Canadians shine through downpour in Downhill Qualifying

Juniors on form, Langevin top Canadian elite qualifier as 2019 world championships return to Canada

Terry McKall August 30, 2019

Conditions were treacherous for downhill qualifying today at Mont-Sainte-Anne, and the local Canadians made the most of it.

Hugo Langevin led the Canadian elite men’s contingent. Riding very close to home, Langevin (Devinci) qualified 10th at Mont-Sainte-Anne. The home-team’s junior team looked especially comfortable in treacherous conditions, finishing qualifying with four riders in the top seven positions.

Mont-Sainte-Anne downhill qualifiers — Magnus Manson floats over the final section of rocks at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Elite Men – Hart interrupts France’s dominance

If there’s one rider who excels in muddy conditions, it’s Danny Hart. The Madison Saracen rider set the fastest time on Friday at Mont-Sainte-Anne by a massive 3.452 second margin. If conditions look as rough on Sunday as they did in qualifying, look for Hart to reprise his legnedary 2011 Champery, France world championships win.

Behind Hart, Loris Vergier led the French contingent, qualifying second, followed by New Zealands Brook Macdonald. French riders rounded out the top five, with defending champ Loïc Bruni in P4, and Amaury Pierron in 5th.

Danny Hart hunting for traction on a flat grass corner. MSA is more than just burly rocks and high speed motorways.

Canadians were looking fast on their home course, setting fast times early on. One of those times, Hugo Langevin’s 4:38.389, held up all day. The Devinci rider qualified 10th, riding at home in Quebec.

Mark Wallace (Canyon Factory Racing) was the next-fastest Canuck. The Vancouver Island rider stopped the clock 11th fastest on Friday. Not far behind, Canadian national champion Finn Iles qualified 13th. Iles has qualified fast all year, but has had less luck converting that into a finals result. Hopefully P13 will prove lucky for the Specialized rider at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

2017 and 2016 Canadian national champion Kirk McDowall (Devinci / Unior Factory Racing) put down a very solid 20th on Friday, adding another potential Canadian threat for Sunday’s final.

Samuel Thibault ended Friday in P54, and 2018 Canadian national champion Magnus Manson 58th. Both will start Sunday’s final.

Elite Women – Nicole fastest, Seagrave returns

Just recently returned from injury, Myriam Nicole (Commencal Vallnord) set the fastest elite women’s time on Friday. The Friench rider was 2.190 seconds ahead of World Cup leader Tracey Hannah (Polygon UR) of Australia.

Marine Cabirou (Scott Factory DH) added a second French woman in the top three, with Tahnee Seagrave (Transition Muc-off) sitting ominously in fifth in her first race back after missing much of the race season.

Vaea Verbeeck (Rocky Mountain) led the Canadians in the elite women’s field. The recently crowned Queen of Crankworx qualified 13th. Whistlers Georgia Astle (Devinci) was 14th and 2017 world champion Miranda Miller (Kona Factory Racing) 15th. Rachel Pageau (Pivot-OTE) was injured in training and could not start.

Junior downhill qualifiers – Canadian’s continue their charge

Canada’s junior men have impressed on the World Cup circuit all year and, with world championships landing at home, weren’t slowing down at Mont-Sainte-Anne. Taking advantage of the easier travel conditions, the men were joined by three junior women, led by Bailey Goldstone in ninth.

Lucas Cruz (SRAM-TLD Racing) led the charge, setting the second fastest junior men’s time behind France’s Antoine Vidal. Returning to the course where he made his World Cup debut, Elliot Jamieson (Norco Factory Racing) was third on Friday.

Patrick Laffey (Devinci) wasn’t far behind, qualifying sixth. He was followed immediately by Lenzerheide World Cup winner Seth Sherlock of Squamish.

Emmett Hancock was 23rd on Friday, Justin Clements 26th, and Milton McConville 30th in the 52 rider junior men’s field.

On the women’s side, junior downhill phenom Valentina Höll looked comfortable, qualifying first by 14 seconds. Millie Johnset (Atherton Racing) and Anna Newkirk (SRAM Young Guns) were closest to the Austrian sensation, in second and third.

Canada’s junior women haven’t spent as much time on the international racing circuit, but showed speed in Quebec. Bailey Goldstone of Squamish led the way, qualifying ninth. Amy Ertel was 12th and Madison Skrypnek 14th.

Downhill Qualifying Results: 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada

Junior Women

1	HOLL Valentina	5:41.920
2	JOHNSET Mille	+14.763
3	NEWKIRK Anna	+16.109
4	CHAPPAZ Lauryne	+1:05.179
5	GIMENEZ Nastasia	+1:05.323
6	MURRAY Fiona	+1:18.840
7	SCOTT Jordan	+1:22.758
8	VOYSEY Cassie	+1:24.654
9	GOLDSTONE Bailey	+1:45.093
10	THIES Sabine	+2:00.151
11	MERTEN McKenna	+2:04.340
12	ERTEL Amy	+2:13.556
13	PARHAM Autumn	+2:14.756
14	SKRYPNEK Madison	+2:29.762