βLeogang provided arguably the most dramatic race we've ever experienced from the UCI World Cup Downhill with incredibly close racing and unbelievable race run tales. The Elite Men Top 5 were separated by less than 2-seconds. The Leogang downhill course included new, natural steep sections compared to 2014 which livened up the historically-described "bike park" course.
The Junior Men raced first with dry conditions but overcast skies. Andrew Crimmins (Kona Factory Team) backed up his 1st place qualifier with a considerable 3-second victory over Jacob Dickson (Orange/Dirt) and Laurie Greenland (Trek World Racing).
Elite Women's racing was drama-filled with windy conditions on the upper part of the course, so spotty rain showers and a DSQ for the current World Champ, Manon Carpenter (Madison Saracen). Carpenter, just feet from the finish line, hit the final jump and ran too far inside, breaking the tape and re-entering the course further down than where she left. She crossed the finish line before she could even try to stop and re-enter the course. An inspired Tahnee Seagrave finished in 2nd place with a strong run, edging out 3rd place Emmeline Ragot (MS Mondraker) by less than .2-seconds. Rachel Atherton (GT Factory Racing) finally broke her non-winning streak at Leogang with a top-of-the-box performance in Austria. Confident and collected, Rachel put together a run without any major mistakes to earn gold with a 4:04.10 time, 2-seconds faster than her qualifying result.
Loic Bruni (Lapierre Gravity Republic) ran early due to a crash in qualifying and held the fastest time by 2-seconds before the Top 20 dropped. His run was consistent, but he admitted to riding tight and did not think his time would hold up for the victory. His 3:38 was 3-seconds slower than Aaron Gwin's qualifying time from the day before. Bruni's time held up to the performances of the next 10 riders down the track and he remained in the hot seat. Brook MacDonald (Trek World Racing) described the strong winds on course, specifically in the motorway, proved to be a challenge. The riders continued to drop in, falling short of Bruni's time until Troy Brosnan (Specialized Racing), the 8th place qualifier, took out Bruni by 2.5-seconds with a 3:35.92. 7 riders remained. 2014 Leogang winner, and arguably the last rider to win a World Cup Downhill on 26-inch wheels, Josh Bryceland was nearly 2-seconds off Troy's pace. Last week's winner, Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) who was looking for his 18th World Cup win, was on pace to beat Troy, but made some minor bobbles right before the finish drop which may have cost him the .3-second deficit that kept him from taking the lead. Gee Atherton (GT Factory Racing), also chasing his first-ever Leogang win could not match the pace of Brosnan and went into 3rd with 3 riders remaining. All eyes were on Remi Thirion (Commencal Andorra). A stylish fan-favorite, the French rider had the pace at the top of the course and a slight edge at the 2nd split. Brushing trees and taking some unique lines, Thirion pushed Brosnan out of the hot seat by just .2-seconds. Young Australian, Connor Fearon (Kona Factory Racing) dropped in and left everyone in his dust. 1.5-seconds up at the 2nd split, he finished his run 1.2-seconds ahead of Thirion, but he rode outside of the tape on the finish drop leaving everyone questioning a DSQ. With cat-like reflexes, however, he managed to stay within the poles which kept his run legal. Aaron Gwin (Specialized Racing) left the start gate in and instantly snapped a chain and had to coast his entire run. AARON GWIN WON THE RACE WITHOUT A CHAIN by just .04-seconds over Connor Fearon in a mind-boggling feat of flow.
Gwin retains the 2015 World Cup overall lead with Loic Bruni in 2nd and Greg Minnaar in 3rd.
