5 Things We Learned in Vallnord

Vallnord, Andorra hosted the first double (Downhill and Cross-country) stop of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano 2017. Big crowds, high altitude and very challenging course made for some incredibly tight racing in the Pyrenees. These are the five things we learned from the 6th Mountain Bike World Cup of the season:

1. Tiny Nation, Big-Time Host

Nestled in the Pyrenees the tiny principality of Andorra with a population of 85,000 hosted the first double (DHI & XCO) of the 2017 World Cup season. At 1,900m altitude the Vallnord Bikepark in La Massana delivered huge crowds, thin air, tremendously challenging courses and a weekend of gripping racing.


2. Women’s DHI Delivers—4th Winner in 4 Races

Myriam Nicole (FRA) put it all together to win her second ever World Cup in front of her local fans and sponsors, Commencal bikes and Vallnord, becoming the fourth different winner in four races this season. Tahnée Seagrave (GBR) and Marine Cabirou (FRA) finished second and third while top qualifier Tracey Hannah (AUS) crashed while in the lead flying down the track and had to settle for a 9th place. Despite the crash and the 9th place finish, Hannah managed to defend her lead in the World Cup overall standings but both Myriam Nicole and Tahnée Seagrave are now less than 50 points behind her. Rachel Atherton (GBR) also returned to racing from her shoulder injury with a solid run to finish 4th.



3. Men’s DHI Delivers—4th Winner in 4 Races

The men’s race saw some of the tightest racing on one of the most diffuclt tracks of the season. The insanely high pace lead to quite a number of crashes including the likes of Connor Fearon (AUS) and Jack Moir (AUS) and an absolutely wild ride on the very edge that saw Danny Hart (GBR) take 3rd place. Greg Minnaar (RSA) had an incredible ride with a small mistake on the last turn to finish in second place but extended his lead in the World Cup overall ranking. But the day belonged to the last rider on the course, Troy Brosnan (AUS), who delivered a flawless run to win his second ever World Cup race and the first ever for his new team Canyon Factory Racing. Brosnan’s victory also moved him up to 3rd in the overall rankings, hot on the heels of Gwin.

Missed the races? Fear not! You can re-watch the entire live broadcast and all the highlights from Vallnord on-demand and anytime on Red Bull TV!


4. Yes! For Yana

Yana Belomoina (UKR) took the lead midway through lap one and rode away from the field with extreme confidence during the high-altitude six-lap race. The diminutive rider made the long, steep climbs look easy as she won her second World Cup race in a row while World Champion Annika Langvad (DEN) narrowly beat Gunn Rita Dahle Flesjaa (NOR) for second place. With the victory in Andorra, Belomoina also extended her lead in the season-long World Cup overall standings.


5. Unstoppable Schurter

Nino Schurter (SUI) the reigning Olympic Champion, World Champion, and World Cup leader checked out from the field at the start line and was never to be seen again. The powerful Swiss rider, fresh off a three-week high altitude training camp, set a blistering pace to dominate his competitors over the seven-lap, 4.2km, 1,900m high-altitude course to claim his 3rd World Cup victory in a row and further strengthened his grip on the overall World Cup title. In an exciting sprint to the line, Mathias Flueckiger (SUI) pipped Jordan Sarrou (FRA) for second place.


Re-watch round six of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2017 free of charge and on-demand at redbull.tv/uci and get the latest on everything bike related on the Red Bull Bike Channel at redbull.tv/bike.

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Watch the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano – LIVE on Red Bull TV:
April 30: Lourdes, France (DHI #1), Replay of live broadcast available on demand, anytime
May 20/21: Nové Mesto, Czech Republic (XCO #1), Replay of live broadcast available on demand, anytime
May 28: Albstadt, Germany (XCO #2), Replay of live broadcast available on demand, anytime
June 4: Fort William, Scotland (DHI #2), Replay of live broadcast available on demand, anytime
June 11: Leogang, Austria (DHI #3), Replay of live broadcast available on demand, anytime
July 1/2: Vallnord, Andorra (XCO #3/DHI #4), Replay of live broadcast available on demand, anytime
July 8/9: Lenzerheide, Switzerland (XCO #4/DHI #5), Live on Red Bull TV 11:00am/10:00am UTC
August 5/6: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada (XCO #5/DHI #6), Live on Red Bull TV 5:00pm/4:00pm UTC
August 26/27: Val di Sole, Italy (XCO #6/DHI #7), Live on Red Bull TV 11:00am/10:00am UTC

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