From an initial 60 starters split across 16 heats, then men’s event promised to be too tight to cal. With big-hitters like Dan Atherton (busted shoulder) and Michal Propkop missing, it looked likely that the quartet of Jared Graves (Aus), Roger Riderknecht (Sui), Guido Tschugg (Ger) and multi-jersey winner Brian Lopes (USA) would fare best. As it transpired only two of those would make the final.
It was in the quarter finals that the surprises began, with Tschugg and Cedric Gracia eliminated. The German was even bettered by Britain’s Scott Beaumont who took his place in the semis. The first semi comprised Graves, Rinderknecht, Lopes and Milan; the second Deldycke, Alvarez, Saladini and Beaumont.
In the end though the four to make it through to the final were: Deldycke, Graves, Rinderknecht and Alvarez. And it was the unfancied Spaniard who eventually took the rainbow jersey, ahead of the Swiss and French.
In a much smaller field of 22 , the women’s race was an equally open affair. American Melissa Buhl eventually seeing out the challenge of 4X specialists Jana Horokova, winner of the last World Cup round, and Anneke Beerten.
RESULTS SO FAR:
DOWNHILL ELITE MEN
1 — Gee Atherton (GB)
2 — Steve Peat (GB)
3 — Sam Hill (Aus)
Other Brits: Brendan Fairclough (14th), Ben Cathro (26th), Marc Beaumont (93rd).
DOWNHILL ELITE WOMEN
1 — Rachel Atherton (GB)
2 — Sabrina Jonnier (Fra)
3 — Emmeline Ragot (Fra)
Other Brits: Tracy Moseley (6th), Fionn Griffiths (8th).
DOWNHILL JUNIOR MEN
1 — Josh Bryceland (GB)
2 — Sam Dale (GB)
3 — Remi Thirion (Fra)
Other Brits: Danny Hart (6th), Joseph Smith (11th).
DOWNHILL JUNIOR WOMEN
1 — Anais Pagot (Fra)
2 — Myriam Nicole (Fra)
3 — Melanie Pugin (Fra)
FOUR-CROSS MEN
1 — Rafael Alvarez de Lara Lu (Esp)
2 — Roger Rinderknecht (Sui)
3 — Mickael Deldycke (Fra)
4 — Jared Graves (Aus)
Best Brits: Scott Beaumont (6th), Lewis Lacey (12th).
FOUR-CROSS WOMEN
1 — Melissa Buhl (USA)
2 — Jana Horokova (Cze)
3 — Romana Labounkova (Cze)
4 — Anneke Beerten
Best Brit: Fionn Griffiths (10th).
CROSS-COUNTRY U23 MEN
1 — Nino Schurter (Sui)
2 — Burry Stander (RSA)
3 — Matthias Fluckiger (Sui)
Best Brits: Ian Bibby (27th), Ross Creber (47th), David Fletcher (57th), Ian Field (DNF).
CROSS-COUNTRY JUNIORS MEN
1 — Peter Sagan (Svk)
2 — Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)
3 — Matthias Rupp (Sui)
Best Brits: Hamish Creber (39th), Alex Paton (47th), Sebastian Batchelor (50th).
CROSS-COUNTRY U23 WOMEN
1 — Tanja Zakelj (Slo)
2 — Nathalie Schneitter (Sui)
3 — Aleksandra Dawidowidz (Pol)
CROSS-COUNTRY JUNIORS WOMEN
1 — Laura Abril (Col)
2 — Barbara Benko (Hun)
3 — Mona Eiberweiser (Ger)
Best Brit: Annie Last (9th)