Patrick Laffey leads Canadians in qualifying at Fort William World Cup

Four Canadians advance to Sunday's finals

Terry McKall May 21, 2022

Qualifying results are in from Fort William, Scotland. Four Canadians are through to the elite finals, joining four junior Canucks. Camille Balanche and Laurie Greenland have the top times Saturday.

Elite Men

Laurie Greenland and world champion Greg Minnaar qualified 1st and 3rd on Saturday. The two Syndicate riders, along with Jackson Goldstone’s top time in juniors earlier Saturday, show something is going well in the Santa Cruz pits. It could be a bit of karma, rewarding the team for helping the Union riders out with loaner bikes when the development team’s bikes were stolen overnight.

Charlie Hatton (Continental Atherton) interrupted the Syndicate party by qualifying second on home turf. Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off), the last winner in Fort Bill, sits poised for a repeat in fourth.

There will be some big names missing from the start line on Sunday. Loic Bruni broke a collarbone in practice. Brook MacDonald and Aaron Gwin are among the riders who will be watching finals instead of racing, with both riding out the course on flat tires Saturday.

Canadians in Scotland

Patrick Laffey (Devinci Development) leads the Canadian effort in Fort William, qualifying 40th on Saturday. Lucas Cruz (Norco Factory Team) is close behind in 42nd. Kirk McDowall (Dunbar) moves on to Sunday’s racing with a 50th, just ahead of Mark Wallace (Canyon Cllctv) in 54th.

Forrest Riesco (Commencal Canada), Gabe Neron (Dunbar) and Henry Fitzgerald (Norco Factory Team) all just miss the 60-rider cutoff for qualifying. Seth Sherlock (Intense Factory) and Elliot Jamieson (Norco Factory) were among the numerous DNF’s.

Elite Women

Camille Balanche (Dorval AM) leads the women’s qualifying. But the 2020 world champ has Vali Höll (RockShox Trek) hot on her heels, just 1.794 back after 5:20 of racing.

Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off) looks to have good form after her time off due to injury, sitting third in qualifying. Marine Cabirou (Scott Downhill) and Eleonora Farina (MS Mondraker) are both within striking distance in fourth and fifth positions.

Canada’s lone entry, Rachel Pageau had a rough week in Scotland. The Quebec rider’s bike was lost in transit and still hadn’t shown up by Qualification day. After practicing on a rental, Pageau dropped in for Quali’s on a borrowed bike, only to be red-flagged when a rider in front of her crashed and sent back up for a re-run. The Canadian was one of several riders claimed by high winds, and ends up a DNF this round.

