RESULTS: Bielsko-Biala UCI DH Elite World Cup Qualifying (Q2)

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We didn't know exactly how the qualifying format changes would play out, but so far it seems there is no shortage of drama and excitement! With only 20 spots available for the 100+ elite men lined up for qualifying session #1, competition was fierce and you could easily find yourself left out for the sake of a few split seconds. Good news - you get another chance in Q2. Bad news...there's a lot of very fast riders in Q2! The list of those who failed to qualify in Q1 reads like a nightmare if you're trying to snag one of the remaining qualifying spots, with top talent heading out on the course with every beep of the start gate.

Don't forget to play Vital Downhill Fantasy - you have a few hours left to get your picks in!

The women were first on deck with 22 riders lining up to battle for 5 qualifying spots. Interestingly enough, the three riders that finished the closest to qualifying in Q1 failed to capitalize in Q2, which just goes to show that it ain't over til it's over and anything can happen in any given run. Lisa Baumann signed the biggest Q1->Q2 improvement of the day, going from 21st in Q1 to 1st place in Q2 (with a time that would have put her 4th in Q1 earlier today). Note that the the start order for finals tomorrow will have the Q2 qualifiers drop first, in reverse order of their Q2 placement, followed by the Q1 qualifiers in reverse order of their Q1 placement.

As 75 men lined up to fight for 10 qualifying spots, the tension was palpable. They call it a last-chance qualifier and that feels like an apt description. Amaury and Dylan Maples laid down the early markers, with Maples' time barely good enough to have qualified in Q1. Troy and Loris went on to better that time but still left some 3 seconds on the table compared to Loic's winning time from Q1. There was a lot of moisture on the course, and it looked like pretty rough sledding for the Q2 competitors.

2025 Bielsko-Biala UCI DH World Cup Results - Elite Women Qualifying Session #2