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MTB World Cup XC #3 & DH #2 - CDM
Champéry, Switzerland, June 9-10, 2007
Main Page Results Previous Race Next Race
Race 5 - June 10: Elite Men Downhill
Lehikoinen wins, but Hill stars in mixed conditions
By Rob Jones
The second round of the Downhill World Cup was the final event in Champery, Switzerland on Sunday and, once again, rain played a major role in the outcome of the competition. Although Finland's Matti Lehikoinen (G-Cross Honda) took the men's victory, the ride that left everyone in awe was by world champion Sam Hill (Ironhorse-Monster Energy). The Australian came down in the pouring rain, while Lehikoinen and the rest of the top five came down in dry conditions, and still finished third. Without a midcourse crash, Hill would have likely won despite the conditions.
The course was one of the most extreme seen on the World Cup circuit, with an average gradient of 37.5 percent, and steep sections well over 50 percent. This was not a pedaling course, but one requiring exceptional control and nerves of steel to navigate the constant corners, drops and jumps.
Parts were almost un-walkable, as Greg Minnaar (G-Cross Honda) unfortunately found out. The South African slipped while walking the course in a pre-race inspection two days before the race and as he reached out to grab something to stop sliding down the slope, he dislocated his shoulder. Minnaar had to pop the joint back in himself and make his way to the bottom. He still raced - after physio and all strapped up - but crashed in the semi-final and could only manage 74th in the final.
On race day, early morning rain soaked the course and delayed the start of the semi-final by an hour, as organizers waited for the water to at least partially drain out of the wooded and muddy sections. The course did start to dry out significantly for the final.
Hill showed in the men's qualifier that this course suited him. His time of 4.01.89 was a full 14.56 ahead of the next qualifier, Mickael Pascal (Q by Saab-Salomon).
One of the more interesting rides was by former multi-time world champion Nicolas Vouilloz (Lapierre), who came out of retirement this year with the intention of racing two World Cups only (Champery and Schladming, Austria). Vouilloz's time off hasn't seemed to hurt him any, as he qualified fifth fastest. However, he came down in the rain for the final and could only manage 63rd.
Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate) set the first fast time, at 4:11.81, and his time stood until Lehikoinen knocked 1.6 seconds off. Shortly after Lehikoinen went off the rain started at the top of the course, first a few drops, then heavier and heavier, eventually turning into hail for a short period. The wet weather gradually moved down the mountain, slackened for a while and then started up again. Only after Hill had completed his run did it stop and the sun come out.
Hill's wild ride had other riders watching in awe on the big screen at the finish. He was ahead of Lehikoinen until his crash, and only finished three-hundredths of a second behind Peat for third.
"I played the rain game in the semi, and stopped on the track for maybe 20 seconds so I would start earlier. It paid off," said Lehikoinen. "But Sam, Sam is an animal ... what can you say after that ride?"
Hill was succinct: "I like the track. I knew Matti's time before I started, but still felt that I could beat it despite the rain. But I crashed about halfway, because I couldn't slow down on the rocks after going over a triple.
"I was trying not to think about how sketchy it was...I was pretty well sliding through all the corners," explained Hill of his approach. "It was as clean a run as you could have under the conditions, and I think without the crash I would have won. This morning I did a 4.01, and the best they (Lehikoinen and Peat) could do was 4.10, 4.11."