1 | GWIN Aaron | USA19871224 | SPECIALIZED RACING | 3:34.354 |
2 | FEARON Connor | AUS19940119 | KONA FACTORY TEAM | +0.045 |
3 | THIRION Remi | FRA19900423 | COMMENCAL / VALLNORD | +1.330 |
4 | BROSNAN Troy | AUS19930713 | SPECIALIZED RACING | +1.569 |
5 | MINNAAR Greg | RSA19811113 | +1.948 | |
6 | ATHERTON Gee | GBR19850226 | GT FACTORY RACING | +2.798 |
7 | BRYCELAND Josh | GBR19900323 | +3.544 | |
8 | BRUNI Loic | FRA19940513 | LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC | +4.326 |
9 | MACDONALD Brook | NZL19911125 | TREK WORLD RACING | +5.076 |
10 | GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS Marcelo | COL19900509 | GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM | +5.083 |
11 | FAIRCLOUGH Brendan | GBR19880110 | GSTAAD-SCOTT | +5.206 |
12 | BRANNIGAN George | NZL19920409 | TREK WORLD RACING | +5.739 |
13 | SIMMONDS Matthew | GBR19870520 | MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM | +6.078 |
14 | KERR Bernard | GBR19910216 | PIVOT FACTORY DH TEAM | +6.350 |
15 | BLENKINSOP Samuel | NZL19881028 | NORCO FACTORY RACING | +6.810 |
16 | HEATH Harry | GBR19910805 | NORCO FACTORY RACING | +6.857 |
17 | MASTERS Edward | NZL19890818 | BERGAMONT HAYES COMPONENTS FACTORY TEAM | +7.257 |
18 | DALE Sam | GBR19900212 | MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM | +7.406 |
19 | VERGIER Loris | FRA19960507 | LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC | +7.631 |
20 | PEKOLL Markus | AUT19871013 | MS MONDRAKER TEAM | +7.949 |
21 | MULALLY Neko | USA19930219 | GSTAAD-SCOTT | +8.248 |
22 | RUFFIN Thibaut | FRA19841030 | COMMENCAL / VALLNORD | +8.483 |
23 | COULANGES Benoit | FRA19941220 | ROC VTT OZ-EN-OISANS | +8.596 |
24 | LUCAS Dean | AUS19950502 | DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING | +9.192 |
25 | WILLIAMSON Greg | GBR19920608 | TREK WORLD RACING | +9.203 |
26 | CHAPMAN Rupert | NZL19920409 | BERGAMONT HAYES COMPONENTS FACTORY TEAM | +9.517 |
27 | CUNNINGHAM Ruaridh | GBR19890215 | UNIOR TOOLS TEAM | +9.570 |
28 | SHAW Luca | USA19961225 | SRAM/TLD RACING | +9.815 |
29 | MASTERS Wyn | NZL19870418 | TEAM BULLS - DH | +9.844 |
30 | LEBL Martin | CZE19960816 | +9.973 | |
31 | CABIROU Rudy | FRA19940511 | +10.098 | |
32 | WALLACE Mark | CAN19950601 | DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING | +10.306 |
33 | VERNON Taylor | GBR19960912 | GT FACTORY RACING | +10.668 |
34 | MOLLOY Harry | GBR19910530 | SOLID-REVERSE FACTORY RACING | +10.963 |
35 | GRUBER Manuel | AUT19921127 | RADON MAGURA FACTORY | +11.296 |
36 | SMITH Joseph | GBR19900704 | CHAIN REACTION CYCLES / PAYPAL | +11.329 |
37 | THOME Patrick | FRA19911020 | CK RACING | +11.402 |
38 | FIGARET Faustin | FRA19931107 | CALVISSON VTT | +11.406 |
39 | GUARDIA PASCUAL Bernat | ESP19820930 | INTENSE FACTORY RACING | +11.555 |
40 | LEIVSSON Isak | NOR19931017 | +11.701 | |
41 | READING Jack | GBR19881210 | ONE VISION GLOBAL RACING | +11.837 |
42 | GEORGES Pierre Charles | FRA19860206 | LAC BLANC SCOTT | +11.942 |
43 | PAULHAN Romain | FRA19880416 | KONA - X1 RACING | +12.132 |
44 | BEER Nick | SUI19870917 | RADON MAGURA FACTORY | +12.215 |
45 | TETZLAFF Boris | AUT19900121 | +12.273 | |
46 | JORBA PRATS Ferran | ESP19960425 | INTENSE FACTORY RACING | +12.286 |
47 | FERREIRO PAJUELO Antonio | ESP19900103 | +12.350 | |
48 | SUAREZ ALONSO Angel | ESP19951202 | +12.738 | |
