RACE REPLAY LINK
Source: press release
“I didn't believe it until I saw the time displayed on the big screen. It was an incredible race and I'm thrilled. I'm also very happy for my teammate Laurie Greenland, I knew he could do well but I didn't expect to find him on the hot set when I crossed the finish line ”. Danny Hart visibly climbs on the podium of the Val Sole 2016 World Championship. However, the joy of the new gold shines on his face five years after his triumph at the 2011 World Cup in Champery (Switzerland).
The same emotion that can also be read on the face of Laurie Greenland, protagonist of a competition that rewards him with the third world medal in his very young career after the 2014 silver and the 2015 gold among the Juniors. “I was convinced that I could do well on this track but not that I could get this result. My goal was to finish in the top 10, I'm very happy and incredulous. It's a great result for me ”.
The French Florent Payet also personifies happiness as he closes the podium of the Elite Men at the World Championships Downhill of Val di Sole. “My sensations were excellent and the third time set in Saturday's timed practice confirmed it. I've always pushed hard trying not to make mistakes on a track I like. Congratulations to Pippo (Marani - ed)".
Welsh Rachel Atherton sets an incredible new record of victories on the Trentino track. She is worth an encore of gold in 2008, she gets her fifth victory over the Black Snake, she hits as many world titles (one junior) and brings the streak of consecutive successes to fifteen. She's Guinness World Record stuff. “Each race is a story in itself, including this World Championship. It is never a predictable competition, it is the descent that is worth a season. True, I came from a winning streak of 14 races, but it wasn't easy at all. I am very happy, even if for me it is the fifth world championship conquered, the fourth among the Elite, it is always a special emotion ". A greeting goes to her brother Gee, with whom she shared the 2008 gold also in Val di Sole.
“I have come from a difficult season, where I was stopped for a long time due to an injury. I preferred to recover as best I could before returning, the last World Cup races helped me to find the right pace and the right sensations for the most important appointment of the year. I am obviously very happy with the result ”says Frenchwoman Myriam Nicole after the awards ceremony in which she wore the 2016 silver world championship.
Tracey Hannah, third placed, does not appear very happy with the bronze. “I thought I could do better, my goal is always to win even if it's really hard to beat an Atherton in such good shape for so long. My sensations were excellent after Saturday's timed practice, unfortunately I was unable to follow the lines and pace I wanted ”.
The spectacular Val di Sole 2016 Mtb World Championship ends with the exciting men's and women's Elite races of the downhill, the queen specialty of gravity. And once again the victories go exclusively to the great champions. Predictions respected with the gold medals finished around the necks of the British Danny Hart and Rachel Atherton. Only crumbs, however valuable, for Laurie Greenland and Florent Payet second and third among men; Myriam Nicole and Tracey Hannah among the girls.
