Steve Smith was fastest at every split, and there probably isn't a single person that isn't stoked for him!
5th gear and pinned, headed for the finish line and his first ever World Cup win.
Way to go Stevie! It's been a long, long time since I've heard the Canadian National Anthem at a downhill podium. You made us all proud!
Greg Minnaar finished third here today, which gave him enough points for second overall in the series. Pretty sure he'll be content with that and the rainbow stripes this year...
The World Champion, taking some hot laps in his rainbow jersey this morning.
Nick beer finished fifth to make it three Devinci riders on the podium. Pretty sure there's already a big party going on in Chicoutimi Quebec
Crazy Swedish fans!
Photographer, no press accreditation, no bib, who cares?
Needles whips it out, a bit like Danny Hart
Brendan was very happy with his 10th place!
Mick Hannah finished 11th, not quite what he had wanted...
...but he just didn't have enough in the tank today.
Great result for the local hero Isac Leivsson, 12th place.
Robin Wallner was not able to repeat his result from yesterday, but a solid top 20 for him!
The Norwegian fans finally came out after a few hours
Hard to tell the Lapierre bunch apart now that they all seem to have similar helmets and a lack of bike detailing, but Blenki still sends it!
Richie Rude is getting faster and faster every week. He's quiet, but a great kid. Way to shred it Richard the 3rd!
Eliot Jackson cruises an early morning lap in the sunshine.
Greg and his rainbows make their way through the lower rock traverse.
Steve Smith's winning machine!
The rocks here in Norway were as deep and tough to navigate as the Fjords that dot the coastline.
Rachel Atherton taking one last win for the season. Even though she won all but one of the World Cups she entered this year, it came down to this one last race, and only 140 points between her and Emmy.
Morgane Charre on the podium again this week.
Casey Brown. 3 world cups, 1 podium. Way to go on your 4th place, mighty mouse!
Most of the track dried pretty quick, but not the lower part in the last woods. Petra Bernhard just missed the podium here in Hafjell.
Tahnee went down hard during her final run, but managed to continue and finished in 9th place. She's the 2012 junior World Cup champ.
These feet were made for walking. Rachel had plenty of "marry me" offers coming from the fans...
Canadian girl Casey Brown, stoked with her first World Cup podium!
Thanks to the crazy Norwegian fans for such a great atmosphere during the awards ceremony.
The Men's Podium (left to right: Gee Atherton 4th, George Brannigan 2nd, Steve Smith first, Greg Minnaar 3rd, Nick Beer 5th)
The Women's Podium (left to right: Casey Brown 4th, Emmeline Ragot 2nd, Rachel Atherton 1st, Morgane Charre 3rd, Jackie Harmony 5th)
All kind of cover bands here in Hafjell, AC/DC, Guns 'n roses, you name it...
Wow really? Everything I've ever seen of Gwin leads me to believe that he is an upstanding person. I'm100% sure that he would give Stevie all the credit he deserves. He's been chomping HARD at his heels,and on given day on any given track,he can destroy! Gwin being a true sportsman would be embarrassed of such a comment! Wurd!
Happy as fawk...Stevie destroys!
Humbleness is one of Gwin's greatest traits, I'm a huge fan of his! Unlike you he is an American I strive to be more like!
I'm happy as fawk too! I'm just calling it like it is. If Gwin was 100% n raced he would have killed it as usual. Props to Smith for the win but like I said b4 ^
when it comes down to it you cant win a race if your not in it and your race run is your race run. you cant say i could have done better or this guy would have beet him if he raced the fact is the results dont lie!
Not arse kissing. It's called not being a douchebag. And he's right, not all Americans are as narrow minded and condescending. I'm a huge Gwin fan just like anyone else, but Stevie deserves this win no matter what. A wise downhill racer once told me that mt bike racing is a collaborative process in terms of the rider, equipment, weather, support crew, planets aligning, and pure dumb luck all working together to produce a victory, or not. Mechanical failures, rainy weather, a kid running onto the track, etc cannot be controlled so your race run - sometimes being at the mercy of chance and luck - is fully the responsibility of the rider. We can blame Shimano for Gwin's brake failure, or we can blame his crew for not installing it properly, or we can blame Gwin himself for taking a bad line. Just like tanman said above, you can't win a race if you aren't in it, and the fact is, he wasn't racing.
