Vali Höll has remained unbeaten this week in Leogang as she finally takes an Elite World Cup win at home. From top to bottom Vali Höll lead the race building her lead at every split the Austrian rider crossed the line in first and 4.303 seconds ahead of Camille Balanche. Camille has had to settle for second place once again in 2023 as for the first time since 2019 she is not the winner in Leogang. Rachel Atherton backs up her win in Lenzerheide with another great performance as she ends the week in third place.
After the race in her broadcast interview, Vali Höll said: “Leogang is such a hard race for me. Last year was a disaster, I’ve never been so down and doubted myself. The years before, first injury then crashing on the last corner, every time I’m so close then it didn’t work. After Lenzerheide I was so lost I didn’t know what to do and it all just clicked this week.
“To do it here finally, it feels so good.”
Andreas Kolb fought back from disappointment at round one to make it a clear Austrian domination as remained untouched on the hot seat. Riders tried and failed to topple the Atherton team rider but none could master the final sector and all lost time into the finish arena. Loic Bruni was the closest rider as he crossed the line 0.680 back and just behind the three-minute barrier. Jackson Goldstone continued to impress in his first year of Elite racing taking home third place after a small mistake in the final turn.
Following his World Cup win Andreas Kolb told the live broadcast: “It’s so emotional for me. It’s my ninth season elite, it took me ages to get here and I will never forget this day. It’s unreal.”
Check out the results below.
Results:
Elite Women
1st. Vali Höll: 3:23.222
2nd. Camille Balanche: 3:27.525
3rd. Rachel Atherton: 3:30.556
4th. Monika Hrastnik: 3:30.825
5th. Phoebe Gale: 3:31.074
Elite Men
1st. Andreas Kolb: 2:59.335
2nd. Loic Bruni: 3:00.015
3rd. Jackson Goldstone: 3:00.246
4th. Finn Iles: 3:00.786
5th. Luca Shaw: 3:01.048
4:00 am PDT: The Elite Women’s Race is Now Underway
After this morning’s semi-finals it’s Veronika Widmann who kicks off finals.
4:03 am PDT: Veronika Widmann Sets a Time of 3:41.549
Veronika Widmann is the first rider down and goes around 15 seconds back from Vali Höll’s semi-final winning run.
4:08 am PDT: Jess Blewitt Ups the Pace
Jess Blewitt is looking rapid in finals as she lays down a run that would have been 6th in the semi-finals. Jess currently leads by 5.2 seconds with eight more riders.
4:12 am PDT: Gracey Hemstreet has an Incredible Run
Gracey Hemstreet is continuing to show her talent this year as she has taken the lead and beaten all but Vali Höll’s time from the semi-finals.
4:16 am PDT: Phoebe Gale Goes 0.8 Seconds into the Lead
Another first-year Junior takes the hot seat as Phoebe Gale finds 0.884 seconds to hold the top time so far. We are still around four seconds behind the top semi-final run.
4:20 am PDT: Marine Cabirou Goes 2nd
Marine Cabirou was leading through the woods but the French rider lost almost a second to the line as she goes 0.564 back.
4:24 am PDT: Rachel Atherton is Back on Top
Despite losing two seconds to the finish Rachel Atherton still ends her run 0.5 seconds up to take the race lead.
4:28 am PDT: Monika Hrastnik Can’t Match Atherton
Monika Hrastnik battled hard but she couldn’t close the gap to Rachel Atherton. Monika goes into 2nd place, 0.269 back. There does look to be quite a bit of time left at the bottom of the track, let’s see what the final three riders can do.
4:30 am PDT: Top 5 with 3 Riders Remaining
1st. Rachel Atherton: 3:30.556
2nd. Monika Hrastnik: 3:30.825
3rd. Phoebe Gale: 3:31.074
4th. Marine Cabirou: 3:31.638
5th. Gracey Hemstreet: 3:31.958
4:32 am PDT: Camille Balanche Flies into 1st
Camille Balanche is always a threat in Leogang and she is now the race leader with two more riders left. Camille currently holds a lead of three seconds although she is still just under a second off Vali Höll’s semi-final run.
4:35 am PDT: Disaster for Nina Hoffmann with a Mistake in the Woods
Nina Hoffmann was storming down the Leogang course but a mistake through the steep woods ended her chances for the win. Nina crossed the line in seventh.
4:39 am PDT: Vali Höll Finally Wins in Leogang
Vali Höll has struggled to find her form at her home race since moving to Elite until today where she dominated with a win in semi-finals and the win in finals. What a performance to cross the line over four seconds in the lead.
5:03 am PDT: Joe Breeden Kicks Off the Elite Men’s Race
Joe Breeden is the first rider down in finals as he sets a time of 3:09.234. Six seconds back from Finn Iles’ semi-final run.
5:07 am PDT: Jack Piercy Goes 2.5 Seconds Faster
Jack Piercy takes a significant chunk off Joe Breeden’s run as he now holds the hot seat.
