Josh “Ratboy” Bryceland back on form at Mont Sainte Anne World Cup downhill

Josh “Ratboy” Bryceland, riding for the Santa Cruz Syndicate, blasted through the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup downhill to win one of the most closely contested downhills in recent memory with the top three riders all finishing within 0.225 seconds of each other. The Briton was the fourth last to start, finishing the 2.9km course in just four minutes, 22.156 seconds.

“It’s just patience really,” said Bryceland, reflecting on coming back to competition after two surgeries in the off season. “I kept doing what I do and it all just fell into place. I honestly thought Troy was going to get me though.”

Conditions were slick after rainstorms over the last few days. During the race, small rainshowers came and went, and thunder could be heard off in the distance. The conditions led to many crashes with some riders unable to continue.

“The track itself is just a brute. I picked some really good lines,” said Bryceland, who struggled with the course during practice earlier in the week.

(Photo: Mathieu Bélanger)

Up to that point, Frenchman Loic Bruni had a firm grip on the winning time, but was outdone by 0.2 seconds when Bryceland crossed the finish line.

While sitting in the hotseat, Bryceland watched as the final three riders raced down the course. Marcelo Gutierrez was next through the gate and narrowly missed on a top three spot, forcing Canadian Mark Wallace down the order.

Second to last Danny Hart was off the pace, finishing more than five seconds back from Bryceland.

The final rider through the start was Australian Troy Brosnan. Brosnan was not the fastest through the upper section, but picked up speed heading into the second split, and held on to claim third place, only 0.225 seconds back from Bryceland.

Wallace managed to hang on for a sixth place finish, just off the podium. It was a career-best finish for the Canadian. Devinci teammate Steve Smith came off his bike partway down the course and lost too much time to contend, finishing 16 seconds back from the winner.

(Photo: André-Olivier Lyra)

Rachel Atherton blitzed the course in the women’s race, finishing in 5:03.674. Atherton went uncontested to victory, with more than three seconds of advantage over second place.

Manon Carpenter clocked into second place, just marginally ahead of Myriam Nicole of France who finished a strong third place after more than three months away with injuries.

Tahnee Seagrave finished fourth overall ahead of Canadian champion Miranda Miller in fifth.