Qualification results: 2022 Downhill World Cup #2 – Fort William, Scotland

Elite Men

1.	n°8	GREENLAND Laurie SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	4:37.960
2.	n°24	HATTON Charlie CONTINENTAL ATHERTON	4:40.254 +2.294
3.	n°19	MINNAAR Greg SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	4:40.450 +2.490
4.	n°1	PIERRON Amaury COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION	4:40.816 +2.856
5.	n°22	KERR Bernard PIVOT FACTORY RACING	4:41.371 +3.411
6.	n°11	VERGIER Loris TREK FACTORY RACING DH	4:41.522 +3.562
7.	n°6	HART Danny CUBE FACTORY RACING	4:41.588 +3.628
8.	n°4	COULANGES Benoit DORVAL AM COMMENCAL	4:42.033 +4.073
9.	n°5	SHAW Luca CANYON COLLECTIVE FACTORY TEAM	4:42.499 +4.539
10.	n°10	WALKER Matt MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM	4:42.684 +4.724
11.	n°14	SUAREZ ALONSO Angel COMMENCAL / 100%	4:45.278 +7.318
12.	n°18	MEIER-SMITH Luke PROPAIN FACTORY RACING	4:45.585 +7.625
13.	n°13	EDWARDS Kade TREK FACTORY RACING DH	4:46.095 +8.135
14.	n°100	CRAIK Ethan GT FACTORY RACING	4:46.273 +8.313
15.	n°35	DAPRELA Thibaut COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION	4:46.784 +8.824
16.	n°119	WILLIAMSON Luke 555 RAAW GRAVITY RACING	4:47.157 +9.197
17.	n°51	MASTERS Edward PIVOT FACTORY RACING	4:47.542 +9.582
18.	n°26	THIRION Rémi GIANT FACTORY OFF – ROAD TEAM	4:47.745 +9.785
19.	n°39	WILLIAMSON Greg COMMENCAL / 100%	4:47.824 +9.864
20.	n°15	TRUMMER David MS MONDRAKER TEAM	4:48.039 +10.079
21.	n°29	ESTAQUE Thomas COMMENCAL / 100%	4:48.445 +10.485
22.	n°21	VERNON Taylor SORTED RACEGEAR	4:48.446 +10.486
23.	n°12	NORTON Dakotah INTENSE FACTORY RACING	4:48.570 +10.610
24.	n°80	A’HERN Kye NS BIKES UR	4:49.343 +11.383
25.	n°25	LEVESQUE Dylan SCOTT DOWNHILL FACTORY	4:49.409 +11.449
26.	n°152	PHILOGENE Christopher	4:49.608 +11.648
27.	n°46	SILVA Dante CANYON COLLECTIVE PIRELLI	4:50.074 +12.114
28.	n°65	BREEDEN Joe INTENSE FACTORY RACING	4:50.721 +12.761
29.	n°45	ROGGE Antoine	4:50.732 +12.772
30.	n°40	O CALLAGHAN Oisin YT RACING DUDES	4:50.813 +12.853
31.	n°67	DUNNE Ronan CONTINENTAL NUKEPROOF FACTORY RACING	4:50.895 +12.935
32.	n°30	FEARON Connor FORBIDDEN SYNTHESIS TEAM	4:51.083 +13.123
33.	n°69	BRAYTON Adam	4:51.717 +13.757
34.	n°36	REVELLI Loris CANYON COLLECTIVE PIRELLI	4:51.770 +13.810
35.	n°7	WILSON Reece TREK FACTORY RACING DH	4:51.772 +13.812
36.	n°135	BLAIR Lachlan	4:51.903 +13.943
37.	n°115	CATHRO Ben PINKBIKE RACING	4:52.095 +14.135
38.	n°153	MCBAIN Calum	4:52.622 +14.662
39.	n°61	ZWAR Oliver UNION	4:52.691 +14.731
40.	n°130	LAFFEY Patrick	4:52.805 +14.845
41.	n°28	DICKSON Jacob MS MONDRAKER TEAM	4:52.880 +14.920
42.	n°83	CRUZ Lucas NORCO FACTORY TEAM	4:52.989 +15.029
43.	n°134	BRANNEN Ryan 555 RAAW GRAVITY RACING	4:53.011 +15.051
44.	n°131	GANNICOTT George	4:53.161 +15.201
45.	n°31	CABIROU Rudy	4:53.239 +15.279
46.	n°71	PIERRON Antoine CANYON COLLECTIVE PIRELLI	4:53.419 +15.459
47.	n°111	WILLIAMS Preston	4:53.472 +15.512
48.	n°87	BOOKER Daniel	4:53.476 +15.516
49.	n°27	LUCAS Dean SCOTT DOWNHILL FACTORY	4:53.556 +15.596
50.	n°84	MCDOWALL Kirk	4:53.629 +15.669
51.	n°20	FRIXTALON Hugo COMMENCAL / 100%	4:54.052 +16.092
52.	n°38	VIEIRA Roger	4:54.272 +16.312
53.	n°44	DOOLEY Austin COMMENCAL NORTH AMERICA	4:54.273 +16.313
54.	n°42	WALLACE Mark CANYON COLLECTIVE FACTORY TEAM	4:54.325 +16.365
55.	n°70	BRANNIGAN George NS BIKES UR	4:54.605 +16.645
56.	n°37	CHAPELET Simon	4:56.039 +18.079
57.	n°137	VIEIRA Douglas	4:56.090 +18.130
58.	n°32	LUFFMAN Dennis CANYON COLLECTIVE FMD	4:56.150 +18.190
59.	n°122	MASTERS Wyn GT FACTORY RACING	4:56.812 +18.852
60.	n°64	BAECHLER Yannick VVRACING ACADEMY	4:57.136 +19.176







