Leogang World Cup 2011 - DH in photos

Jun 12, 2011 at 22:48

Photos by Fraser Britton and Colin Meagher

The American Dream and Mitch Ropelato take an early morning gondola ride to get some practice in. Do these guys love racing? FER SHURE!

GT Fury on the way back to the top, Mick Hannah's been having a rough go of it so far this season. The GT rider was the first top rider on the track this morning, working hard to find his mojo again.

Monster Energy got a delivery of special footwear for this week. Last year the weather here was abysmal, this year, Jacy was looking like an extra of of the deadliest catch for no real reason.

Globs of mud and a slick rear tire are what greeted riders this morning right out of the gate. Minnaar makes the most of it and just tries to make his way down into the next section.

Ya, good luck with that.

Dan Atherton throwing a bit of roost.

and Sam Hill spreading a bit of peanut butter

Not to overplay the mud but this morning it was looking like it may play a huge part int he outcome of this race once the sun came out and it started to thicken. The holes were so deep they even sucked in a World Champion this morning. Hill s good natured running commentary as he got up had the collected fans laughing heavily.

before going down. Not to overplay the mud, but this morning it was looking like it might play a huge part in the outcome of the race once the sun came out and it started to thicken. The holes were so deep they even sucked in a World Champion, but Hill's good natured running commentary as he got up had the collected fans laughing heavily.

Loic Bruni, the new kid on the Lapierre squad, has sick handling skills, but was no match for the mud during the morning training.

Just another day on the World Cup... Melanie Pugin gets things rolling during the Women's final.

Ammeline Ragot shows us how not to make your way through a mudpit.

Emmeline Ragot shows us how not to make your way through a mudpit.

Sabrina Jonnier racing in the 2011 Leogang World Cup Downhill Final

while Sabrina manages to hang on...

What might have been. Jill Kintner had the fastest time at the first split. And the highest speed in the speed trap. But a rut in a jump tossed her off line and off course with a bit of an over the bars incident. Look for Jill to keep finding her DH legs; with the way she's progressing a podium is likely just around the corner.

Rachel Atherton was having a smoking run. She was second fastest at the first split, tops at the second split, and then tossed it away in the lower woods somewhere. One thing's for certain - Fort William was home turf; Leogang most definitely was not; but Rachel is most definitely back.

Florian Pugin. The diminutive frenchwoman had flashes of brilliance over the last couple of years. Today she showed it wasn't a fluke - Flosser is here to stay with her first world cup win!

Neko Mullaly - second junior in on the day, but 4 seconds back behind Troy Brosnan.

Wyn Masters managed to scratch his way into the final, edging past 184 racers--almost as tight a squeeze as it was getting past this tree on his finals run.

Luke Strobel knocking on the top ten door with a solid 14th place.

Timeless. Steve Peat.

Greg Minnaar looked like he'd put it together--he had one hell of a run.

Old man Gracia was riding like he was 19 again. Good to see him back in the top 10 and kicking ass. In his words... Tonight we party!

Steve Smith, 4th place and his best World Cup finish ever. MSA may very well turn into his personal stage for a coming out party. He made the change to clip pedals this season and is charging. The big guy can put the power down.

What is there to even say about Aaron Gwin? He found something this off season and it is paying off.

Gwin into the finish corral. Gwin is now 56 points ahead of Minnaar for the World Cup overall, and 101 points ahead of Gee Atherton. Gee is definitely not out of the hunt for the overall, but it looks like it's going to be a drag race between Minnaar and Gwin at this point.

Sweet day for Canadian racing, with Steve Smith taking fourth.

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51 Comments

Score Time

+ 25

chochocat (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:13)

Commençal girls are hot Razz

[Reply]

teamdoa (Jun 13, 2011 at 4:02)

What is it with society now when your considered an "old man" if your over 30, not just in sport. Its got that bad now people like Peat are happy to just go along with it. Everytime his name is mentioned these days the predictable "old comment" gets used. I know no malice is intended, but please change the record it's getting "old" now.

+ 24

DrPhilmmkay (Jun 13, 2011 at 4:32)

They use the term as a comparative. If you consider that almost all of the usual podium suspects are in their early 20s, Peat at 37 is definitely the exception to the rule. Most of his contemporaries have either retired or moved onto non-racing endeavors (Nico, Warner, Palmer). People pointing out that he's an 'old dog' in a young man's game is merely a way to celebrate and applaud just how unbelievably determined and committed he is to the sport.

Peaty may not be on the top of my list of racers to cheer for, but I have much more respect for him considering he's got over a decade on some of the top 10 regulars. Can you name more than a handful of pro athletes still at the top of their game who are pushing towards 40 all the while giving the 20-somethings a run for their money?

: )

bondy86 (Jun 13, 2011 at 10:09)

what about Gracia? 10th is just going to show that he truly is one of the sickest riders ever! such an old school rockstar!

TheFireSermon (Jun 13, 2011 at 10:28)

teamdoa... I agree with you, Gracia and Peat "old" dogs; however, killer riders!!!

Potok (Jun 13, 2011 at 15:55)

DrPhilmmkay: I agree with you, however I don't like the way it is said sometimes. And for your question, do you know sth about Jaromir Jagr? Our Czech pride, btw :-)

[Reply]

syc7090 (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:09)

it's absolutely incredible to see the domination by gwin this season. and from i've read, it's no fluke as his focus and training is second to none. great to see that his training and hard work is paying off. congrats.

ps way to represent canada, steve!

+ 23

chochocho (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:17)

check out that grin that gwin has.. while everyone else on podium is like.. that shouldve been me.. and compared to the womens podium. lol theyre all happy.

NorCalNomad (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:34)

Gwinning

USA USA

dave6797 (Jun 13, 2011 at 2:01)

yet again, gwin is killing it this year!

