uci.ch
Big bosses of last year, the Australian What the Sam Hill and the French Sabrina Jonnier won the first 2008 Downhill World Cup round. But how narrow are the gaps!
From the qualifications, the pitch is given. Really fast on the Maribor’s track and winner of her second World Cup here last year, the English Rachel Atherton (Animal Commençal) overflies the semifinal in 3'15"48. It is 4"66 ahead of the young French Floriane Pugin (Playbiker Iron Horse), whereas Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis), World Champion, took the third place.
Same battle for men! Last year, Julien Camellini (Chain Reaction Cycle) signed the best performance of his career in Maribor. And as he signed the best time of the semifinal, the day started pretty well for him. The Frenchman beat Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate). Sam Hill, winner of the finale 2007 World Cup here at Maribor, answered the question with the third time of the morning. But everything still had to be done for the final…
A little offended as she was dominated the whole morning, Sabrina Jonnier pulled out all the stops. "I wanted to show to all the people who thought I would loose that they were wrong," she explained with a smile at the arrival. She won for the first time the Maribor event with a very tiny advance of 0"18 on Rachel Atherton. Tiny but enough to make her happy. As she fell, Floriane Pugin missed the top three. Emmeline Ragot took the opportunity to climb onto the podium.
The Men final was not less animated. Last year, What the Sam Hill won three rounds of the World Cup out of five. As he started, Fabien Barel took the leadership but not for long. The coyote from Perth signed a record time of 2'47"54. But Camellini or Peat could also steal his “hot seat”. None of them will make it. The French, second, signed the best result of his career, while the veteran of the international downhill circuit took the third place. Overall winner last year of his first World Cup Series, Sam Hill took back the leader jersey and the battle for victory promises to be very intense!
MARIBOR DOWNHILL RESULTS
1. SAM HILL (AUS)...MONSTER IRON HORSE...2:47.54
2. JULIEN CAMELLINI (FRA)...CHAIN REACTION INTENSE...2:50.62
3. STEVE PEAT (GBR)...SANTA CRUZ SYND...2:51.85
4. FABIEN BAREL (FRA)...SUBARU...2:52.11
5. GREG MINNAAR (RSA)...SANTA CRUZ SYND...2:52.19
6. GEE ATHERTON (GBR)...ANIMAL COMMENCAL...2:52.34
7. CHRIS KOVARIK (AUS)...CHAIN REACTION INTENSE...2:52.52
8. JUSTIN LEOV (NZL)...YETI FOX SHOX...2:52.56
9. BRENDAN FAIRCLOUGH (GBR)...MONSER IRONHORSE...2:54.23
10. ANDREW NEETHLING (RSA)...GT MONGOOSE...2:55.49
24. KYLE STRAIT (USA)...SPECIALIZED...2:58.60
27. JOHN SWANGUEN (USA)...MS-INTENSE...2:58.72
56. COLE BANGERT (USA)...SPECIALIZED...3:02.11
57. DUNCAN RIFFLE (USA)...CANNONDALE...3:02.1
64. BRADLEY BENEDICT (USA)...3:03.98
WOMEN
1. SABRINA JONNIER (FRA)...MAXXIS...3:14.31
2. RACHEL ATHERTON (GBR)...ANIMAL COMMENCAL...3:14.49
3. EMMELINE RAGOT (FRA)...SUSPENSION CENTER...3:21.80
4. FIONN GRIFFITHS (GBR)...NORCO...3:23.61
5. FLORIANE PUGIN (FRA)...PLAYBIKER-IRONHORSE...3:23.95
6. CELINE GROS (FRA)...SOLID ACLASS...3:25.98
7. TRACY MOSELEY (GBR)...KONA 3:26.89
8. MIO SUEMASA (JPN)...MS-INTENSE 3:29.54
9. PETRA BERNHARD (AUT)...3:33.45
10. MYRIAM NICOLE (FRA)...3:34.78
16. KATHY PRUITT Kathleen (USA)...3:40.48