Reece Wilson slides to top spot in qualifying as rain falls in Maribor
Qualifying results: Canadian's poised for solid results at first downhill World Cup of 2020
Photo by:
Bartek Wolinski/Red Bull Content Pool
After a dry practice day Wednesday, the rain returned for Thursday’s World Cup qualifying in Maribor, Slovenia. The resulting slick roots suited newly-minted world champion, Reece Wilson, just fine. He qualified first in the mud, as did Tracey Hannah.
The Canadians are just a little further down but, as Mark Wallace showed last weekend in Leogang, that puts them well within striking distance for Friday’s finals.
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Wilson’s reign begins – Elite Men Qualifying
Just four days after winning his first world championship title, Reece Wilson (Trek Factory Racing) was back at the top of the standings in qualifying at Maribor. While conditions were less extreme than in Leogang, the Scottish rider showed again that a treacherous track is to his advantage. France’s first-year elite Thibault Daprela (Commencal Muc-Off) showed he’s ready to ride with the big guys, qualifying second ahead of Madison Saracen rider Matt Walker.
Finn Iles qualified 12th, with Mark Wallace in 23rd. Both B.C.-bred riders are very familiar with wet riding conditions and will be back for Friday’s finals.
RELATED: Luca Shaw’s Maribor World Cup DH track preview
In the Junior Men’s race, Seth Sherlock, the lone Canadian entry, qualified sixth. Last week’s world champion Oisin O’Callaghan (YT Mob) took the top spot, much as Wilson did in elites.
Hannah on form in Elite Women
Tracey Hannah (Polygon UR) set the fastest elite women’s time by a solid 5.348-second margin on Thursday. It puts the Australian as the rider to beat for Friday’s first of two World Cup races this week. 2019 world champion Myriam Nicole (Commencal Muc-Off) pushed Hannah for much of the course, but qualifies second.
Monika Hrastnik, third in Leogang, was not far off Nicole’s time. Her teammate, and new world champion Camille Balanche (Dorval AM), was slightly further back in fifth, just ahead of Tahnée Seagrave.
World Cup #1 finals run early Friday morning. You can watch live on Red Bull TV. World Cup #2 starts the following day.
Qualifying: Elite Women – Maribor World Cup #1
| 1. |  |
HANNAH Tracey POLYGON UR |
3:42.150 |
|
| 2. |  |
NICOLE Myriam COMMENCAL / MUC – OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION |
3:47.498 +5.348 |
|
| 3. |  |
HRASTNIK Monika DORVAL AM PRO RACE TEAM |
3:50.551 +8.401 |
|
| 4. |  |
FARINA Eleonora MS MONDRAKER TEAM |
3:50.859 +8.709 |
|
| 5. |  |
BALANCHE Camille DORVAL AM PRO RACE TEAM |
3:53.517 +11.367 |
|
| 6. |  |
SEAGRAVE Tahnee CANYON COLLECTIVE FMD |
3:55.656 +13.506 |
|
| 7. |  |
HOFFMANN Nina NINA HOFFMANN RACING – STIF |
3:56.485 +14.335 |
|
| 8. |  |
JOHNSET Mille CONTINENTAL ATHERTON |
3:56.661 +14.511 |
|
| 9. | |
CABIROU Marine SCOTT DOWNHILL FACTORY |
3:56.774 +14.624 |
|
| 10. | |
PARTON Mikayla |
4:15.619 +33.469 |
Qualifying: Elite Men – Maribor World Cup #1
| 1. | |
WILSON Reece TREK FACTORY RACING DH |
3:08.068 |
|
| 2. | |
DAPRELA Thibaut COMMENCAL / MUC – OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION |
3:10.909 +2.841 |
|
| 3. | |
WALKER Matt MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM |
3:13.114 +5.046 |
|
| 4. | |
VERGIER Loris SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE |
3:13.393 +5.325 |
|
| 5. | |
THIRION Remi COMMENCAL / MUC – OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION |
3:13.731 +5.663 |
|
| 6. | |
MOIR Jack CANYON COLLECTIVE FACTORY TEAM |
3:13.921 +5.853 |
|
| 7. | |
BROSNAN Troy CANYON COLLECTIVE FACTORY TEAM |
3:13.923 +5.855 |
|
| 8. |  |
NORTON Dakotah UNIOR DEVINCI FACTORY RACING |
3:14.015 +5.947 |
|
| 9. |  |
TRUMMER David THE YT MOB |
3:14.359 +6.291 |
|
| 10. |  |
SUAREZ ALONSO Angel THE YT MOB |
3:14.922 +6.854 |
|
| 11. | |
BRUNI Loic SPECIALIZED GRAVITY |
3:15.157 +7.089 |
|
| 12. |  |
ILES Finn SPECIALIZED GRAVITY |
3:15.643 +7.575 |
|
| 13. | |
HART Danny MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM |
3:15.680 +7.612 |
|
| 14. | |
HANNAH Michael POLYGON UR |
3:16.110 +8.042 |
|
| 15. | |
ZABJEK Jure UNIOR DEVINCI FACTORY RACING |
3:18.066 +9.998 |
|
| 16. | |
COULANGES Benoit DORVAL AM PRO RACE TEAM |
3:18.587 +10.519 |
|
| 17. | |
BRAYTON Adam HOPE TECHNOLOGY |
3:18.610 +10.542 |
|
| 18. | |
EDMONDSON Jamie |
3:18.852 +10.784 |
|
| 19. | |
GWIN Aaron INTENSE FACTORY RACING |
3:20.060 +11.992 |
|
| 20. |  |
MINNAAR Greg SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE |
3:20.417 +12.349 |
|
| 21. |  |
MAES Martin GT FACTORY RACING |
3:20.677 +12.609 |
|
| 22. | |
BREEDEN Joe POLYGON UR |
3:20.719 +12.651 |
|
| 23. | |
WALLACE Mark CANYON COLLECTIVE FACTORY TEAM |
3:20.906 +12.838 |
|
