Iles podiums at World Cup DH dust-up in Andorra

Finn Iles landed his third World Cup podium of the year with a spectacular run – and several sensational saves – on a brand-new track in Vallnord, Andorra on Saturday.

On a new course, both elite races saw riders take their first wins of 2022.

Canadians in Andorra

Before Iles sensational run, four more Canadains took on the Vallnord track. Mark Wallace (Canyon Cllctv) leaves Andorra with a 39th. Wallace’s teammate Jakob Jewett was close behind in 43rd. Seth Sherlock (Intense Factory Racing) is 47th and Elliot Jamieson 60th.

Elite women: Höll finds form

Valentine Höll (RockShox Trek) turned around a frustrating start to her season to take a big win on the wildly technical Andorra track. Nina Hoffmann (Syndicate) takes second, 3.583 seconds behind the young Austrian.

World Cup leader Camille Blanche (Dorval AM) struggled through her final run, barely holding on to save a few moments and settling for a third in Andorra.

Jess Blewett (GT Factory) takes fourth, a big result for the New Zealand freerider. Millie Johnset (Commencal 100%) rounds out the podium in fifth.

Myriam Nicole started fast, attacking the home course of her Commencal/Muc-Off team, but a crash near the bottom dropped her to seventh. It’s the world champions first result outside of the top-three all year, and comes just seven days after her win in Lenzerheide.

Balanche extends her overall lead. The Swiss rider now has 1085 points to Nicole’s 905. Höll sits third with 811.

Elite men: dust-up in Vallnord

Finn Iles put in a spectacular run, flirting with chaos the whole way down the mountain. After a blistering fast first two splits, where Iles set the days fastest times, the Canadian’s run nearly came unglued as his front wheel skidded through deep silt while approaching a steep rock garden. After riding out the compression at the bottom of that slop on his handlebars, Iles – somehow – picked up speed again, building pace back up through the run before nearly crashing on the awkward,…