49 | NIEDERBERGER Noel | SUI19950821 | SWISS DOWNHILL SYNDICATE | +12.861 |
50 | STUTTARD Mathew | GBR19930604 | TWOTWO GRAVITY RACING | +13.003 |
51 | PIERRON Baptiste | FRA19930808 | +13.094 | |
52 | TRUMMER David | AUT19940601 | GHOST RRP | +13.195 |
53 | CEPELAK Jan | CZE19940702 | +13.983 | |
54 | BRAYTON Adam | GBR19881019 | +14.233 | |
55 | ESTAQUE Thomas | FRA19961115 | LAC BLANC SCOTT | +14.443 |
56 | PAYET Florent | FRA19861121 | CK RACING | +14.484 |
57 | BOUVET Jacques | GER19940806 | TEAM BULLS - DH | +14.602 |
58 | STRASSER Benny | GER19890805 | RADON MAGURA FACTORY | +14.647 |
59 | CONNELL Joseph | GBR19940320 | +14.782 | |
60 | DICKERSON Bryn | NZL19911015 | +14.922 | |
61 | GALLAGHER Kenta | GBR19920622 | +15.002 | |
62 | CARBALLO GONZALEZ Edgar | ESP19881222 | +15.010 | |
63 | DAVIES Emyr | GBR19900315 | +15.284 | |
64 | JORBA PRATS Guillem | ESP19940319 | +15.786 | |
65 | PONS Melvin | FRA19940805 | +15.948 | |
66 | WIBMER Fabio | AUT19950630 | +16.023 | |
67 | VAUH Miran | SLO19821104 | +16.200 | |
68 | LEVESQUE Dylan | FRA19961009 | +16.441 | |
69 | BUCHANAN Lewis | GBR19930927 | BANSHEE BIKES FACTORY TEAM | +16.746 |
70 | JONES Michael | GBR19950222 | CHAIN REACTION CYCLES / PAYPAL | +17.658 |
71 | WILSON Reece | GBR19960611 | UNIOR TOOLS TEAM | +17.731 |
72 | HANSSON Marcus | SWE19960429 | EXCEPTIO SPORT - COMMENCAL | +17.817 |
73 | SPLICHAL Lukas | CZE19920406 | +18.153 | |
74 | GRAHAM Innes | GBR19960703 | MS MONDRAKER TEAM | +18.353 |
75 | PAZDZIORKO Gregoire | BEL19950328 | +18.471 | |
76 | JAUCH Jasper | GER19910721 | +19.605 | |
77 | RUFFIN Gaetan | FRA19910629 | COMMENCAL / VALLNORD | +19.678 |
78 | SMITH Steve | CAN19891125 | DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING | +35.133 |
79 | CAIRE Carlo | ITA19940804 | AB DEVINCI ITALY | +2:21.324 |
PIERRON Amaury | FRA19960304 | LAC BLANC SCOTT | DNF |
1 | ATHERTON Rachel | GBR19871206 | GT FACTORY RACING | 4:04.108 |
2 | SEAGRAVE Tahnee | GBR19950615 | FMD RACING | +3.018 |
3 | RAGOT Emmeline | FRA19860527 | MS MONDRAKER TEAM | +3.171 |
4 | SIEGENTHALER Emilie | SUI19860919 | PIVOT FACTORY DH TEAM | +10.022 |
5 | KINTNER Jill | USA19811024 | +10.392 | |
6 | HANNAH Tracey | AUS19880613 | POLYGON UR | +10.947 |
7 | CHARRE Morgane | FRA19900609 | SOLID-REVERSE FACTORY RACING | +14.214 |
8 | MILLER Miranda | CAN19900302 | +19.227 | |
9 | CAPPELLARI Carina | SUI19911106 | RADON MAGURA FACTORY | +19.677 |
10 | CURD Katy | GBR19890427 | +21.034 | |
11 | SALAZAR PALOMO Mariana | ESA19940506 | +24.770 | |
12 | CABIROU Marine Β° | FRA19970312 | +26.560 | |
13 | BROWN Casey | CAN19901027 | BERGAMONT HAYES COMPONENTS FACTORY TEAM | +26.639 |
14 | BARTOVA Jana | CZE19900217 | GHOST RRP | +31.722 |
15 | MOLLOY Tegan | AUS19960118 | KONA FACTORY TEAM | +32.509 |
16 | MARCELLINI Alia | ITA19910711 | KORAX/LAPIERRE/DIRTYTEAM | +33.882 |
17 | OURDOUILLIE Fiona | FRA19950726 | +36.372 | |
18 | WUNDERLIN Alba | SUI19841117 | +36.964 | |
19 | LOHNER Laura | FRA19920415 | +1:04.396 | |
20 | JENSEN Hope Β° | GBR19970717 | +1:38.665 | |
21 | ARACIL ALBA Blanca Β° | AND19981120 | +1:42.045 | |
22 | STRIVENS Rona Β° | GBR19980131 | +2:34.022 | |
23 | PETROVA Polina Β° | BUL19980423 | +3:49.862 | |
CARPENTER Manon | GBR19930311 | MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM | DSQ |
1 | CRIMMINS Andrew | AUS19970809 | KONA FACTORY TEAM | 3:42.706 |
2 | DICKSON Jacob | IRL19971005 | ORANGE DIRT WORLD TEAM, XFUSION | +3.087 |
