The final UCI Downhill World Cup of the season is always a momentous occasion, but things feel extra special in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec (Canada), this year.
Not only is the venue celebrating the 29th anniversary of its first UCI World Cup, but it’s also the last time that fans will get to watch Greg Minnaar (Norco Factory Racing) competing at the pinnacle of the sport. And as the qualifiers got underway, all eyes were on whether the legendary South African could make it through to tomorrow’s finals.
He had protected status, meaning a spot in the semi-finals was a guarantee, but after that, it was down to him, his bike, and 27 years of racing experience.
The 42-year-old isn’t known as the G.O.A.T for anything and was able to channel the skills honed over three overall series, 22 UCI World Cups, and four UCI World Championships to fly down the course 20th fastest, guaranteeing that there will be one final throw of the dice to add win number 23 to his record.
There will be no room for sentimentality on the mountain tomorrow though, and several riders are looking in fine form to finish their season strongly.
Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) set the fastest time in the semi-finals, and was the only rider to break 3:42. Dakotah Norton (Mondraker Factory Racing) and Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton) were over a second back from the Australian but could only be separated by two-hundredths of a second, while UCI overall series winner Loïc Bruni (Specialized) and local fan favourite Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) completed the top five.
Scroll slightly further down the list though to seventh, and you’ll see a certain Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing). The American icon knows how to win in Mont-Sainte-Anne, and victory tomorrow would take him level with Steve Peat’s four wins at the venue.
NICOLE BACK TO HER BEST
In the women’s field, Vali Höll (YT Mob) has the chance to make it three wins in a row in Canada and put in a strong semi-final to be the penultimate rider in the start gate tomorrow. The Austrian was pipped to the top spot though by Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) – the Frenchwoman going fastest in all four intermediate splits.
‘Pompon’ was victorious last time out in Loudenvielle – Peyragudes (France) and has looked back to her best after struggling with concussion for the whole 2023 season. While it’s too late to mount a challenge to Höll in the overall – the UCI World Champion already wrapping that up in the French Pyrenees – she could still leapfrog Tahnée Seagrave (Canyon CLLCTV FMD) into second in the series, who relied on her protected status and sat out the semi-final.
Racing gets underway tomorrow (Saturday, October 5) in Mont-Sainte-Anne from 11:30 EDT with the women’s junior finals. Find out how to watch here, and set a reminder to join Ric McLaughlin for the pre-show live from Canada from 12:45 EDT
