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Vali Hoell’s bike gets a final once-over before her winning run on Saturday.
The final women’s World Cup downhill mountain bike race of the season ended with one of the closest finishes yet, with only a quarter of a second separating first and second place. Valentina Hoell, who had been in third in the World Cup standings, took first while Marine Cabirou was close behind in second place.
Myriam Nicole takes a quick training lap before changing into the rainbow jersey kit for her final run.
Mille Johnset
Conditions were mostly sunny on Saturday. Riders’ eyes had to adjust to full sun and fast tracks at the top, and dark technical rocks and roots toward the bottom.A bike medic makes a final sweep of the course before the start of the women’s final.Anna Newkirk was assigned lucky number 13, which she wore upside down to counter any bad juju.2021 World Champ Myriam Nicole put on a great show, though she finished in seventh place, more than 12 seconds off the winning time. Jessica Blewitt suffered a traumatic crash during the final, breaking her femur as a result. Here she is taking her final training run Saturday.Eleonora Farina gets her front wheel up and over the rocks for a smoother ride.Nina Hoffmann looked strong and finished in fifth place.Emille Siegenthaler oozes confidence through the rocks and roots. Tahnee Seagrave, who finished fourth on the day, rounds a loose, rocky corner.Atherton Racing’s Mille Johnset.Mikayla Parton navigates a particularly chunky section.Vali Hoell on her way to the win.
Abigail Hogie (pictured) and Anna Newkirk were the two Americans in the women’s DH final.
Camille Balanche on her way to a third place finish.Marine Cabirou wasn’t too far off Hoell’s pace, finishing just 0.256 seconds behind. Cabirou made up time all the way down the course, and finished the final stretch faster than Hoell, though it wasn’t quite enough.The World Cup is set to return to Snowshoe, West Virginia in July, 2022.