HOJJJ (Jun 13, 2011 at 3:57)

I swear to god if one more person uses the term Gwinning or any variation of that phrase i'm going to have a cardiac arrest.

bikounet (Jun 13, 2011 at 4:08)

Sam looks so happy as usual Big Grin

katinasd (Jun 13, 2011 at 4:40)

Where does all the poo on the track come from.....

rapplez (Jun 13, 2011 at 6:45)

chochocho> Some people would consider us USA boys to be conceded for smiling on the podium. I just know if I was on top of the podium I would have just as big of grin as Mr. Gwin. It's def. his time to shine! Nice work A. Gwin!!

Bjammin (Jun 13, 2011 at 7:18)

haha yeah the womens podium is so happy compared to the guys. And Rachel Atherton must be tall, because she's on the 2nd place step and a good few inches taller than everybody.

bikounet (Jun 13, 2011 at 7:35)

I think the 2nd and 3rd women came on the 1st step with Floriane Pugin, and the 4th and 5th came one the 3rd and 2nd step...

bondy86 (Jun 13, 2011 at 10:18)

what about Hill on the mens podium? check out the hip flask in his right hand.. epic!

HOJJJ (Jun 13, 2011 at 11:07)

Yeah definately otherwise that would mean shes like 7ft hahaha unlikely Smile

aoneal (Jun 13, 2011 at 14:05)

@HOJJJ > GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING, GWINNING.

Cardiac arrest yet? Razz

HOJJJ (Jun 13, 2011 at 14:23)

Yeah its called sarcasm. Something you Americans haven't quite got the grasp of by the looks of things.

Bjammin (Jun 13, 2011 at 19:53)

I think aoneal's comment was sarcastic too. Just sayin

OGBrowner (Jun 14, 2011 at 0:13)

I saw that flask in Hill's hand. Good to see him back on the podium. He couldn't wait to get that party started!!

[Reply]

PoMiT (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:00)

The track look sick! and Cedric Gracia back in top 10!!

[Reply]

peddlein (Jun 13, 2011 at 7:59)

What a weekend, agree with letsgetit.
Was hoping Mr Sam was going to stay ontop but with Mr Gwin to run I was nervous.
The track was super muddy and sticky by the end of day was challenging enough just to walk down.

I have some shots from the weekend here: http://48frames.zenfolio.com/bikes

looking forward to the next rounds.

[Reply]

neallynberg (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:04)

I'm loving the SVCS helmet right on the first picture. Its sick to see local shops with there names on world cup riders helmets.

connerkuhns Plus (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:07)

Cycle sport comin in hot!

so09 (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:08)

Yee! cycle sport baby.

connerkuhns Plus (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:11)

Gotta rep were I work :p

[Reply]

buja (Jun 12, 2011 at 23:11)

congratulations to gwin, I was standing where he got a little sketchy for a second: http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/6724622/

but he could still pull it together.

Waldon83 (Jun 13, 2011 at 2:25)

Saucy as !

It's like you can off your bike these days, and STILL WIN !
Just like Stevie at the last Worlds.

Poutiainen (Jun 13, 2011 at 2:42)

He didn`t win..

letsgetit Plus (Jun 13, 2011 at 7:16)

The last riders were insane! Minnaar smashed Sam's time, then Gee smashed Minnaar's, and then Gwin smashed Gee's! Just when you thought the runs couldn't get any faster, sh!t was NUTS!!! Damn good day though, saturday had us worried though. 4x was miserable to watch in the freezing rain.

[Reply]

schnell (Jun 16, 2011 at 22:43)

Everyone at the race was talking about how Sam Hill got a little chubby and a little slower this last year. I was expecting a bit more from him...

[Reply]

bmoony (Jun 13, 2011 at 6:54)

sammy looks pretty stoked

[Reply]

Enduro27 Plus (Jun 12, 2011 at 22:54)

Gwin for the win!

[Reply]

smike (Jun 13, 2011 at 7:50)

You can really see how tiny Gwin is compared to Minnaar... and Greg is standing probly 6" lower than Gwin too!

adamdigby (Jun 13, 2011 at 8:41)

Minnaar moved up to the top step for the picture.

[Reply]

xTheRoseRedx (Jun 16, 2011 at 19:06)

Sam, has his hand tattooed? Get on, sick as hell!

[Reply]

dom69foco (Jun 13, 2011 at 16:21)

peaty's rocking the self-wiping goggles!

[Reply]

savmeister (Jun 13, 2011 at 12:40)

thats actualy gee athertons foot not dans !!!

Bennyy4x (Jun 13, 2011 at 14:20)

Gee NEVER wears pants, it's rach in my opinion because dan didn't wear clips for fort bill so why would he ride them when the conditions are 10x worse?

toldownhill13 (Jun 14, 2011 at 11:03)

Actually Gee wore pants for practice at leogang so it is gees foot

Bennyy4x (Jun 14, 2011 at 11:17)

cough slag

JRoe (Jun 30, 2011 at 7:20)

this is a bit of a say argument here dont you think. it could be any of them.

toldownhill13 (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:25)

it definitely Gee atherton i can link the video to proove he was wearing trousers and he rides silver mallets

JRoe (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:25)

I dosnt get around the fact that know one give one.!!

Bennyy4x (Jul 1, 2011 at 1:41)

or the fact that you spelt no wrong

JRoe (Jul 1, 2011 at 1:57)

Haha.

[Reply]

wilsansbury (Jun 13, 2011 at 6:25)

I'm digging the flasks

[Reply]

coffeycake96 (Jun 13, 2011 at 21:01)

get dirty!!! they dont wanna get clean, get dirty!!

[Reply]

pokalface (Jun 13, 2011 at 16:56)

sick mud

[Reply]