9 Things to Watch for on Race Day - World Cup Round 4 Leogang DH
1. Bruni!
Many people have expected to see Bruni at the sharp end of things this season. It's hard to describe coming into the weekend with the number 9 plate as a failure, but there has been a conspicuous lack of a French front-runner in recent years and France expects. This is the first time the young Frenchman has started last on race day, so we're going to be glued to our screens to see how he deals with the pressure.
![Loic Bruni is looking on point here in Leogang. He certainly isn t having much trouble in the woods sections. He s looking loose and quick.]()
2. So close to Gwinning
Gwin was so, so close to sitting at the top of that list this evening and we'd be keen to know why he isn't. His first split was nothing short of monstrous - more than a second clear of anybody else. Yet Bruni reeled in him in both the second and third sectors. What happened? We can't believe Gwin has any fitness-related issue, but did he have another problem? Or did it just take Bruni a little while to get up to speed? In the end, the difference between the two is just 0.4 seconds and come race day we'd be tempted to put our chips on experience over youth.
3. Manon Carpenter is the woman to beat right now
Another weekend, another fastest time in qualification. To put yourself more than 5 seconds clear of all but one of your competitors is incredible form, and she showed at both PMB and Fort William that she has the head to deal with the pressure. Yes, she was unlucky last weekend, but her first split was a full 2 seconds clear of Ragot barely a minute into the track. Looking at the splits here in Leogang, it's not a question of where is she faster, because going by the splits, the answer is everywhere.
4. This is starting to look like it could be Luca Shaws year
Like Manon, Luca is the class of the field in qualifying for the junior men's race. He was looking like he was going to back up his qualification on race day, leading at the first split, but an error on track cost him the win and dropped him all the way back to 8th. He has 1.7 seconds over Loris Vergier right now, and a full 3 seconds to Alex Marin, so come tomorrow it's looking like his race to lose.
![Luca Shaw was fastest in timed training today. He didn t have the run he wanted in Fort William so he will be looking to make up for it here.]()
5. Ratboy is there again
Josh Bryceland is having a huge season so far, he's always been a rider touted for big things, but this season his form has been stunning, consistently running at the front. His qualifying run has him right within striking distance, just 0.8 seconds off Bruni and putting in a faster time than Gwin on the lower sectors of the course. Is it finally going to be his weekend?
6. Rachel Atherton isn't going to magically bounce back
Looking at the split times, she was up on Ragot at the first split, but couldn't hold that kind of pace to the bottom and dropped back behind her French rival by the second split, losing yet more time on the final section. But, we're not going to rule Rachel out for the win tomorrow. Until Fort William she had been off the bike for nearly a month with illness and a week isn't enough time to put that much damage right. If she knows her fitness isn't where she wants it to be, we doubt she'd put down any more than she absolutely needed to today, saving herself for the day that really matters. When she's on form, we'd doubt that even Manon Carpenter, flying high as she is now on a string of incredible rides, can touch her, but the question is: Where is her form for race day?
![Rachel Atherton is not excited about the track here in Leogang. Both Atherton and Clay Porter tweeted today about their wish for more technical and raw natural tracks to be brought back to the World Cup.]()
7. Not qualifying has lit a fire under Needles
It seems like his bad luck in Fort William has amped Andrew Neethling up this weekend - fourth in qualifying is one of the best qualification rides we've seen from him in a while. Just 2.8 off the front he's on pace for at least a podium this weekend.
8. How close is striking distance?
The really big question this weekend is how far back is too far? Looking down the list, going from Smith who qualified 5th, 2.8 seconds back, to Minnaar who qualified 12th, 5 seconds back, the names in the group are huge. There is so much talent in that group, but how much pace can people find between now and the time they reach the starting gate? On a track where the winners are coming down in 3.20, how do you find more a second per minute with very little track time to do it? Last weekend in Fort William the pace from qualifying carried through to race day, but will we see that again this weekend? Of course, all bets are off if the weather closes in...
9. Hill is the biggest unknown
Sam Hill is the biggest unknown from qualifying today, coming in 18th more than 7 seconds off the pace. We don't believe that he really is 6 seconds slower than anybody on the first, two and a half minute split, so what has he got up his sleeve for race day? Last weekend he was so, so close to standing on the top of the box for the first time in a few years and he seems to be getting closer and closer to being back up there.
