SLIDESHOW: World Champs Timed Training & Seeding

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Mick Hannah drops the hammer on the Elite Men as the track drops the hammer on Rachel Atherton, taking her out of the World Championships battle for 2017. It was a big day in Cairns even with two days to go before the big day.

The helmet says all that needs to be said here - "Sik Mik" fastest today. CousCous in audio. -Sven Martin

Full deathgrip-style is how we captured Tracey Hannah today. Did she stop for a tactical, psychological time-out in the woods today? We may never find out. CousCous in audio. -Sven Martin

The Hannahs, riding bikes in Cairns for 20 years and on Sunday they could make MTB history at home while putting CousCous' health in jeopardy, too. @maddogboris

The calm before the storm: sadly a crash in her timed run resulting in a broken collarbone means Rachel won't be racing in finals. -Dan Hearn

Tahnee was fastest down the hill today in the Elite Women's class. She's looking calm, focused and ready for race day, not afraid of letting it drift a little. -Digby Shaw

One last final race run for Finn Iles as a Junior is coming closer. 2.36 seconds faster than second place in seeding. @maddogboris

Kiwi, Shania Rawson, was the fastest Junior woman down the hill today. Although the woods are dark, her future is bright. -Digby Shaw

Even though he is rocking the stiff XC slippers, Loic leans back and opens the throttle full moto style through the whoops today. 2nd, just 1 second off Mick for the former winner here. -Sven Martin

Myriam Nicole perfect as always. Dropping in right after Rachel's crash must have made for a tough run when the mental aspect is such a great component of this sport. -Sven Martin

'Straya's own Jack Moir coming in hot to 3rd place on the wagon wheels. -Dan Hearn

4th for Aaron Gwin, by just 2.5 seconds with some mistakes. There will be some time to be made up if he remembers to turn off the remote lockout in finals! -Dan Hearn

Gwin's suspension is so stiff, we're surprised he can even tell the lock-out is activated. @maddogboris

Greg Minnaar with the 7th fastest timed training run today. As we know him, that is far away for being an indicator for his final run but even he seemed a bit stunned at the result. @maddogboris

Right up there in timed runs. The face of enduro but the feet of downhill. Sam Hill -Sven Martin

It took us a while to find Troy on the results list. 62nd after a crash in the top section, but don't worry, he is still in this to win this. @maddogboris

Stars and stripes: the shapes of the scars you leave the Cairns jungle with. 6th today for Luca Shaw.

Matt Walker had the fastest top split in Juniors and looks like gold will be within reach come Sunday. A crash at the bottom of the track bumped him back to fifth today. -Sven Martin

Sam Blenkinsop looks like this when he scrubs jumps at a million miles per hour. Listen to him explain his technique in the audio. -Sven Martin

A few different options down the final "Generator" section of the track. How you exit this section sets you up for a very big and arduous pedal. Bernard Kerr makes sure to get all the pump he can out of the section. -Sven Martin

Miranda Miller with some early morning goodness in the most tech and awkward rock garden of the whole season. -Sven Martin

Joshua Clark of Australia 2nd in Junior seeding and only 2 seconds off of flying Finn. -Sven Martin

Gee Atherton is back in the Top 10. 9th fastest time for him. @maddogboris

They build this new crop of Junior tough these days. A big stack for Trek's Kade Edwards in training today but he manages to grin and bare it. -Sven Martin

Junior #freeracer Kaos Seagrave racing his shadow down the motor way in practice. -Sven Martin

Which shot of Kaos Seagrave do you like more? Mine or Sven's? @maddogboris

Rupert Chapman with a big effort in the final sector brought him to 16th today. I'll say he still prefers to fly than pedal though. -Sven Martin

Filling in for Duncan Philpott. #panshotfriday-Sven Martin

Tarzan territory here in the Smithfield jungle. An easy climb for a silverback to get the shot. -Sven Martin

GT's Tom Duncan travelling light courtesy of Belgium Airlines.

Four Aussies in the Top 7 Junior Men with Harry Parsons here in fourth. -Sven Martin

Casing the big Mik stepdown drop never ends well. Italy's Francesco Colombo pays the price. -Sven Martin

Some perspective of how this track snakes through the jungle. -Digby Shaw

Vaea Verbeeck caught the rider in front of her pretty quickly, rode a significant portion of the track trying to get past, and still got 6th place. A testament to her form at the moment. -Dan Hearn

One of the few top 20 riders to be piloting a semi-slick rear tire, Marcelo Gutierrez, who could do some serious damage on the final sprint. -Dan Hearn

There are still 2 days to go until downhill finals but the Australian fans are ready for action. -Dan Hearn

You don't choose the thug life. The thug life chooses you. #squidsontour -Dan Hearn

12% of the Elite Men are Australians. The fans will be stoked to see their country represented so well. Jake Newell throwing style in training today. -Dan Hearn

Not the best timed training result for Brook Macdonald, but no less aggression through the rough stuff. -Dan Hearn

Swiss precision. Emilie Siegenthaler wrestled her bike into 4th place today. -Dan Hearn

In the morning at 7.30am is the world still good! Heal up Rachel! @maddogboris

Yeah Tahnee Seagrave! Fastest timed run for her even with a non-perfect run. That holiday feeling with after-training coffee for the win? @maddogboris

#USDH Bruce Klein tied with Marcelo Gutierrez for 10th. Down to the thousandth of a second, they had an identical run. YEAH BRUCE! @maddogboris

BoXXer World Champs ready to take a bite out of Saturday! @maddogboris

Junior women, Paula Zibasa, always pushing hard and deserves her second fastest time. @maddogboris

UK Junior Joe Breeden 6 seconds behind Finn Iles. @maddogboris

Little Hurricane in the pits. We Hope it doesnt come back! @maddogboris

Eliot Jackson leaving some dustmarks after scrubbing at full speed. @maddogboris

Man, I love Aaron Gwin's Vital audio interviews. Always super nice and professional with so much insight. Thanks buddy! @maddogboris

See ya! @maddogboris