5:10 am PDT: Another New Leader as Simon Chapelet Goes Fastest
Simon Chapelet drops the leading time by another half-second as he takes the lead. Already we are around three seconds off Finn Iles’ run. Will we see the three-minute barrier broken today?
5:13 am PDT: Bernard Kerr Almost Takes the Fastest Time of the Week
Bernard Kerr gets loose as he almost matches Finn Iles’ semi-finals run. With a 3:03.644 Bernard leads by 2.507 seconds.
5:17 am PDT: Disaster for Danny Hart
After leading into the final sector by 0.926 seconds Danny Hart’s front tire comes off the rim and he slides off the course.
5:22 am PDT: Loris Revelli Takes 2nd
Loris Revelli is having a great week in Leogang as he comes closest to Bernard Kerr so far, 1.697 off the pace.
5:25 am PDT: Oisin O Callaghan Pushes Kerr Off the Top
Oisin O Callaghan shows his skills on this course as he is the first rider to best Bernard Kerr finding 0.233 seconds.
5:34 am PDT: After 10 Riders the Top 5 Are:
1st. Oisin O Callaghan: 3:03.411
2nd. Bernard Kerr: 3:03.644
3rd. Remy Meier-Smith: 3:04.137
4th. Antoine Vidal: 3:04.813
5th. Loris Revelli: 3:05.341
5:40 am PDT: Charlie Hatton Takes Over the Hot Seat
By the smallest of margins Charlie Hatton sets the fastest finals run so far, leading Oisin O Callaghan with a gap of 0.027 seconds.
5:42 am PDT: Dakotah Norton Sets the Fastest Time of the Week So Far
Dakotah Norton is the first rider to beat Finn Iles’ semi-final run as he crosses the line with a 3:02.457. Dakotah’s run improved upon Hatton’s by 0.927 seconds.
5:46 am PDT: The Top 5 with 15 Riders Remaining:
1st. Dakotah Norton: 3:02.457
2nd. Max Hartenstern: 3:03.092
3rd. Charlie Hatton: 3:03.384
4th. Oisin O Callaghan: 3:03.411
5th. Bernard Kerr: 3:03.644
5:49 am PDT: A Big Run from Ronan Dunne Places Him 0.9 Into the Lead
Ronan Dunne is looking wild in Leogang as he splits the top three by one and a half seconds. Ronan Leads Dakotah Norton by just under a second.
5:52 am PDT: Jordan Williams Sits in 2nd
Jordan Williams won’t be winning again this week as he ends his run 0.666 back.
5:59 am PDT: The Bad Luck Continues for Greg Minnaar
Greg Minnaar is having a rough season so far as he ends the race in 16th so far after a mistake sees him come to a halt in the woods.
6:01 am PDT: Laurie Greenland Falls Just Short of Dunne
Laurie Greenland led through the first three splits but a slower ride through the woods puts him in 2nd, 0.133 seconds back.
6:02 am PDT: The Top 5 with 10 Riders Remaining:
1st. Ronan Dunne: 3:01.548
2nd. Laurie Greenland: 3:01.681
3rd. Jordan Williams: 3:02.214
4th. Dakotah Norton: 3:02.457
5th. Max Hartenstern: 3:03.092
6:10 am PDT: Andreas Kolb Breaks the 3-Minute Barrier
Andreas Kolb become the first rider to get under three minutes this week as he leads the race by a huge 2.313 seconds.
6:15 am PDT: Thibaut Daprela Can’t Match Kolb’s Speed
Thibaut Daprela leads through the first three splits before falling behind Andreas Kolb’s rapid sectors through the trees at the bottom. Thibaut finishes in 2nd, 1.725 behind the Austrian hot seat holder.
6:21 am PDT: The Top 5 with 5 Riders Remaining:
1st. Andreas Kolb: 2:59.335
2nd. Thibaut Daprela: 3:01.060
3rd. Loris Vergier: 3:01.546
4th. Ronan Dunne: 3:01.548
5th. Laurie Greenland: 3:01.681
6:24 am PDT: A Strong Ride Puts Luca Shaw in 2nd
Luca Shaw has ended his run with a great 2nd place, 1.713 seconds off Andreas Kolb.
6:28 am PDT: Jackson Goldstone Just Misses the Hot Seat
Jackson Goldstone led for some of his run but it is the final split that sees Andreas Kolb hold onto his lead. Jackson sits in 2nd with three more riders at the top.
6:36 am PDT: Loic Bruni Takes 2nd with 1 More Rider Left
Andreas Kolb could just take the home win as only Finn Iles is left to take on the Austrian’s top time. Loic Bruni came close to the hot seat holder before the final sector once again saw a drop back behind the three-minute barrier.
6:38 am PDT: Andreas Kolb Takes the Win in Austria as Finn Iles Takes 4th
Andreas Kolb has joined Vali Höll on top of the podium making it an Austrian domination in Leogang.
Elite Women
Elite Men
Elite Women
Elite Men
