Gracey Hemstreet flew to a fantastic finish in the elite women’s downhill race, just missing the podium on Saturday in Pal Arinsal, Andorra. It is a massive result for the Sunshine Coast, B.C. racer, who is just in her second year of racing in the elite category.
Despite qualifying sixth, Hemstreet started early in the elite women’s final. (Start order was based on UCI ranking, not qualifying results). The Norco racer stormed through the deep dust of the very dry Pal Arinsal track, setting a new fastest time only to have it bettered by France’s Myriam Nicole two riders later. Both are returning from injuries, for Hemstreet worlds is just her second race back.
Nicole and Hemstreet then had to waid for the last 15 riders to finish, with only Tahnée Seagrave posting a time faster than Hemstreet.
It wasn’t until the final rider on the mountian, defending champion Valentina Höll dropped in that Nicole’s time would be challenged.
There was no stopping the dominant Austrian, thgouh, Vali Höll stormed to her third-straight world championship title. The YT racer’s time, 3:00.212, was just 0.520 faster than Nicole, but it was enough.
Vali Höll wins 2024 downhill world championships.
“I had such a hard time after the long break to get back up to speed, I really doubted myself. I was scared I didn’t know how to race a bike anymore. But to do it three times in a row it’s insane!” Höll said after the finish line. While the Austrian has dominated the last few seasons, she still took time to pay respects to her comptitors. “Myriam [Nicole] is one of the best in the world, I really don’t feel like I am up at their level, but somehow I am… women’s racing at the moment is amazing.”
Myriam Nicole has to settle for second and Tahnée Seagrave third. That pushes Gracey Hemstreet just off the podium in to fourth.
Emmy Lan adds to the Canadian results in 27th.
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