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Racing goes down to the line in Lenzerheide
The Swiss downhill stop of the 2017 World Cup delivered a finals that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Replay the racing, watch winning runs and read our analysis of the races now.
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5 min
Lenzerheide DH 2017 Highlights
Watch all of the best action from Rd 5 of the 2017 UCI DH World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
On a scorching day in the Swiss Alps, the UCI World Cup DH series stepped it up a gear as the points chase got into full swing and the first repeat Elite winners of the season were crowned victorious.
Watch race highlights above and scroll down for replays, winning runs and results.
Men’s Finals
Pushing to the limit at every moment, Saturday afternoon’s finals saw the top male riders ride above and beyond the course’s dust-baked boundaries. Those who struck a perfect balance of speed and consistency were rewarded.
Crashes a regular occurrence as riders pushed hard
© Bartek Woliński
Sixth for the American Luca Shaw
© Bartek Woliński
A ragged run for Loïc Bruni on his way to seventh
© Bartek Woliński
Rudy Caribou finished eighth
© Bartek Woliński
British rider Phil Atwill put in the ride of his career with a run that put him in fifth. Fellow Brit Laurie Greenland was next to set the time to beat with an electric run full of his trademark enthusiasm and energy.
A career best performance from Phil Atwill
© Bartek Woliński
Laurie Greenland rode right on the limit
© Nathan Hughes
Danny Hart looked super smooth today
© Bartek Woliński
It would take his teammate and compatriot Danny Hart to finally knock Greenland’s time down with a near-perfect run at the race he won here last year. But it wasn’t enough as South Africa's Greg Minnaar – seemingly in the form of his life – carried speed like no other through the flat exits of turns and into rough and ready straights.
Minnaar pushes for valuable time on the last jump
© Nathan Hughes
Gunning hard after last week’s victory in Vallnord, Andorra, Australian Troy Brosnan put on a show and reeled in Minnaar near the end of his run, the final split time was showing green as Brosnan entered the arena. The crowd were on their feet as he crossed the line, but it wasn’t quite enough to better Minnaar.
Brosnan was only just outside Minnaar’s time
© Bartek Woliński
That left just Aaron Gwin atop the hill, the winner of Round 3 flying down the course and the only man looking in touch with Minnaar’s flow. The split times showed it – Gwin went fastest at all four and built momentum in his run.
Watch the run from Aaron Gwin that had us on the edge of our seats below
3 min
Aaron Gwin’s Lenzerheide run
Watch Aaron Gwin's finals run from the UCI DH World Cup Rd5 in Lezerhiede, Switzerland on July 8, 2017.
But it just wasn’t to be the American's day: coming into the final moments of his run his rear tyre exploded and he was left to limp home.
Disaster for Gwin as his rear tyre disintegrates
© Bartek Woliński
Gwin did everything he could to finish
© Nathan Hughes
An inner tube that wanted to seek its freedom
© Bartek Woliński
Gwin bemoans his luck
© Bartek Woliński
Minnaar became the first Elite Male to win two races this season, and the series leader’s finesse and confidence look almost untouchable going into the final two rounds of the season.
21 World Cup wins now for Greg Minnaar
© Bartek Woliński
Watch Minnaar's winning run below
1 min
Greg Minnaar winning run Lenzerheide 2017
Watch Minnaar's winning run from the last World Cup round in Lenzerheide.
Lenzerheide UCI DH World Cup Men’s final results
Place
Rider
Time
1
Greg Minnaar
2:57.042
2
Troy Brosnan
2:57.204
3
Danny Hart
2:58.868
4
Laurie Greenland
2:59.985
5
Phil Atwill
3:00.830
Women’s Finals
On flying form after her win at Round 4 in Andorra, Myriam ‘Pompon’ Nicole of France once again stepped up to the mark and capitalised on a close qualifying round in which she was second only to a resurgent Rachel Atherton.
After so many injuries, life is good for Nicole
© Nathan Hughes
Nicole put in a storming run, building momentum as she moved down the course and picking apart the split times of leader Emilie Siegenthaler of Switzerland. Nicole crossed the finish line with a two-second advantage over Siegenthaler, who went on to finish a brilliant third.
Siegenthaler’s third here equals her previous best
© Bartek Woliński
The race would come down to a battle of two. Britain's Atherton was soon up to speed out of the start gate, with split times close to Nicole’s.
Atherton ran Nicole close for this one
© Bartek Woliński
Atherton looked like she could be on for the win as she was in a commanding position as it went down to the wire. But Nicole’s fast final sector would prove unbeatable as the Brit crossed the line half a second down.
Back-to-back World Cup wins for Myriam Nicole
© Bartek Woliński
Two wins in a row for Pompon, and a sign that she is well and truly back on track after a spate of injuries in recent seasons. She takes the series leader’s jersey as we head into the final two events of 2017.
Delight for Nicole once more after last week
© Bartek Woliński
Watch Myriam Nicole's winning run below
2 min
Myriam Nicole's winning run at Lenzerheide 2017
Watch Myriam Nicole's winning run at UCI DH World cup Rd 5 in Lenzerheide, Switzerland on July 8, 2017.
Lenzerheide UCI DH World Cup Women’s final results
Place
Rider
Time
1
Myriam Nicole
3:26.890
2
Rachel Atherton
3:27.402
3
Emilie Siegenthaler
3:29.277
4
Tracey Hannah
3:31.429
5
Tahneé Seagrave
3:32.623
Juniors
With series contender Matt Walker of the UK out of the running due to a crash in practice, Canada’s Finn Iles was left to run away with his fourth Junior Male win of the season. Frenchman Sylvain Cougoureux and Brit Joe Breeden took third and second respectively in finals. With his win here making it four from five, Iles has an insurmountable lead in the rankings and takes the Junior series title with two rounds to go.
Congrats to Finn Iles on becoming World Cup champ
© Bartek Wolinski
The Junior Women’s category is picking up momentum as the season progresses. With Round 4 winner Megan James out with injury sustained in practice, Lenzerheide’s would see Paula Zibasa of Latvia, Melanie Chappaz of France and Shania Rawson of New Zealand take the top three spots in that order.
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