WOW!!! WHAT A RACE! The first World Cup DH event of 2018 is in the books. See the results and timing break down from an epic race! #USDH CRUSHING IT.
Incredible downhill mountain bike racing under sunny, blue skies took place on the island of Losinj, Croatia, today as the first UCI World Cup DH event concluded in dramatic fashion. Losinj, about 50 miles east of Italy across the Adriatic Sea, is a first-time World Cup venue and while the scenery is breath-taking, the race course was unrelenting and abusive. Razor-sharp rocks littered the track from top to bottom, challenging both bike and rider in a battle of survival. Flat tires cost many riders a result and mechanics experimented with any and all forms of flat-tire protection they could throughout the week. If riders were able to keep air in their tires, the short course was still a physical and mental struggle with countless rocks and holes vying to steal precious momentum and a sprint straight out of the start gate that increased competitor heart rates before the technical challenges began. Thousands of fans cheered the entire way down the two-and-a-half-minute course and the race finished after a short, maze-like wind through the city, ending up at the edge of the sea. Dig into the results and split times to see how this race was won, or lost.
The Red Bull TV webcast revealed just how incredibly talented (and crazy?) the fastest downhill riders are. Practice and training video footage is one thing, we knew the course was rough, but the reckless abandon and speed that racers carried through the rocky sections of the Losinj track was mind-blowing. There was no room for error in the rocks and going down almost certainly meant injury. The fact that any bike, tire or wheel could survive the pounding of this course gave is beyond impressive.
Chronological Run Highlights
A highly competitive Elite Women's class was anticipated for 2018 and the racing in Croatia proved the anticipation was justified. Rachel Atherton was back and healthy, but the rest of the women's field had gained confidence and momentum in the 2017 season, swapping race wins. 2017 World Cup overall winner, Myriam Nicole, will hold on to that number 1 plate with a race win in Losinj. Rachel Atherton, up at the first split, continued to lose time on Nicole down the rest of the course and narrowly took 2nd place over Tahnee Seagrave, who was just .22 seconds back in 3rd.
The Junior Men's class is full of new, competitive young talent. Riders like Finn Iles, Matt Walker and Kaos Seagrave, who have battled for the last couple years, have moved up to the Elite ranks in 2018 leaving fresh, hungry riders to challenge each other in the Junior ranks. French rider, Thibaut Daprela, took the Junior Men's victory. With mentoring from Nicolas Vouilloz and the foundation of French DH success on his side, Thibaut edged out fastest qualifier, Kade Edwards, by 1.6 seconds. Aussie Jr, Kye A'hern, was 3rd, 3.4 seconds off the winning pace. Stoked to see #USDH shredder, Joey Foresta so close to the podium! Keep crushing it!
The bright, young Austrian, Vali Höll earned the win in her first-ever World Cup DH race by a significant 12.5-second margin. Her time of 2:50 and change would have placed her 6th in the Elite Women's class, proving she has a long career ahead. Trackside reports from Sven and crew say that #USDH rider, Anna Newkirk ended up with a flat tire. Her times were solid with podium potential until then. YEAH ANNA!!
TRex
4/22/2018 7:16 PM
BJobs69
4/23/2018 8:21 AM
mp
4/22/2018 6:57 PM
Gwin yet again? This guy is something else. I love that he still kicks everyone's ass and he's on 27.5.
How is USDH doing on the women's side? ... crickets ...
sspomer
4/22/2018 7:23 PM
mp
4/23/2018 7:38 AM
sspomer
4/23/2018 8:03 AM
sspomer
4/22/2018 1:46 PM
jeff231
4/22/2018 11:22 AM
JackRice
4/22/2018 11:42 AM
JackRice
4/22/2018 10:21 AM
Beasy
4/22/2018 9:54 AM
sspomer
4/22/2018 11:51 AM
krisrayner
4/22/2018 9:41 PM
Werratte
4/22/2018 9:13 AM
sspomer
4/22/2018 9:42 AM
Aksel_Lfft
4/22/2018 11:20 AM
boaz
4/22/2018 8:36 AM
stoked for USDH!! gwin, norton and shaw had stellar runs!!
honest question — do they check the riders for doping?
sspomer
4/22/2018 9:41 AM
ka81
4/22/2018 12:47 PM
bizutch
4/22/2018 7:42 AM
kleinblake
4/22/2018 8:44 AM
Hittheshowers13
4/22/2018 8:50 AM
sspomer
4/22/2018 9:41 AM
bizutch
4/23/2018 7:24 PM
phillemaistre
4/22/2018 6:58 AM