That’s it – the last round of the season. Motivational Team Chain Reaction Cycles pit board.
Over night the track had dried out pretty well making it a bit easier for the riders today. But still, it wasn't a walk in the park. Damien Spagnolo in the steep rock garden.
A couple of sections this track could easily take you out of the race. Greg Minnaar in his last practice run of the morning gets bucked by one of the roots.
...pushing back up and one more attempt. Gaping into the sketchy off camber section, that´s a line only Minnaar was pulling off.
The atmosphere on the track was amazing today with loads of fans and most of them giving it everything the could.
It looks like all the Canadian riders were feeling very much at home on this track. Casey Brown taking 4th in the Women’s final.
It was a close battle between Emmeline Ragot and Rachel Atherton all year and Hafjell was no exception with Ragot setting the fastest time by more than six seconds before Rachel went out of the startgate.
Rachel Atherton couldn´t match Ragot’s fastest split up top but was flying on the bottom half, taking home another victory and the World Cup overall.
After a 19th place in qualifying Greg Williamson was even faster in the finals, coming down in 15th and with the fastest speed trap of the day of 73,4 kpm.
The Swedish fans giving it up for Robin Wallner the second to last rider on track. After an amazing qualifier yesterday he made a couple of mistakes today still ending up in 17th.
Isak Leivsson came down early but with more than an impressive time. At his home World Cup the Norwegian scores 12th place and his best ever result.
Yesterday Markus Pekoll was already 4th fastest at the top split. In today's finals he was back in 21st at that point but made up time on the bottom half of the track getting him another top ten finish this year in 9th.
After a bad start Sam Hill dug deep and caught up finishing in 7th today.
To have a good qualifier on a track that suits you is one thing, but to bring it down in the final is a completely different animal. Big respect to George Brannigan for putting down this run for second on a track like this.
It was a close call between Gee Atherton and Greg Minnaar in the overall. But with Gee finishing in 4th behind Minnaar he couldn´t catch up Greg in the overall points.
Steve Smith looked amazingly pinned all week, especially in all those sketchy and awkward sections everyone else was struggeling in. So it´s great to see that everything finally came together for Steve today.
First ever World Cup win for Steve Smith. Canadian rider on a Canadian bike - I like that kind of story.
After looking fast every practice session at every World Cup round this year Nick Beer finally got a good run in finals, making it three Devinci team riders in the top five.
An unbelievable race from George Brannigan. In the end it was really close. He missed out on the win by just 0,4 seconds.
It would have been interesting to see the number one rider of this season racing here in Norway but with the overall in the bag there was no need for Aaron Gwin to take any risks after his injury in practice.
The World Cup overall podium with Sam Hill in 5th working his way back up there.
What a finish for an amazing season of racing. Thanks Hafjell. Can´t believe it´s already over.
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It was realy an fantastic Season and the coverage from all the people at the World Cup was awesome. I can’t wait for the new season and Downhill is on the rigt way to the top. I have never seen such great emotions in elite-sports on the highest level and i have been watch a lot in the last 40 years:D This blows me away!
Holy shit.As to be the best collection of photos i have seen so far this year.
pretty bold of greg minnaar to go for a footjam in that rock garden
awesome pics. thx for your work!
Everyone else on the overall podium got trophies, Sam Hill got only a can of Monster