3 | GREENLAND Laurie | GBR19970218 | TREK WORLD RACING | +3.362 |
4 | LALY Thibault | FRA19970520 | FRANCE | +6.856 |
5 | FREW Jackson | AUS19980626 | AUSTRALIA | +8.105 |
6 | FITZGERALD Henry | CAN19980813 | STEVE PEAT SYNDICATE GLOBAL | +9.488 |
7 | STEWART Neil | GBR19970424 | FMD RACING | +9.500 |
8 | WARSHAWSKY Max | AUS19970609 | BERGAMONT HAYES COMPONENTS FACTORY TEAM | +9.555 |
9 | GRANDY Silas | GER19971029 | GERMANY | +9.909 |
10 | MARIN TRILLO Alex | ESP19970325 | GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM | +11.184 |
11 | SWINBANK Bradley | GBR19970630 | STEVE PEAT SYNDICATE GLOBAL | +11.585 |
12 | HARRISON Charlie | USA19971018 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +12.469 |
13 | MASARYK Oskar | SVK19970707 | SLOVAKIA | +12.502 |
14 | MCCUBBING Frazer | GBR19970208 | STEVE PEAT SYNDICATE GLOBAL | +12.574 |
15 | OTONICAR Nal | SLO19970626 | UNIOR TOOLS TEAM | +13.037 |
16 | PFEIFFER Bryan | FRA19970311 | FRANCE | +13.279 |
17 | HEAP Elliott | GBR19980106 | CHAIN REACTION CYCLES / PAYPAL | +13.294 |
18 | MARRY Kevin | FRA19980517 | FRANCE | +13.798 |
19 | HATTON Charlie | GBR19980223 | GREAT BRITAIN | +14.925 |
20 | OXLEY Nial | GBR19970610 | TWOTWO GRAVITY RACING | +15.906 |
21 | MACEK Libor | CZE19970615 | CZECH REPUBLIC | +18.075 |
22 | PAYET Jordan | FRA19980329 | FRANCE | +18.164 |
23 | LONG Yann | FRA19970616 | FRANCE | +20.979 |
24 | BICHLER Hannes | AUT19970727 | AUSTRIA | +21.300 |
25 | MCGEE Calum | GBR19970119 | GREAT BRITAIN | +21.908 |
26 | BERGINC Luka | SLO19970717 | SLOVENIA | +23.522 |
27 | HAVARD Kyle | GBR19980619 | GREAT BRITAIN | +28.705 |
28 | BUISAN Sylvain | FRA19980514 | FRANCE | +46.021 |
29 | COUGOUREUX Benoit | FRA19970928 | TEAM LES GETS BIKEPARK | +46.770 |
30 | MORTON Remy | AUS19980309 | POLYGON UR | +1:46.525 |
F1234K
6/14/2015 9:40 PM
Eddie Masters

And yes, Gwin did what I was praying Niko would do, win without a chain, brilliant
joss
6/14/2015 12:41 PM
Greatest World Cup run in history? Discuss.
CombatMutt
6/14/2015 8:45 AM
Holleeeeeeeeeeeee smokes!!!
Scrub
6/14/2015 8:36 AM
America can't be held back by no stinking chains
bturman
6/14/2015 8:00 AM
Courtesy of Uncle Cliffy.
sspomer
6/14/2015 8:02 AM
LOL!!!
joss
6/14/2015 12:43 PM
I can't hit that little thumbs-up icon more than once. Can you fix that please?
Uncle Cliffy
6/14/2015 11:40 PM
To be honest, this came from another forum user during the whole Trek to Specialized "letter of intent" debacle.
After todays events, it seemed appropriate to revive it. You're welcome.
Yippee_Ki_YayMF
6/14/2015 8:00 AM
Gwin totally deserved to win, but I still feel sorry for Fearon. So close to his first WC win.
OCsponger587
6/14/2015 7:56 AM
haha he said the suspenion works good with no chain
NWDommen
6/14/2015 10:41 AM
thats because sram ders mess with suspension.
Samwell
6/14/2015 11:26 AM
You can clearly see it on the line where only thirion and fearon took inside, on the slow-mo you see bruni chain (sram) hardly move, when gee atherton (shimano) is all over the place. If the derailleur spring is too strong, your suspension is a lot harder to compress, that's why I don't use the type 2 derailleur blocking on my derailleurs, or I loose a lot of sensibility in the rear.
russthedog
6/14/2015 7:51 AM
cant talk. gwin. thirion. manon. seagrave. atherton. what. a. race.
kobe10
6/14/2015 7:47 AM
well done gwinny ur from a different planet