables!</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Ratty on Mike Jones' big, crazy line, launching from the first step all the way to the hips landing. Allowing a bit more straight-line speed with high consequence. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>At this point, most people crash. Taylor Vernon rode it out like a boss, but lost precious time on his way to a 30th place finish. 2-seconds faster and he would have been all the way up to 20th.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Luca Shaw with an 11th in his first World Cup as an Elite. An exceptional performance from one of the 4 Americans present in Elite Men's racing. #YEW!!!</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>For the defending World Cup Champ and World Champion, the morning of race day can be a pensive time. Manon will have less pressure come Fort William and will be out to claim back that #1 plate closer to home.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Blenki, 52nd. The race gone from his memory and looking to Fort William.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>While it was Dean Lucas who qualified well, teammate Mark Wallace from Canada, finished well in 14th place, keeping it straight and low in the gully. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>A glimpse of Marcelo Gutierrez between the packed crowd that lined the track. 32nd, hungry for more. </b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Stoppie Sunday gone wrong for Brendan. Who cares. 6th place and on top of the world despite being on the bottom of his bike.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Brendog was looking fast and confident all week. The steep and gnarly Lourdes track suited him well and he’ll be stoked with an early season result showing he’s back up to speed.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Brendog</b> @maddogboris
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<b>Maddog</b> @maddogboris
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<b>This is what happens when you try to conduct a quiet little interview in Ben Reid’s truck – @maddogboris shows up at the slightest whiff of a keg!</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Wyn Masters didn’t have the run he was hoping for, but at least he can fall back on his media career. Or, there is always Enduro.</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Fanatically-fantastic French fans frothing for freebies from the fearless.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Last minute leader's jersey construction after a small mix up.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Under 3-minutes. Over the moon.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Oh spray can't you see!!! U. S. A!</b> -Johan Hjord
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<b>Last drops of holy water remain as the Elite Men's podium concludes. Thanks Lourdes for an amazing opener. Ironically, in the town of healing we have seen the most injuries in a long, long time.</b> -Sven Martin <b>SVEN, DUNCAN, BORIS and JOHAN...what can we say?! Your coverage this weekend has been all-time amazing! Thanks for your hard work in the trenches!</b> -gordo
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Words can't describe the Lourdes World Cup Downhill race action this weekend, so we'll just let the unbelievable photos and interviews from Sven Martin, Duncan Philpott, @maddogboris and Johan Hjord do all the talking. Superfans, get stoked. What a freaking race!
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