The first of two Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup races in Lousa, Portugal, took place today. Sunny skies and perfect course conditions greeted riders hurling their bikes and bodies down a fan- and competitor-favorite track. The Lousa location is a first-time World Cup race venue, and is hosting a double-header event with Race 1 today and Race 2 on Sunday. Riders will re-qualify for race two on Saturday.
The Junior Women's class, while small, still had a respectable Top 3 battle. Leona Pierrini of France took the win by just under four seconds with Lauryne Chappaz in 2nd and Aina Gonzalez Grimau in 3rd. Props to #USDH shredder, Ella Erickson for making the trip and getting valuable race experience overseas!
There was a shakeup in the Junior Men's class. Oisin O'Callaghan must have had a crash, as he finished last, breaking his winning streak from World Champs and Maribor. Ethan Craik took a win by 2.7 seconds with Pau Menoyo Busquets in 2nd. #USDH schralper, Chris Grice, landed in 3rd place, finding form and gaining experience. YEAH GRICE!
Myriam Nicole showed her strength today. Her time was 4 seconds faster than Marine Cabirou in 2nd and 5 seconds ahead of Tahnee Seagrave in 3rd. Tracey Hannah finished 4th in her final race weekend.
Men's play-to-play highlights
- Gwin finding a solid time, earning the bulk of his advantage through the top and rough portion of track, knocking Greg Williamson out of the hotseat. He lost a second in the pedaling section. 3:58.301. On the hotseat with 10 riders to go, Gwin said he thinks there's more time to be had on the track. #USDH
- Benoit Coulanges looks so good on a bike! He was a second behind Gwin.
- Danny Hart, not his day.
- Angel Suarez is Mr. Consistent. Pedaled around jump after bridge, made up some time in pedal section and finished 1.9 behind Gwin at the time.
- Adam Brayton got bucked hard. Ouch. DNF.
- Pretty sure every World Cup DHer wishes they looked and rode like Phil Atwill on a bike. So rad! He hucked huge at the end. 8th at the time of finishing, 1st in our hearts for style and bike handling.
- Troy Brosnan in the red the entire way, clawing a little back at the bottom, 1.5 off the pace. 4th when he crossed the line.
- Dakotah Norton is a BOSS! In the red at the top, but earned it back through every sector on the way down. Styling and blasting, he was just .011 behind Gwin when he finished. Well done, DAK!!! #USDH
- Finn Iles pushed his front wheel through a turn and went down.
- Thibaut Daprela, first-year Elite, is on a tear. A solid, consistent run, just 1 second off Gwin's pace.
- #RideLikeRemi (regardless of result)
- Loic Bruni takes the lead by 1.1! Gwin was faster through the top sections, but Loic made it all up through the flatter, pedaling section. He was also fiddling with some kind of knob on his fork. Lockout? Claudio and Warner wonder and so do we.
- Greg BIG AIR Minnaar is back! Almost 39 years old and smokes the field. Up through the tech, up through the flats and blasting his way to a 1.9 second lead over Loic Bruni with 3 riders to go.
- Luca Shaw was not on pace today.
- Matt Walker, GREEN at the top, through the rough. Lost time through pedaling, landed nose-heavy off the finish huck and went into 2nd place with only Loris Vergier to go.
- Loris Vergier, flat front tire. GREG MINNAAR WINS his 22nd World Cup DH and Loris result will impact the overall!
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