Congrats Stevie for a great showing this year! He's come a long way and beyond since Seasons when he said "I want be on the podium with Sam Hill and Steve Peat."
In the pre-race interview with Gwin, he himself was rooting for Stevie. True sportsmanship.
And congrats Stevie on the win and Devinci for storming the podium!
Steve is a true gentleman and a popular winner, humble, fast and relaxed. The thing that makes his success even better for the majority of fans is not him, but his supporters and countrymen being so grounded and humble too. Long may his winning ways continue aboard the Canadian Carbon rocketship.
With the release of the carbon Wilson at a price a little over the aluminium version, is the price of the latter set to fall I wonder? I would be happy to see a version released with a Kage or Van RC shock, full aluminium for $2000. That would be great for the likes of me to have a shot at buying Steve's winning machine (or the next best thing). How about it Devinci?
3 races without a win now... looks to me like "GWINSANITY" is well and truly over.
dude, fuck. Shut up about gwin for second. I have a feeling you would be all hyped up about any person with a winning streak as great as Gwins as long as he were American. Show some damn respect for smith, let alone anyone who podiums. Put your you pants back on. '
Gwin might have back to back World Cup Championship, but he also has back to back World Championship chokes on the most important racing day of the season. Stevie has a much better record at World's, he's a better person, and all the momentem is going to his way.
"Rachel Atherton taking one last win for the season. Even though she won every World Cup she entered this year, it came down to this one last race, and only 140 points between her and Emmy." (under picture n°24)
Not true, she didn't win in Fort Williams (2nd).
And, picture 25, it's Morgane Charre, not Emmeline Ragot.
if Canada is so great then move there, and change your profile flag to one which is Canadian. so, so many haters... let the neg props roll in...lol i wish PB had a "global" flag so we didn't all need to be so inclusive and a-whole-ish
Yes she did, I apologize for that. She won the most points at every race she entered, so when I looked at the the overall it listed her as number one for every race...
nobody took a picture of the reporter? so hot. always good to watch her in the flash interviews, i dont know the name but i didnt forgot the face, attitude and style.
I can't, I moustache to the finish!
i'm just bummed that i have to wait 8 months for more UCI action
I'm pretty sure the Girl with number plate 9 and the rainbow stripes is Morgane Charre and not Emmeline Ragot, though
Everything I've ever seen of Gwin leads me to believe that he is an upstanding person. I'm100% sure that he would give Stevie all the credit he deserves. He's been chomping HARD at his heels,and on given day on any given track,he can destroy!
Gwin being a true sportsman would be embarrassed of such a comment!
Wurd!
Props to Smith for the win but like I said b4 ^
Not all Americans are like this silly head ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Congrats Stevie! You killed it out there!
Congrats Stevie for a great showing this year! He's come a long way and beyond since Seasons when he said "I want be on the podium with Sam Hill and Steve Peat."
With the release of the carbon Wilson at a price a little over the aluminium version, is the price of the latter set to fall I wonder? I would be happy to see a version released with a Kage or Van RC shock, full aluminium for $2000. That would be great for the likes of me to have a shot at buying Steve's winning machine (or the next best thing). How about it Devinci?
3 races without a win now... looks to me like "GWINSANITY" is well and truly over.
What's next? Smith or Bulldog mania?
"He's a better person" ?? Because you know them both personally?
Not true, she didn't win in Fort Williams (2nd).
And, picture 25, it's Morgane Charre, not Emmeline Ragot.
seriously embarrassing.
i wish PB had a "global" flag so we didn't all need to be so inclusive and a-whole-ish
right... i personally have control of the public health infrastructure. i'll get moving on that sir!
always good to watch her in the flash interviews, i dont know the name but i didnt forgot the face, attitude and style.
the adjustment screws are placed a bit odd for a vivid,aren't they?