Race Notes
- Peat takes over the World Cup lead from Marc Beaumont (MBUK/Santa Cruz), with 335 points, but Hill is just behind at 317. Lehikoinen moves into third with his win at 271 points.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com
- Marc Beaumont (Team MBUK Santa Cruz)
- Markolf Berchtold
- Geritt Beytagh
- Nico Vouilloz (Team Lapierre International)
- Duncan Riffle
- Sam Hill (Iron Horse/Monster Energy)
- Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate)
- Nicolas Vouilloz (Team Lapierre International)
- Marcus Klausmann (Ghost International)
- Matti Lehikoinen (Team G-Cross Honda)
- Marc Beaumont (Team MBUK Santa Cruz)
- David Vazquez Lopez (MSC Bikes)
- Fabien Barel (Kona Les Gets)
- Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate)
- Sam Hill (Iron Horse/Monster Energy)
- Mick Hannah (Cannondale The Cut)
- Gee Atherton (Animal Commencal)
- Greg Minnaar (Team G-Cross Honda)
- Marco Milivinti goes down
- Cedric Gracia (Commencal Oakley)
- Mick Hannah (Cannondale The Cut)
- Matti Lehikoinen (Team G-Cross Honda)
- Marcus Klausmann (Ghost International)
- Greg Minnaar (Team G-Cross Honda)
- Andrew Neethling
- Pasqual Canals Flix (Massi)
- Nathan Rennie (Santa Cruz Syndicate)
- Fabien Barel (Kona Les Gets)
- Dan Atherton
- Josh Bryceland
- Brendan Fairclough (Team G-Cross Honda)
- The men's DH podium (l-r): Fabien Barel (Kona Les Gets), Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate), Matti Lehikoinen (Team G-Cross Honda), Sam Hill (Iron Horse/Monster Energy) and Mick Hannah (Cannondale The Cut).
Results
Qualifying
1 Samuel Hill (Aus) Iron Horse / Monster Ener 4.02.30
2 Mickael Pascal (Fra) Q By Saab-Salomon 14.20
3 Bernat Guardia Pascual (Esp) Msc Bikes 15.00
4 Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) 15.30
5 Nicolas Vouilloz (Fra) Team Lapierre Internation 17.00
6 Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Team G-Cross Honda 18.30
7 Justin Leov (NZl) 19.30
8 Damien Spagnolo (Fra) 20.20
9 Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) 20.40
10 Damien Mermoud (Sui) 21.20
11 Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr)
12 Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 21.50
13 Joseph Smith (GBr)
14 Marc Beaumont (GBr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 23.50
15 Cédric Gracia (Fra) Commencel Oakley 24.40
16 Julien Camellini (Fra) Mojo Orange 26.00
17 Marco Bugnone (Ita) 26.40
18 Glenn Haden (NZl) 26.50
19 Andrew Neethling (RSA) 28.50
20 Matthew Simmonds (GBr) 28.30
21 Bryn Atkinson (Aus)
22 Oscar Saiz Castane (Esp) 30.00
23 David Vazquez Lopez (Esp) Msc Bikes 29.30
24 Rémy Charrier (Fra) 29.40
25 Alan Beggin (Ita) Mapei Merida 30.00
26 Esteban Deronzier (Fra) Chatel Mountain Cycle 30.20
27 Karim Amour (Fra) 30.30
28 Georg Sieder (Aut) 31.20
29 Mike Skinner (NZl) 32.10
30 Michael Hannah (Aus) Cannondale The Cut
31 Marco Milivinti (Ita) 32.20
32 Mathias Haas (Aut) 32.40
