It was an exceptionally steep and technical course, and one that was looking at the best part of five minutes to get down the mountain. With two wins apiece in the first two rounds, and both unbeaten in a whole load of races, all eyes were on the Athertons. Rachel qualified second behind fellow Brit Manon Carpenter, while Gee was sitting third, with Minnaar and Hill ahead of him on a course that looked to suit the loose and fast Australian, who was hunting a win for the CRC/Nukeproof team.
In the women’s race no one really came close to the British duo at the top, with a big gap back to Pugin in third, while Manon and Rachel were split by only a couple of seconds, with the national champ talking a third World Cup win on the trot.
The men’s race was even closer. Hill and Atherton were fast and Gee kept his series lead with a solid second place, but it was an electrifying ride for Remi Thirion that would make the day. Thirion’s committed ride, pedalling hard where others sat down, and taking lines that clearly gave him an advantage, including a straight line down the bottom section that no one seemed able to match, gave the French rider a stunning first World Cup win.
Special mentions have to go to a couple of riders at the other end of the age scale. Steve Peat hit 11th place, looking stronger than he has for ages, and, on his home track, and in front of his bar it was time for one of the characters of the World Cup scene to bow out, as Cedric Gracia raced his last World Cup. CG will focus on filming and on gravity enduro and his partying and flamboyant style will be missed from the series.
Elsewhere, the Cycle Show was all about women and cycling at both ends of the scale, from schemes to get people riding, to the pro scene. A lot of the competitive focus has seemed to be on men, with the noticeable growth in MAMILs and the adrenaline-fuelled end of things, while getting more people into riding, women, or not, in a relaxed and accessible way, is really the key to it being a more widespread activity.
There was also a hint that perhaps Mark Cavendish is done with the sprinting and looking for a slower way to ride, as he gets into dirt jumping. He's definitely relaxing and enjoying being on a bike, like all of us.
Improvising some obstacles in my garden to dick around on my @iamspecialized P3. Loving life. pic.twitter.com/EnlHP0EX4g
— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) July 29, 2013
I'm joking of course. I fully expect to see Cav still at the sharp end of the race very soon.
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