Finn Iles pilots secret Specialized to World Cup podium in Lenzerheide

It was another huge day for Canadian downhill on Saturday in Switzerland. Finn Iles stormed to a second place finish – matching his career-best result from earlier this season.

Only Amaury Pierron could best the Canadian, continuing the French riders stellar 2022 season. Myriam Nicole and Camille Balanche once again went head-to-head to fight it out for dominance in the women’s field.

Elite men: Iles versus Pierron (Part 2)

Finn Iles had some problems in his qualifier but the Specialized Gravity rider was absolutely on one on his prototype Specialized Demo in finals. The Canadian national champ was absolutely flying, scrubbing jumps so hard he was almost bar-dragging, Iles stormed into a huge 2-second advantage over early leader, Aaron Gwin (Intense Factory)

“I’m really happy with my run. I had a couple mistakes at the top, the lower part was really good,” Iles said in the finish area. “It’s a hard track to have a perfect run on.”

Interview: Finn Iles is carrying speed – and confidence – into 2022

Greg Minnaar was next up and, after leading most of the way down the track, the world champ crossed the line just 0.303 sseconds behind Iles.

Mark Wallace looked fast and consistent, pulling back time on the top riders through Lenzerheide’s steepest sections. It’s enough for 14th on the line.

Dakotah Norton (Intense Factory) was a full second up on Iles time before sliding out and nearly crashing off of the wooden ramp for a mid-course road gap. The U.S. national champ walked back up to send the jump and continue his run, but was far down the standings.

Amaury Pierron (Commencal Muc-Off) has two wins already this year, and appears almost unstoppable when he’s on a good run. The French rider was hauling through the steep woods, cutting his lines so close he was brushing against the safety padding on trees.

Amaury Pierron takes the win in Lenzerheide by a big 1.402-second margin. Just as in Lourdes, he pushes Iles into second.

Finn Iles takes second place on his prototype Specialized, matching his career-best result from Lourdes earlier this season. With those two results, the Canadian is sitting fourth in the overall points race, even after sitting out Fort William.

Greg Minnaar takes third, just 0.007 seconds ahead of Andreas Kolb in fourth. Benoit Coulanges (Dorval AM Commencal) rounds out the podium in fifth.

Canadians in Lenzerheide

Just three Canadians started Saturday’s final in Switzerland. Iles finished second and Wallace 14th. Lucas Cruz (Norco Factory Team) rolled into 51st to round out the results.

Elite women: Atherton’s comeback but Nicole’s day

Rachel Atherton drops in for a World Cup final for the first time since 2019. The Brit earned one of her six world championships in Lenzerheide in 2018, but the course has changed significantly in the intervening years. While claiming to be easing back into racing, Atherton lands a very solid sixth in Lenzerheide.

Eleanora Farina (MS Mondraker) had a big mistake at the top but recovered and built speed the whole way down. The Italian takes third.

Myriam Nicole had one big moment of sliding, but held on perfectly. From there on, the world champion was unstoppable. Nicole storms to a massive 4.419-second win in Lenzerheide.

Camille Balanche (Dorval AM Commencal) was holding within reach of Nicole before blowing a foot off in the woods. From there, the Swiss rider slowly drifted back. While not on Nicole’s pace, Balanche still takes second at home in Switzerland.

Balanche holds on to the World Cup leader’s jersey, but is now just 100 points ahead of Nicole in second.

“The first three races have been really hard, and seeing Cami going forward and forward,” said Nicole after her win. “I’m happy with the atmosphere in the women’s field right now. Having her [Balanche] to push me to my limits – I had a few moments in my race run – it feels really good to win.”

Results: 2022 Downhill World Cup #4 – Lenzerheide, Switzerland

Elite Men

1.			PIERRON Amaury COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION					2:47.153
2.			ILES Finn SPECIALIZED GRAVITY					2:48.555 +1.402
3.			MINNAAR Greg SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE					2:48.858 +1.705
4.			KOLB Andreas CONTINENTAL ATHERTON					2:48.865 +1.712
5.			COULANGES Benoit DORVAL AM COMMENCAL					2:49.907 +2.754
6.			WALKER Matt MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM					2:50.001 +2.848
7.			HATTON Charlie CONTINENTAL ATHERTON					2:50.410 +3.257
8.			VERGIER Loris TREK FACTORY RACING DH					2:50.435 +3.282
9.			KERR Bernard PIVOT FACTORY RACING					2:50.653 +3.500
10.			DAPRELA Thibaut COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION					2:50.698 +3.545
11.			GWIN Aaron INTENSE FACTORY RACING					2:51.090 +3.937
12.			HART Danny CUBE FACTORY RACING					2:51.449 +4.296
13.			PENE Tuhoto-Ariki MS MONDRAKER TEAM					2:51.455 +4.302
14.			WALLACE Mark CANYON COLLECTIVE FACTORY TEAM					2:51.512 +4.359
15.			TRUMMER David MS MONDRAKER TEAM					2:51.934 +4.781
16.			SUAREZ ALONSO Angel COMMENCAL / 100%					2:52.172 +5.019
17.			ROGGE Antoine					2:52.419 +5.266
18.			LEVESQUE Dylan SCOTT DOWNHILL FACTORY					2:52.517 +5.364
19.			FEARON Connor					2:52.556 +5.403
20.			BROSNAN Troy CANYON COLLECTIVE FACTORY TEAM					2:52.679 +5.526
51.			CRUZ Lucas NORCO FACTORY TEAM					2:59.114 +11.961

Elite Women

1.			NICOLE Myriam COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION					3:11.751
2.			BALANCHE Camille DORVAL AM COMMENCAL					3:16.170 +4.419
3.			FARINA Eleonora MS MONDRAKER TEAM					3:20.184 +8.433
4.			HRASTNIK Monika DORVAL AM COMMENCAL					3:21.979 +10.228
5.			HÖLL Valentina ROCKSHOX TREK RACE TEAM					3:22.963 +11.212
6.			ATHERTON Rachel					3:27.460 +15.709
7.			WIDMANN Veronika MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM					3:29.074 +17.323
8.			JOHNSET Mille COMMENCAL / 100%					3:30.310 +18.559
9.			BLEWITT Jess GT FACTORY RACING					3:31.500 +19.749
10.			NEWKIRK Anna BEYOND RACING					3:31.516 +19.765
11.			VAN DER VELDEN Siel COMMENCAL VEE					3:34.713 +22.962
12.			PIERRINI Léona OSMOS GRAVITY TEAM					3:37.114 +25.363
13.			FISHER Stacey					3:37.346 +25.595
14.			FERGUSON Louise-Anna					3:37.657 +25.906
15.			HOFFMANN Nina SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE					3:46.387 +34.636