33 Ralph Jones (GBr) 34.40
34 Tom Deacon (GBr) 35.50
35 Joris Bigoni (Fra) 35.30
36 Fabien Barel (Fra) Kona Les Gets 37.40
37 Herman Olund (Swe) 37.50
38 Chris Ball (GBr) 38.40
39 R. Leiva Figueroa (Chi) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro 39.10
40 Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Team G-Cross Honda 40.20
41 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate 40.50
42 Dave Wardell (GBr) Gt / Burgtec 41.10
43 Scott Mears (GBr) 41.30
44 Adam Vagner (Cze) 41.40
45 Benny Strasser (Ger) 42.40
46 Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Ghost International 42.50
47 Dominik Gspan (Sui) 43.00
48 Matthew Scoles (NZl) 42.30
49 Josh Bryceland (GBr) 42.50
50 Erik Irmisch (Ger) 43.30
51 Chris Hutchens (GBr) 44.40
52 Thomas Jeandin (Sui) 44.50
53 Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) 45.20
54 Pasqual Canals Flix (Esp) Massi 45.50
55 Arnaud Delente (Fra) 45.30
56 Robin Wallner (Swe) 45.50
57 Marcel Beer (Sui) 46.30
58 Fabien Cousinie (Fra) 46.40
59 Markolf Berchtold (Bra) 47.10
60 Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 47.40
61 Claudio Caluori (Sui) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 48.00
62 Rémi Thirion (Fra) 48.20
63 Mario Sieder (Aut) 48.30
64 Dan Stanbridge (GBr) Mojo Orange 48.50
65 Matej Charvat (Cze) 49.00
66 Duncan Riffle (USA) 49.50
67 Nick Beer (Sui) 50.20
68 Joe Barnes (GBr) 50.40
69 Vlastimil Hyncica (Cze) 51.00
70 Will Longden (GBr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 51.50
71 Ben Reid (Irl)
72 Patrik Kotrla (Cze) 52.00
73 Nico Vink (Bel) Dolphin Bike Team 53.50
74 Samuel Zbinden (Sui) 53.40
75 Richard Cunynghame (GBr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 55.20
76 Ben Cathro (GBr) Q By Saab-Salomon 57.00
77 Mathieu Troquier (Fra) 58.20
78 Espen Johnsen (Nor) 58.30
79 Kamil Tatarkovic (Cze) Kona Les Gets 59.50
80 Adam Brayton (GBr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 1.01.20
81 Nicola Casadei (Smr) 1.01.50
82 Nathaniel Giacomozzi (Bra) 1.03.10
83 James Maltman (Aus) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro Team 1.03.50
84 Pavel Cep (Cze) 1.04.00
85 Daniel Critchlow (GBr) 1.04.30
86 Nathan Rankin (NZl) 1.04.40
87 Jan Savr (Cze) 1.05.50
88 Peter Fernbach (Aut)
89 Marcus Williams (GBr) 1.06.30
90 Rowen Sorrell (GBr) 1.07.00
91 Matthias Stonig (Aut) 1.07.10
92 Liam Mason (GBr)
93 Florent Payet (Fra) 1.07.40
94 Rob Breakwell (GBr)
95 Marcel Vasko (Svk) 1.07.50
96 Philippe Crombet (Fra) 1.11.40
97 Robert Smith (GBr) 1.12.00
98 Chris Kovarik (Aus) 1.12.40
99 Dave Goris (Bel) 1.14.00
100 Frank Schneider (Ger) 1.14.50
101 Markus Schwab (Sui)
102 Kristof Lenssens (Bel) 1.15.40
103 Cole Bangert (USA) 1.17.00
104 Filip Polc (Svk) 1.18.40
105 Neil Donoghue (GBr) 1.19.20
106 Geritt Beytagh (USA) 1.19.50
107 Kai Crow (NZl) 1.22.00
108 Rick Balbierer (Ger)
109 Gerard Wolfe (Irl) 1.22.50
110 Roman Roschi (Sui) 1.25.20
