Camille Balanche & Monika Hrastnik Both Podium in Maribor

August 16, 2021

UCI World Cup Downhill racing returned after more than a month off for its third stop of the season in Maribor, Slovenia. The long wait proved to be worth some good racing. The track itself was the fastest we've seen with dry and loose conditions allowing for multiple line options and fast times.

View of Maribor, Slovenia courtesy of Sven Martin

QUALIFYING

Staying consistent, the track conditions didn't wavier much throughout the week in Maribor. Highlights from qualifying included Vali Höll looking in top form and setting the fastest time by nearly 3 second in elite women's followed by Dorval's Camille Balanche in third and Monika Hrastnik in fifth. In elite men's Troy Brosnan looks fast and smooth clocking the seventh fasted time with Luca Shaw in tow rounding out the top ten.

Vali Höll's custom RockShox Trek setup including a custom Sprint Ultra kit to match her bike

Luca Shaw was in top form all week in his Dyeno burgundy Sprint Kit

Camille Balanche taking flight in qualifying

FINALS

Elite women were first to hit the track for the Sunday finals. Monika Hrastnik would be the first TLD athlete of the day down the hill. Keeping her run clean, Monika clocked the fastest time with would sit in the hot seat with only four riders remaining to guarantee herself a top five podium finish where she ultimately finish fourth. Next up was reigning world champion Camille Balanche. Camille looked confident and consistent on the bike all week and ended the final with a time of 3:39.103 for third to extend her podium streak to three races in the row. The fastest qualifier, Vali Höll was the land women's run of the day. Vali had a clean run to take sixth and sits third overall in the series, just 85 points back of the leaders.

Elite Women's podium with Monika Hrastnik & Camille Balanche

Monika Hrastnik reaction at the finish, gotta love it

In elite men’s Benoît Coulanges put down a smooth run that earned him some hot seat time and would ultimately place him sixth overall for the day at the top TLD result. Luca Shaw just absolutely attacked the track with style to earn his best finish so far this year in seventh, and Troy Brosnan landed just outside of the top ten in twelfth and remains second overall in points.

Thumbs up from Luca Shaw at the finish