Myriam Nicole and Amuary Pierron win Lenzerheide DH World Cup
The Lenzerheide World Cup Downhill had a new track, but the same high speed and risk v reward. Here's the gallery.
All photos: Piper Albrecht
The UCI World Cup moved to Lenzerheide in the Swiss Alps for a double header. With short track on Friday, Saturday was all about Downhill. Lenzerheide has often been known as a bikepark track – fast and relatively simple to get down. Doing it the fastest was always hard. This year, a new top section was added which threw up multiple line choices for riders, and had even the most experienced riders needing to work out the course through the week as it moved from wet to dry, with ideal dry conditions on race day.
French rider Myriam Nicole produced a scintillating run to secure her first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup victory of the season, while compatriot Amaury Pierron continued his excellent form as he dominated the men’s event in Lenzerheide. Here is all you need to know:
World Cup overall leader Camille Balanche was the overwhelming favourite after securing top spot during qualifying with a commanding performance. On race day it was returning rider Rachel Atherton who impressed early, producing a fantastic run in her first World Cup race since 2019.
The five-time world champion showed little signs of rust after three years away and laid down an early marker.
Vali Höll then moved into the lead with an error-free run down the tricky course, before Eleonora Farina moved into first place. Next up was European champion Monika Hrastnik who was clean through the first section but lost some time and was only able to move into second.
Nicole was next up and was simply sensational as she produced a scintillating time, finishing almost nine seconds ahead of Farina. Balanche was the final rider and was able to improve on her top qualifying run but was unable to match the speed of Nicole, with the French rider securing her first win of the season after twice finishing second and once third.
Nicole, 32, said: “Thanks to Cami, I really have to push my limits… so honestly, this feels really good. We are entering the second part of the season and it’s going to be a long one, so I really needed this win.”
Elise Empey was 8th in Junior women, and Connor Mielke came 16th.
In the men’s race, Canada’s Finn Illes put the new Specialized into top spot as he tamed an increasingly dusty course with a smooth run. We haven't seen it yet, but the frame's lower
Illes would hold on to the lead for quite some time, as rider after rider failed to threaten his time.
Thibaut Daprela, Matt Walker and Andreas Kolb never looked like snatching first place and after Benoit Coulanges struggled with a flat, there were just two riders remaining. Dakotah Norton was over a second up on Illes at split three before crashing out, leaving Pierron as the only rider who could snatch the victory away from the Canadian.
The French rider is known as one of the wildest riders at World Cups and produced something big just when he needed it, claiming victory by a massive 1.4 seconds.
Pierron, 26, said: “I felt good all weekend, and when you feel good you just have to go for it. I’m just super stoked.”
In Junior Men, Remy Meier-Smith and Jackson Davis were in the top 10, with Sascha Kim 25th. Connor Fearon and Troy Brosnan finished 19th and 20th respectively, with Luke Meier-Smith in 21st.
Women's DH result
1. Myriam Nicole FRA 3:11.751
2. Camille Balanche SUI +4.419
3. Eleonora Farina ITA +8.433
4. Monika Hrastnik SLO +10.228
5. Vali Höll AUT +11.212
Men's DH result
1. Amaury Pierron FRA 2:47.153
2. Finn Iles CAN +1.402
3. Greg Minnaar RSA +1.705
4. Andreas Kolb AUT +1.712
5. Benoit Coulanges FRA +2.754
2022 UCI MTB World Cup women's DH standings
1. Camille Balanche SUI 895 points
2. Myriam Nicole FRA 795
3. Valentina Höll AUT 586
4. Eleonora Farina ITA 560
5. Monika Hrastnik SLO 384
2022 UCI MTB World Cup men's DH standings
1. Amaury Pierron FRA 830 points
2. Matt Walker GBR 556
3. Benoit Coulanges FRA 515
4. Finn Illes CAN 501
5. Danny Hart GBR 466