111 Florent Wolter (Fra) 1.26.30
112 Falco Ruppert (Ger) 1.27.30
113 Mario Kranz (Lie)
114 Ondrei Barta (Cze) 1.28.30
115 Nigel Page (GBr) 1.28.50
116 David Smith (GBr) 1.28.30
117 Reon Boe (NZl) 1.30.00
118 Scott Beaumont (GBr) 1.30.50
119 Edoardo Franco (Ita) 1.31.50
120 Jakub Fiser (Cze) 1.35.50
121 Nicolas Gspan (Sui) 1.36.10
122 Matteo Milliery (Ita) 1.36.20
123 Luca Pittino (Ita) 1.36.50
124 John Holbrook (GBr) 1.38.50
125 Tobias Meister (Aut) 1.41.20
126 Björn Aeschlimann (Sui) 1.42.30
127 Kalin Rahnev (Bul) 1.43.20
128 Vittorio Gambirasio (Ita) 1.43.50
129 Patrick Meyer (Sui) 1.47.50
130 Maxime Remy (Fra) 1.51.50
131 Janick Lieberherr (Sui) 1.52.10
132 Greg Minnaar (RSA) 1.52.30
133 Rudiger Jahnel (Aut) 2.03.30
134 Liam Little (GBr) 2.05.40
135 Matej Laktis (Svk) 2.06.50
136 Johan Potgieter (RSA) 2.07.30
137 Aurélien Giordanengo (Fra) 2.08.30
138 Gaetan Reilhan (Fra) 2.08.40
139 Thomas Brunner (Sui) 2.09.10
140 Christian Daxner (Aut) 2.21.50
141 Elias Somvi (Ita) 2.22.40
142 Mickael Deldycke (Fra) 2.30.30
143 Martin Strasser (Aut) 2.34.20
144 Luca Bertocchi (Ita) 2.38.20
145 Samuele Aicardi (Ita) 2.47.50
146 Ivan Oulego Moreno (Esp) 2.48.40
147 Vincent Saut (Fra) 3.11.40
148 Mads Weidemann (Den) 3.15.40
149 Andraz Jersin (Slo) 3.28.30
150 Janis Ozolins (Lat) 3.52.20
151 Ghislain Ricci (Fra) 3.53.50
152 Edijs Pauls (Lat) 4.37.40
153 Dan Atherton (GBr) 4.58.40
154 Antoine Badouard (Fra) 5.10.00
155 Jiri Placek (Cze) 7.38.30
156 Rostislav Stencel (Cze) 8.18.10
157 Fergus Lamb (GBr) 11.49.48
158 Jared Graves (Aus) 20.41.20
DNF Lars Peyer (Sui)
DNF Claudio Cozzi (Ita)
DNF Christian Greub (Sui)
DNF Paolo Viola (Ita)
DNF Jakub Sosvol (Cze)
DNF Mark Johnston (NZl)
DNF Chris Kilmurray (Irl)
DNF Sean Mcclendon (USA)
DNS Thomas Braithwaite (GBr)
DNS Carlo Gambirasio (Ita)
DNS Christopher Van Dine (USA)
DNS Thomas Warmuth (Aut)
DNS Andre Wagenknecht (Ger)
DNS Gary Forrest (GBr)
DNS Jack Geoghegan (GBr)
DNS Remi Tomassone (Fra)
DNS William Rowlands (GBr)
DNS Gernot Ruppert (Ger)
DNS Matus Paulovic (Svk)
DNS Nimrod Hemmo (Isr)
DNS Jan Javornik (Svk)
DNS Matej Drnovsek (Slo)
DNS Andreas Schafer (Sui)
DNS Bruno Zanchi (Ita)
DNS Dan Doron (Isr)
DNS Frédéric Rudaz (Sui)
DNS Thomas Power (Irl)
DNS Stefan Fernbach (Aut)
DNS Simon Schwander (Sui)
DNS Stéphane Grandieu (Fra)
Final
1 Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Team G-Cross Honda 4.10.20
2 Steve Peat (Gbr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 2.00
3 Samuel Hill (Aus) Iron Horse / Monster Energy
4 Fabien Barel (Fra) Kona Les Gets 5.10
5 Michael Hannah (Aus) Cannondale The Cut 11.30
6 Adam Brayton (Gbr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 12.00
7 Josh Bryceland (Gbr) 12.40
8 Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Ghost International Racing 12.50
9 Adam Vagner (Cze) 13.40
10 Rémi Thirion (Fra) 15.40
11 Ben Reid (Irl) 16.00
12 Alan Beggin (Ita) 17.20
