UCI Downhill World Championship Les Gets: Höll wins ahead of Hoffmann - Bruni takes 5th title

Nina Hoffmann 0.9 seconds behind to win World Championship silver

On a fast, dusty downhill track of the UCI MTB World Championships 2022 in Les Gets three-time European champion Monika Hrastnik (SLO) heralded the start of the final and took five seconds off the leader Stacey Fisher of Great Britain. The Italian Eleonora Farina crashed in the second sector. She was followed by the second-fastest rider in qualifying, Germany's fastest downhill biker Nina Hoffmann. She took another five seconds off the leader on her way to the hot seat.

The Downhill world champion from 2021Myriam Nicole, was in the lead in the first four sectors, but lost momentum towards the end and finished behind Hoffmann. Former junior world champion Valentina Höll from Austria set a fast pace and led by four seconds halfway through the race, but then slowed down and took the lead, 0.9 seconds ahead of the German. The last woman in the field, the Downhill world champion from Leogang 2020Camille Balanche (SUI), who only broke her collarbone at the beginning of August, was never quite able to match the pace of the leaders on her return. In the end, she finished fourth, 4.2 seconds behind Höll.

Valentina Höll took her first elite rainbow jersey and the first ever Austrian downhill world champion title in the elite category in a time of 3:53.857 minutes. Silver went to Nina Hoffmann (+0.906 sec.) and bronze to Myriam Nicole (+3.447 sec.).

"I felt really good on the bike the whole weekend. I had the feeling that I could win a medal. I simply had a lot of fun," said Hoffmann. "Representing Germany is something special and the World Championships are something special!"

Loic Bruni wins fifth world championship title

Ten riders before the finish, the Australian Troy Brosnan was in the lead, having ousted the Swede Oliver Zwar from the hot seat. Laurie Greenland (GBR) came back from illness to close the gap to one second. The four-time downhill world champion Greg Minnaar (RSA) put in a great performance, but was unable to keep up with the best. Austria's Andreas Kolb jeopardised his chances of a medal when he crashed into a tree.

As the Canadian Finn Iles did not start, the last four riders were all French, which almost brought the atmosphere of the spectators in Les Gets to boiling point. Four-time downhill world champion Loic Bruni was suitably motivated and secured a lead of almost four seconds with his super run! French champion Benoit Coulanges was unable to catch up. Loris Vergier took second place with a first-class ride. The decision was then made between the overall World Cup leader Amaury Pierron and Bruni. However, despite a good run, Pierron was unable to match Bruni's dream run. However, Pierron's second place secured the third medal for the French. Loic Bruni won gold in 3:20.47 minutes and thus his fifth Downhill World Championship title, Pierron took silver (+2.58 seconds) and Loris Vergier secured bronze (+3.386 seconds).

"I can't believe I've made it. This season hasn't been the best. I enjoyed the race so much, I made the most of it," said Bruni. "I've never won in France and at the World Championships, it's amazing, I'm so happy." Second-placed Pierron added: "Three Frenchmen on the podium, that's really cool."

Johannes Fischbach was the best German at the World Championship race in 20th place. For the German downhill champion Max Hartenstern only managed 34th place in the end.