Race Recap: Leogang World Cup DH
Flawless laps by Austrians Vali Höll and Andreas Kolb secure home victories.
The Women’s Race
Having struggled to find her best form in her home race since moving to the Elite class, Höll laid down a marker and won the semi-finals with a seriously fast time. As the finals got underway it was 18-year-old Gracey Hemstreet who held the hot seat early. In turn, it was Phoebe Gale, Rachel Atherton then Swiss star Camille Balanche who posted the fastest times but all eyes were on the last rider down the hill, Vali Höll. Riding with a high level of commitment and aggression, the Austrian dominated her bike and the track, to win her home race by over four seconds and the crowd went bezerk.
Höll, 21, said: “Leogang is such a hard race for me. Last year was a disaster, I’ve never been so down and doubted myself. Then, after Lenzerheide, I was so lost, I didn’t know what to do but it all just clicked this week. To finally win here feels so good.”
The Men’s Race
In the men’s race, Canada’s Finn Iles won the semi-final and was hoping to improve on his fifth-place finish at Lenzerheide. Once the finals got underway, it was home favorite Andreas Kolb who set the pace as he became the first rider to go under three minutes and claimed the lead by a huge 2.3 seconds. At this stage, there were still six riders remaining but neither Thibaut Daprela or Luca Shaw were able to threaten the Austrian’s time. Canada’s Jackson Goldstone was on fire and threatened to take the lead before pushing wide in the final turn, which cost him time. Bruni was the second to last rider out of the gate and the Frenchman made a fast start before also falling back in the final sector and having to settle for second place. The last rider to start, Iles knew he would have to push hard, but a few small errors cost him and he crossed the line in fourth. An on-pace Greg Minnaar was in touch for a podium before clipping a tree in the final woods section and stalling. Greg finished P27.
First-year elite and already so classy, Goldstone was but one drift off the win. | *Click to enlarge
Results & overall standings
Women’s Race
1. Vali Höll: AUT 3:23.222
2. Camille Balanche SUI +4.303
3. Rachel Atherton GBR +7.334
4. Monika Hrastnik SLO +7.603
5. Phoebe Gale GBR +7.852
Men’s Race
1. Andreas Kolb AUT 2:59.335
2. Loïc Bruni FRA +0.680
3. Jackson Goldstone CAN +0.911
4. Finn Iles CAN +1.451
5. Luca Shaw USA +1.713
2023 UCI MTB World Cup women’s DH standings
1. Camille Balanche SUI 680 points
2. Rachel Atherton GBR 616
3. Valentina Höll AUT 592
4. Nina Hofman GER 430
5. Monika Hrastnik SLO 380
2023 UCI MTB World Cup men’s DH standings
1. Loïc Bruni FRA 595 points
2. Finn Illes CAN 494
3. Loris Vergier FRA 486
4. Andreas Kolb AUT 476
5. Jackson Goldstone CAN 44