13 Dan Stanbridge (Gbr) Mojo Orange 17.40
14 Dave Wardell (Gbr) GT / Burgtec
15 Tom Deacon (Gbr) 19.10
16 Fabien Cousinie (Fra)
17 Mathias Haas (Aut) 21.00
18 Dominik Gspan (Sui) 21.10
19 Claudio Caluori (Sui) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 22.50
20 Markolf Berchtold (Bra) 22.40
21 Nico Vink (Bel) Dolphin Bike Team 24.50
22 Duncan Riffle (USA) 25.50
23 Marco Milivinti (Ita) 26.10
24 Mathieu Troquier (Fra) 26.40
25 Espen Johnsen (Nor) 26.50
26 Mike Skinner (NZl) 28.10
27 Scott Mears (Gbr) 27.40
28 Kamil Tatarkovic (Cze) Kona Les Gets 27.50
29 Mickael Pascal (Fra) Q By Saab-Salomon 28.40
30 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate 29.00
31 Karim Amour (Fra) 29.20
32 Samuel Zbinden (Sui) 29.40
33 Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Q By Saab-Salomon 30.10
34 Ralph Jones (Gbr) 31.00
35 Esteban Deronzier (Fra) Chatel Mountain Cycle 31.10
36 Richard Cunynghame (Gbr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 32.10
37 Chris Ball (Gbr) 32.20
38 Benny Strasser (Ger) 33.50
39 Arnaud Delente (Fra) 34.40
40 Brendan Fairclough (Gbr) Team G-Cross Honda 35.40
41 Nick Beer (Sui) 36.00
42 Joe Barnes (Gbr) 36.10
43 R. Leiva Figueroa (Chi) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro Team 36.00
44 Chris Hutchens (Gbr) 36.20
45 Patrik Kotrla (Cze) 37.10
46 Georg Sieder (Aut) 38.40
47 Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Gravity Group 42.20
48 Marc Beaumont (Gbr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 42.40
49 Justin Leov (NZl)
50 Matej Charvat (Cze) 44.00
51 Ben Cathro (Gbr) Q By Saab-Salomon 44.40
52 Cédric Gracia (Fra) Commencal Oakley
53 Damien Mermoud (Sui) 47.10
54 Vlastimil Hyncica (Cze) 49.50
55 Marco Bugnone (Ita) 50.10
56 Thomas Jeandin (Sui) 52.20
57 David Vazquez Lopez (Esp) Msc Bikes 53.00
58 Pasqual Canals Flix (Esp) Massi 56.30
59 Marcel Beer (Sui) 57.20
60 Joris Bigoni (Fra) 59.20
61 Erik Irmisch (Ger) 59.40
62 Herman Olund (Swe) 1.02.30
63 Nicolas Vouilloz (Fra) Team Lapierre International 1.07.40
64 Neil Donoghue (Gbr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 1.10.20
65 Dan Atherton (Gbr) Animal Commencal 1.15.10
66 Bryn Atkinson (Aus) 1.17.20
67 Gee Atherton (Gbr) Animal Commencal 1.19.00
68 Julien Camellini (Fra) Mojo Orange 1.25.00
69 Mario Sieder (Aut) 1.31.50
70 Matthew Simmonds (Gbr) 1.35.40
71 Bernat Guardia Pascual (Esp) Msc Bikes 1.35.50
72 Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) 1.36.00
73 Andrew Neethling (RSA) 1.54.50
74 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Team G-Cross Honda 1.56.10
75 Will Longden (Gbr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 2.01.30
76 Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) 2.11.50
77 Ruaridh Cunningham (Gbr) 2.20.10
78 Matthew Scoles (NZl) 2.22.40
79 Oscar Saiz Castane (Esp) 2.25.00
80 Joseph Smith (Gbr) 2.52.40
81 Robin Wallner (Swe) 5.17.30
82 Glenn Haden (NZl)
DSQ Rémy Charrier (Fra)
