Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Monika Hrastnik (AON Racing-Tourne Cambervans) mastered the difficult terrain in Val di Sole - Trentino to qualify quickest for tomorrow’s UCI Downhill World Cup Finals.
Goldstone has won the last two UCI Downhill World Cups and looks like the rider to beat during a consistent run, which was six hundredths of a second quicker than his nearest challenger.
Meanwhile, Hrastnik used her experience and knowledge of the Black Snake course to qualify fastest woman. The Slovenian was clearly the quickest and stopped the clock nine hundredths of a second faster than her rivals.
The 2.1-kilometre course will provide a tough test all weekend, with an average gradient of 24% and total drop of 550 metres, several riders have already crashed heavily in practice and qualification.
GOLDSTONE CONTINUES DOMINANT RUN
The Black Snake run in Val di Sole-Trentino, is notorious for providing a challenging course for downhill competitors. The tree roots which litter the steep tracks again caused problems during qualification. Five riders failed to finish the first men's Qualifying session and several more also had issues on the Italian slopes.
Full of confidence following his last two UCI World Cup wins Goldstone had few issues as he flew down the course in 3:42.21.
Australian Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) finished seventh in the previous round at Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria). The winner of last year’s UCI World Cup round in Mont-Sainte-Anne went second fastest, less than a second back in 3:42.82.
Overall leader Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) will be looking to defend his position tomorrow and qualified third quickest just +1.766 behind Goldstone.
Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) lost ground in the overall standings with an 18th position in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland. The Frenchman will lose further ground overall this weekend after breaking his collarbone during his final practice run in Val di Sole-Trentino.
Antoine Pierron (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) could be in contention tomorrow after dominating the second qualifying session with a time of 3:42.99 – over two seconds faster than his nearest challenger.
HRASTNIK RETURNS TO STOMPING GROUND
Multi-time European UCI Downhill Champion, Hrastnik, has had previous success on the notorious Black Snake course and will be one to beat again tomorrow.The Slovenian, who finished third last season, has yet to clinch a podium this campaign. However, the 31-year-old used all her experience to post the quickest qualification time of 4:15.13.
Valentina Höll (YT Mob) will be looking for her first UCI World Cup win in a year and posted the second quickest time of 4:16.05.
Following two wins in as many rounds, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division), continued her good form to qualify third quickest (4:16.44).
Fellow overall challenger and last year’s winner in Val di Sole -Trentino, Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) will be hoping for a better final run after qualifying eighth fastest over six seconds off the pace in 4:21.53.
Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/5Dev) was another victim of the Black Snake and failed to start qualification after breaking her hand during practice.
SERIES LEADERS ALRAN AND ZIERL QUICKEST JUNIORS
Junior UCI Downhill World Cup overall leaders Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) and Rosa Zierl (Cube Factory Racing) sent a message to their rivals by qualifying quickest in Val di Sole – Trentino. Frenchman Alran won the opening round at Bielsko-Biała before being beaten into second position two weeks’ ago.
The youngster posted the quickest time on each section to stop the clock in 3.42.37 – nearly two seconds clear of his nearest competitor.
Teammate Till Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) finished fourth in Saalfelden-Leogang and will be looking for a first podium tomorrow after going second quickest in 3:44.36.
Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/5DEV) was third fastest qualifier in 3:46.
After winning in Saalfelden Leogang two weeks’ ago Oli Clark (MS-Racing) will need an improved time tomorrow to challenge for the podium after qualifying 10th quickest.
Meanwhile, in the women’s Junior event, Austrian rider Zierl mastered the difficult course to qualify five seconds faster than her rivals. The Cube Factory Racing rider stopped the clock in a formidable time of 4:23.30. New Zealanders Kate Hastings and Bellah Birchall (Team High Country) finished in second and third places respectively and will be in the podium fight tomorrow.
After winning in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) earlier this month Lina Frener (Norco Race Division) had to battle for qualification and was eighth quickest 13 seconds off the pace.
The UCI Downhill World Cup continues tomorrow (Saturday) with the final runs for elite and junior competitors.
