2023 UCI DH World Cup: Austrian wins by two seconds as Briton Greenland claims bronze at Fort William

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Valentina Höll defended her UCI World Mountain Bike Downhill Championships title with a superb display in Scotland on Saturday that saw her win by two seconds as Briton Laurie Greenland claimed men’s bronze behind winner Charlie Hatton.

Höll is only 21 years of age, however is already a two-time world senior champion following her maiden elite victory at Les Gets last summer and now her second at the Scottish host venue of Fort William.

Vali Höll

British riders got the crowds on their feet down the wet and wild course as five-time world champion Rachel Atherton finished in eighth, two-time world silver medallist Tahnée Seagrave sixth and Phoebe Gale fifth.

Another Briton Louise-Anna Ferguson was unlucky not to make the podium in fourth place as France’s Marine Cabirou set the fastest time with just five riders out of the start gate after her.

Camille Balanche

2020 world champion Camille Balanche then took the lead from Cabirou with German Nina Hoffman only managing 19th second last down as Austrian Höll emerged last as the fastest qualifier.

The Salzburg native duly put down another brilliant, fearless run to record a time of 4:58.242 that saw her win by +2.020 from Balanche in silver and +2.361 from Cabirou in the bronze medal spot.

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In the men’s race, Frenchman Loris Vergier qualified fastest with compatriot Loïc Bruni second, Australian Troy Brosnan third, Greenland fifth and Canadian Finn Iles sixth fastest.

On race day, Briton Hatton set a superb time of 4:26.747 that rider after rider failed to beat with Greenland getting nearest +1.229 behind before Austrian Andreas Kolb finished +0.599 off for silver.

Five-time champion Bruni, who was defending his title from last year in Les Gets, finished just off the podium in fourth with Kiwi Brook Macdonald 35th and Iles suffering a bad day on the course.