![Today in the pits Sam Hill scratched his nose. As he gazed thoughtfully out across the rows of colorful tents it was clear he was standing there existing and that made it absolutely fascinating to race fans and avid bicycle journalists across the globe. Pinkbike were of course first on the scene to get the scoop although not much is known about the extent of the scratching at this point or whether we ll be seeing much more of it in the future. Definitely newsworthy.]()
Many people have expected to see Bruni at the sharp end of things this season. It's hard to describe coming into the weekend with the number 9 plate as a failure, but there has been a conspicuous lack of a French front-runner in recent years and France expects. This is the first time the young Frenchman has started last on race day, so we're going to be glued to our screens to see how he deals with the pressure.
Loic Bruni has been pinned all week in practice
2. So close to Gwinning
Gwin was so, so close to sitting at the top of that list this evening and we'd be keen to know why he isn't. His first split was nothing short of monstrous - more than a second clear of anybody else. Yet Bruni reeled in him in both the second and third sectors. What happened? We can't believe Gwin has any fitness-related issue, but did he have another problem? Or did it just take Bruni a little while to get up to speed? In the end, the difference between the two is just 0.4 seconds and come race day we'd be tempted to put our chips on experience over youth.
3. Manon Carpenter is the woman to beat right now
Another weekend, another fastest time in qualification. To put yourself more than 5 seconds clear of all but one of your competitors is incredible form, and she showed at both PMB and Fort William that she has the head to deal with the pressure. Yes, she was unlucky last weekend, but her first split was a full 2 seconds clear of Ragot barely a minute into the track. Looking at the splits here in Leogang, it's not a question of where is she faster, because going by the splits, the answer is everywhere.
4. This is starting to look like it could be Luca Shaws year
Like Manon, Luca is the class of the field in qualifying for the junior men's race. He was looking like he was going to back up his qualification on race day, leading at the first split, but an error on track cost him the win and dropped him all the way back to 8th. He has 1.7 seconds over Loris Vergier right now, and a full 3 seconds to Alex Marin, so come tomorrow it's looking like his race to lose.
Luca Shaw is leading the way in the juniors
5. Ratboy is there again
Josh Bryceland is having a huge season so far, he's always been a rider touted for big things, but this season his form has been stunning, consistently running at the front. His qualifying run has him right within striking distance, just 0.8 seconds off Bruni and putting in a faster time than Gwin on the lower sectors of the course. Is it finally going to be his weekend?
6. Rachel Atherton isn't going to magically bounce back
Looking at the split times, she was up on Ragot at the first split, but couldn't hold that kind of pace to the bottom and dropped back behind her French rival by the second split, losing yet more time on the final section. But, we're not going to rule Rachel out for the win tomorrow. Until Fort William she had been off the bike for nearly a month with illness and a week isn't enough time to put that much damage right. If she knows her fitness isn't where she wants it to be, we doubt she'd put down any more than she absolutely needed to today, saving herself for the day that really matters. When she's on form, we'd doubt that even Manon Carpenter, flying high as she is now on a string of incredible rides, can touch her, but the question is: Where is her form for race day?
Third in qualifying, Rachel Athertons take on struggling
7. Not qualifying has lit a fire under Needles
It seems like his bad luck in Fort William has amped Andrew Neethling up this weekend - fourth in qualifying is one of the best qualification rides we've seen from him in a while. Just 2.8 off the front he's on pace for at least a podium this weekend.
8. How close is striking distance?
The really big question this weekend is how far back is too far? Looking down the list, going from Smith who qualified 5th, 2.8 seconds back, to Minnaar who qualified 12th, 5 seconds back, the names in the group are huge. There is so much talent in that group, but how much pace can people find between now and the time they reach the starting gate? On a track where the winners are coming down in 3.20, how do you find more a second per minute with very little track time to do it? Last weekend in Fort William the pace from qualifying carried through to race day, but will we see that again this weekend? Of course, all bets are off if the weather closes in...
9. Hill is the biggest unknown
Sam Hill is the biggest unknown from qualifying today, coming in 18th more than 7 seconds off the pace. We don't believe that he really is 6 seconds slower than anybody on the first, two and a half minute split, so what has he got up his sleeve for race day? Last weekend he was so, so close to standing on the top of the box for the first time in a few years and he seems to be getting closer and closer to being back up there.
The danger man?
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It would be a drema podium! Sorry, one mistake: Blenki FTW!!!
For sure the pain holds him back at the moment and reminds him to the injury, but we don’t doubt Damien is a thoroughbred racer and he will be back.
He's still "only" 29 years old, he has time to win. I was there for the Champery Worlds, his run was crazy, he sure is really good in rough stuff and in the rain !
I hope he comes back strong and we can see him again on the livestream
Also, this was very well written and spot on. The last time I read vital's power rankings it was WAY off.
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