Vali Höll Wins 3rd Successive DH World Title With Victory In Andorra
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The 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships took place this weekend and it was Vali Höll who grabbed the headlines as the Austrian rider made it three world titles in a row with victory in the downhill competition in Andorra.
In the women’s elite final, it was Myriam Nicole who set the time to beat thanks to an aggressive run on a dry and dusty track at Pal Arinsal. The French rider went almost three seconds faster than her qualifying time and seemingly set an unbeatable time.
More than a dozen riders tried but failed to get near the mark set by Nicole until Tahnee Seagrave threatened to move into the lead. The British leader led after the first split but lost time in the final section and crossed the line 0.692 seconds back from Nicole.
Nina Hoffmann (GER) and Marine Cabirou (FRA) were next up but neither could get near Nicole’s time. The final rider was reigning UCI World Champion Höll who lived up to her favourite tag by producing a stunning run to secure victory by half a second.
Höll, 22, said: “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. 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.”
Elite Women Results:
1st. Vali Höll: 3:00.212
2nd. Myriam Nicole: 3:00.732 // +0.520
3rd. Tahnee Seagrave: 3:01.424 // +1.212
4th. Gracey Hemstreet: 3:01.813 // +1.601
5th. Lisa Baumann: 3:02.474 // +2.262
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In the men’s downhill competition, Loris Vergier claimed his first elite title exactly a decade after triumphing in the junior event. The Frenchman finished 0.148s clear of compatriot Benoit Coulanges, while Canadian Finn Iles claimed third place.
Loïc Bruni was the pre-event favourite and was 1.8 seconds up on Vergier when a crash ended his chance of winning the title for a sixth time.
Elite Men Results:
1st. Loris Vergier: 2:38.661
2nd. Benoit Coulanges: 2:38.809 // +0.148
3rd. Finn Iles: 2:38.830 // +0.169
4th. Danny Hart: 2:38.944 // +0.283
5th. Amaury Pierron: 2:39.118 // +0.457