68.	n°107	RIESCO Forrest	4:58.320 +20.360



72.	n°96	NERON Gabriel	4:59.603 +21.643
76.	n°90	FITZGERALD Henry NORCO FACTORY TEAM	5:00.650 +22.690
	n°118	SHERLOCK Seth INTENSE FACTORY RACING	DNF
	n°93	JAMIESON Elliot NORCO FACTORY TEAM	DNF

Elite Women

1.	n°1	BALANCHE Camille DORVAL AM COMMENCAL	5:20.684
2.	n°3	HÖLL Valentina ROCKSHOX TREK RACE TEAM	5:22.478 +1.794
3.	n°2	NICOLE Myriam COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION	5:26.812 +6.128
4.	n°5	CABIROU Marine SCOTT DOWNHILL FACTORY	5:27.711 +7.027
5.	n°7	FARINA Eleonora MS MONDRAKER TEAM	5:29.681 +8.997
6.	n°11	PARTON Mikayla	5:34.128 +13.444
7.	n°20	FISHER Stacey	5:36.086 +15.402
8.	n°8	HOFFMANN Nina SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	5:44.689 +24.005
9.	n°9	WIDMANN Veronika MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM	5:44.917 +24.233
10.	n°12	JOHNSET Mille COMMENCAL / 100%	5:47.205 +26.521
11.	n°14	RØNNING Frida Helena UNION	5:47.557 +26.873
12.	n°6	BERNARD Mathilde SCOTT MANIGOD SHOT	5:48.496 +27.812
13.	n°10	HRASTNIK Monika DORVAL AM COMMENCAL	5:48.502 +27.818
14.	n°18	NEWKIRK Anna BEYOND RACING	5:52.030 +31.346
15.	n°16	SALAZAR Mariana LES ARCS MOUNTAINBIKE TEAM	5:54.975 +34.291
16.	n°13	CHAPPAZ Mélanie	5:57.924 +37.240
17.	n°23	HOGIE Abigail BEYOND RACING	6:00.985 +40.301
18.	n°27	FERGUSON Louise-Anna	6:01.724 +41.040
19.	n°21	PIERRINI Léona OSMOS GRAVITY TEAM	6:06.438 +45.754
20.	n°24	VAN DER VELDEN Siel COMMENCAL VEE	6:17.064 +56.380
21.	n°29	MIXOVÁ Monika	6:20.421 +59.737
22.	n°32	JOHNSEN Jonna	6:23.678 +1:02.994
23.	n°22	ERICKSON Ella NW GRAVITY COLLECTIVE	6:25.991 +1:05.307
24.	n°26	TUTT Aston	6:59.757 +1:39.073
25.	n°31	FLANAGAN Meghan	7:07.170 +1:46.486
26.	n°28	ATKINSON Maya	7:20.757 +2:00.073
	n°17	BLEWITT Jess GT FACTORY RACING	DNF
	n°19	PAGEAU Rachel	DNF
	n°15	CHAPPAZ Lauryne	DNS
	n°4	SEAGRAVE Tahnee CANYON COLLECTIVE FMD	DNS
	n°25	SHARP Katherine 555 RAAW GRAVITY RACING	DNS
	n°30	ATHERTON Rachel CONTINENTAL ATHERTON	DNS