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The first downhill World Cup brought out fantastic performances from the Canadian contingent. Finn Iles found his first World Cup podium of 2023. Jackson Goldstone and Gracey Hemstreet, both first-year elites, proved they’re ready to take on the big dogs with top 10 finishes in Lenzerheide.
Lenzerheide World Cup brought all kinds of unknowns making for unpredictable and thrilling racing on Saturday. A Racers had to deal with a new format – adding a semi-final run on the same day as finals run, which is a huge ask at the level they are racing. It’s also the first race after an unusually long off-season, with racers keen to prove their form and get back to racing. Add in returning champions like Sam Hill and Rachel Atherton plus new riders like Jackson Goldstone and Jordan Williams and it was an absolutely thrilling day in Lenzerheide.
Lenzerheide: Semi-finals debut at World Cup
Racers really had to balance their efforts on Saturday. Opposing demands made for difficult decisions about how to pace the day. With only 30 men and 10 women advancing to finals, the new semi-final really required a race effort. But, with finals only a couple hours later in the day, there was a very real risk of not having the energy left for finals.
Hailing from B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Factory Team) had a stellar semi-final run. Only three riders could best her time in Saturday’s first run. Those riders included two world champions, Camille Balanche and Rachel Atherton, and the Syndicate’s German powerhouse, Nina Hoffmann.
Balanche put in the morning’s fastest time followed by Atherton and Hoffmann.
On the men’s side, where 60 qualified riders would be cut down to 30 finalists, semi-finals were flat out. The dry course in Lenzerheide wreaked havoc on equipment, with numerous flats and mechanical problems ending the rider’s day early.
Loic Bruni (Specialized Factory Racing) would put down the morning’s fastest time, winning the first World Cup semi-final (and a big, 200-point bonus with it). Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton) and Loris Vergier (Trek Factory Racing) followed in third and fourth.
Finn Iles (Specialized Factory Racing) and Jackson Goldstone (Syndicate) slotted into sixth and seventh, setting them up well for a solid final run. Canada’s Mark Wallace (Norco) just missed making it out of the…
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