Downhill Action from the Lourdes World Cup

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Happy birthday, George Brannigan! French breakdance practice to celebrate birth and the first World Cup of the year. @maddogboris
One of the fastest on track today, Loic Bruni already looks at home on the new rig - Duncan Philpott
Mechanics were flat-out today! - Duncan Philpott
You think it's all carbon bikes and rock hucks. #squidlife
Hey Greg, Sven, Duncan and Boris were too busy ordering burgers to send a photo of you today, so I made this screengrab dealie from Bowman's Vital RAW so we could hear your audio. Friends before food. -gordo
Funicular to the freezing clouds. The conditions weren't easy for the B practice this morning. - Duncan Philpott
The sardine funicular carrier takes up the women and weapons to B practice. -Sven Martin
Une croissant SVP. Joe Bowman starts his day RAW. -Sven Martin
I tried this shot last year and Duncan said it wasn't up to scratch. This year the sky was a little bit bluer and it got the nod. -Sven Martin
Icy start to the day! - Duncan Philpott
Mandatory #panshotfriday of Marine Cabirou on one of the few leafy trees trackside. -Sven Martin
When you're pro, you're pro. - Duncan Philpott
Aaron Gwin finished first here last year but left with the #2 plate after a crash in qualifying. Not too much he has left to improve upon. -Sven Martin
Tahnee had a good 10 minutes on the uplift this morning to come to terms with not bringing a warm jacket. @maddogboris
Peaty was handing out free lessons in DH riding to the B practice group this morning. - Duncan Philpott
Remi Remi Remi hucking as he does. Fastest in timed training. -Sven Martin
Yes. Sam Dale digging holes and flicking heavy, solid clumps of dirt into the woods. -Sven Martin
Griffon Vultures had plenty to feed on during the slippery B practice. -Sven Martin
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The right way and the wrong way. -Sven Martin
I had an email request this morning from a major magazine for a shot of a rider falling on his head for a helmet shoot-out review opening spread. This happened literally 5 minutes later. True story. Thanks. -Sven Martin (Editor's note: What's a magazine? -gordo)
If a Brendan Fairclough deathgrips in the woods, does anyone see it? - Duncan Philpott
If a Phil Atwill triples in the woods, does it make a "braaap"? @maddogboris
Wyn "Seagull" Masters...kaa kaah! Suffering a little with a still-healing wrist. He has the corner speed, though, -Sven Martin
Rachel on her last run letting it get all loose and moto. -Sven Martin
Even the girls are going longer on the bikes these days. Rachel running a Large Long. -Sven Martin
Polishing helmets is the order of the day with all the new bling abound. -Sven Martin
Gee looked on it from the very first runs, it takes more than a bit of mud to phase the G-man. - Johan Hjord
Tahnee Seagrave shredding the dark turns before sunrise. -Sven Martin
Sam Hill no longer in a TLD lid. This will take some getting used to. End of an era for sure. 11th in timed training. -Sven Martin
A Slice of British Pie premieres tomorrow after practice, expect to see some shenanigans from this duo. Tommy C and sub-title guy. -Sven Martin
Trek Mechanic, Owen Coutts, is already super stoked before sunrise! This guy brings his own unique attitude to the downhill ccene. @maddogboris
Brage Vestavik getting his power manual out of turns. #scannerdialed -Sven Martin
Victor Guillemaud shooting out of the train tunnel at warp speed. -Sven Martin
Can you smell the cordite? Sparks and smoke from chainrings on the rocks this morning. -Sven Martin
Marcelo was fast and smooth in timed training. 2nd on the day just 0.3 behind Remi. -Sven Martin
Jackets allowed for temperatures below 2 degrees C. Despite #mtbatman's best efforts to convince riders otherwise. - Duncan Philpott
Slugger's used to these early starts with a fresh child in the house. Perfect for B practice. - Duncan Philpott
With the racing happening on the edge of the Pyrenees, the weather can be unpredictable. This didn't stop the fearless Juniors getting hyped up for the first round of the year. - Duncan Philpott
Bring skis for qualifying - Duncan Philpott
5th fastest in timed runs, Bernard Kerr gets on the attack in front of the crowds of people still figuring their lines - Duncan Philpott
The pressure of a big helmet deal can cause some to crack. Finn Iles takes it in stride. - Duncan Philpott
Red Bull are trying out some next-level tech for tracking riding details displayed during the webcast. - Duncan Philpott
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Matt Walker showed off his bike then did this. -Johan Hjord
It is little known fact that Wookies dine on trout pellets for their energy reserves. - Duncan Philpott
One of the delights in life; free sandwiches. It's the little things, ya know? - Duncan Philpott
A headless Majestic Mike floating down the steep wall section. ('cuz of the camo, get it?) - Duncan Philpott
Yeeeeeea Connor. World Cup 1, Day 1 and corners are already getting destroyed - Duncan Philpott
Troy Brosnan with some sneaky inside lines. Foot out, too. - Duncan Philpott
Don't touch those brakes in the corner! - Duncan Philpott
When the weather comes in, the track here gets hella difficult. - Duncan Philpott
Slick tracks make for rowdy moments. #whitesoftheyes - Duncan Philpott
Dougie Fresh is a legend and as such, he gets his own cup. -Sven Martin
Drink water, unless beer. - Duncan Philpott
Northern is now on-hand in the orange tent of Kona, which despite its best efforts, did not warm up the freezing temperatures - Duncan Philpott
Katy Curd on the attack in the slick top rocks - Duncan Philpott
Finding all the speed from every backside available. Sam Blenkinsop in one of the rare moments of sunshine. Let's hope that cursed ball of fire (the sun, not Blenki) makes an appearance during qualifying and race day. Stay tuned for the action! - Duncan Philpott
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Description

What better way to drop into the first World Cup downhill of the season than with frigid temperatures and a slick, muddy track. Riders were greeted with some less-than-stellar conditions in Lourdes, France, today as they rode the course for their first runs. The official timed training session took place at the end of practice. Conditions improved slightly only to be rained out before practice concluded. Remi Thirion and Rachel Atherton laid down the fastest runs in the Elite classes. The Top 6 Elite Men were separated by less than one second, laying the foundation for an epic race to come.

Sven Martin, Duncan Philpott, @maddogboris and Johan Hjord drop the photos, videos and interviews from the opening day on the mountain!

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