France on top in Lenzerheide World Cup Downhill
Minnaar makes his return to the podium in Switzerland
While it was the Canadian flag flying after the Junior men’s downhill, when it come to the elite races, French domination of the 2019 World Cup series isn’t fading any time soon. If anything, it was stronger this weekend in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
A French rider has at won an elite downhill race at every one of the seven rounds that have taken place so far in 2019. Last weekend in Val di Sole, Marine Cabirou (Scott Downhill Factory) keep the tricolour flying when Laurie Greenland (MS Mondraker) became the first non-French rider to win an elite men’s World Cup in 2019.
Cabirou was back on the top step of the podium again this weekend in Lenzerheide. She was joined by Amaury Pierron (Commencal Vallnord), who narrowly defeated Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) to win the men’s race.
Elite Men’s downhill World Cup – Lenzerheide, Switzerland
After his 2018 season was derailed by injury, Greg Minnaar has been busy showing he’s not ready to step away from elite racing just yet. The veteran South African squeezed into second at Lenzerheide, between Amaury Pierron in first and Loic Bruni (Specialized Gravity Racing) in third.
Troy Brosnan (Canyon Factory Racing) finished fourth, with Danny Hart (Madison Saracen) making a second-straight visit to the podium in fifth.
Minnaar’s second place between the two French riders creates more space for Pierron, who is hunting Bruni in the World Cup overall standings. With Pierron’s extra points from the win Saturday, he now trails Bruni 1312 to 1222. After leading early in the season, Brosnan is now third at 1094 points.
Mark Wallace (Canyon Factory Racing) was the top Canadian finisher in Lenzerheide, placing 14th. Kirk McDowall (Unior Devinci Factory Racing) had another excellent World Cup weekend, landing in 27th.
With one race remaining, Wallace is 10th in the overall standings.
Magnus Manson (Canyon Factory Racing) was 44th and Henry Fitzgerald (Norco Factory Racing) 53rd. After qualifying ninth, a crash early on saw Finn Iles slide down to 58th in Lenzerheide.
A growing battle: Elite Women’s downhill World Cup – Lenzerheide, Switzerland
One week after landing her first ever World Cup win, Marine Cabirou (Scott Downhill Factory) was back on the top step of the podium in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
The French rider edged out current World Cup leader, Tracey Hannah (Polygon UR) to take the win, but just barely. Only 0.264 seconds separated Cabirou from Hannah.
In third was Emilie Siegenthaler (Pivot Factory Racing). Kate Weatherly (New Zealand) made her second podium appearance this year in fourth, with Camille Blanche (Switzerland) in fifth.
Hannah now leads Cabirou 1460 points to 1310 in the World Cup overall. Germany’s Nina Hoffmann is third, with 819 points.
