Monster Energy/Iron Horse release: Sam Shines in the Rain

Round two of the 2007 UCI Downhill World Cup schedule was contested this past weekend at Champery Ski Resort, located in the spectacular Portes de Soleil region of Switzerland. With its’ steep mountains, ever changing weather, and a course the likes of which the World Cup has not seen in years, the venue helped contribute to a drama filled weekend that kept fans worldwide on the edge of their seats.Steep does not even begin to describe this 4+ minute course which dropped 581m over its’ 1.5km length. Some sections of this monster course exceeded 75 degrees and had riders who traditionally ride clipped-in going to flat pedals.

Monster Energy/Iron Horse Team rider and defending World Champion Sabrina Jonnier (FRA) got things underway for qualifying when she set the time to beat for the ladies, crossing the finish line and stopping the clock at 5:17.23; more than 4 seconds ahead of her nearest rival. Teammate Sam Hill (AUS) was third down for the men and clocked in at 4:01.89. By the time qualifying was over, Hill’s time was untouched with his nearest rival over 14 seconds back.

As the skies clouded over and grew threatening, the women took to the course. Jonnier bested her qualifying time by 15 seconds, recording a 5:02.08 run after a small crash. Unfortunately, it would not be good enough for the win. Sabrina finished on the podium in third place. Marielle Saner (SUI) took the win on her home course with a 4:59.22, and Emmeline Ragot (FRA) took home the silver.

The men’s start list was a strange affair, with many of the world’s best qualifying strategically near the bottom of the list, trying to beat out the regular 4 pm thundershowers. Steve Peat (GBR) went off 20th and recorded a 4:11.81, good enough for a long stay in the hot seat and an eventual second place finish. Taking his place 20 riders later was Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) with a 4:10.21, good enough for the win. About 10 riders later the skies decided it was time to make good on their threats, and the heavens opened up. The course quickly turned into a gigantic, kilometer long, slip n’ slide with riders crashing 3 and 4 times on course.

Rider after rider left the start gate, none able to crack the top 10; not even the legendary Nicolas Vouilloz. Hill would leave the gate last, and just over 4 minutes later, would leave the crowd amazed. Not playing the strategy card, and instead chasing series championship points had put Hill last out of the gate.

Leaving the start house in torrential rains and riding like a man possessed, Hill put down a run that will go down in mountain biking history. Hill flew through the mud and railed the berms as if they were dry. He shoved his mud covered bike across the line with a time of 4:11.84. The crowd roared its approval following a stunned silence. Hill had not only managed to claw his way onto the podium and into third place in the worst possible conditions, but he put down a time only .03 seconds short of second place, and 1.6 seconds short of the win.


"About 40 minutes before my run it really started coming down. It was a real mess when I was doing the race. I felt pretty good until I crashed.” Hill explained. “I still knew I was on a good run; maybe a win." By the time the Aussie rolled out of the gate, 100+ riders and an hour of heavy rains had obliterated the course. "It was a lot more slippery than anytime it had been during the week", said Hill. "I felt like I was on a really good run until I crashed. Without a crash I might have won.” Ever gracious with the win, Lehikoinen commented on Hill's run "The ride of the day; he was amazing. I'm happy to get the win, but that was such an impressive ride."

After two events Hill now sits in second place overall in the UCI World Cup series, 18 points behind the leader, Steve Peat. Jonnier leads the series by 70 points in front of fellow French woman, Emmiline Ragot. The team now travels to Mont Ste Anne, Quebec for the only North American stop of the 2007 World Cup season on June 23-24.

The Monster Energy/Iron Horse Team thanks the following sponsors for all their support: Monster Energy, Iron Horse Bicycles, Mad Catz, Alligator Cables, Avid, Crank Brother, DT-Swiss, e-thirteen Components, Five-Ten Shoes, FSA/Gravity, FUNN, Maxima Lubes, Maxxis Tires, Minoura, mtbidsystems, Rock Shox, SRAM, THE, Troy Lee Designs, and WTB.