Bodhi Kuhn leads Canadian juniors in qualifying at Vallnord DH
Five Canucks through to finals in Andorra
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Photo: Giacomo Podetti
World Cup downhill racing is back and current junior men’s leader, Bodhi Kuhn of Rossland, B.C., is picking up right where he left off with a second place in qualifying in Andorra on Thursday.
Valentina Roa Sanchez (Transition Factory Racing) led the women’s qualifying, followed by Erice van Leuven (Commencal Les Orres) and France’s Lais Bonnaure. Joy Attalla had a crash in practice and will sit out this round, meaning no Canadians started the junior women’s race.
Bodhi Kuhn (Trek Factory Racing) qualified second in the junior men’s race. But it was the U.S.A.’s Ryan Pinkerton (Pinkbike Racing) taking the top spot in seeding. Evan Medcalf (Evolve) made it a North American 1-2-3 with the third-fastest time of the day.
Ryan Griffith (Pivot Factory Racing) joins Kuhn in the junior men’s final after setting the seventh-fastest qualifying time. As does Jon Mozell (Forbidden Synthesis) in 12th. Dane Jewett (Pivot Factory Racing) and Jack Macleod (Outlaw United) both just squeeze into finals, taking the last two qualifying spots in 24th and 25th. That men’s Macleod’s teammate, Dylan Marino just misses out after setting the 27th fastest time. Max Halchuck (35th), Henry Sherry (37th), Ethan Donohoe (42nd), Jake Polito (53rd), Michael Delesalle (60th) and Zac Stratton (80th) all fall outside this weekend’s qualifying cut-off. Tegan Cruz and Canadian national champion Brock Hawes both crashed in practice. Cruz’s injuries could see him sit out a couple of rounds while Hawes somehow escaped a wild crash and, while he won’t be back on course this weekend, will return to racing soon.
Valentina Roa Sanchez (Transition Factory Racing) led the women’s qualifying, followed by Erice van Leuven (Commencal Les Orres) and France’s Lais Bonnaure. No Canadians started the junior women’s race.
