Your Essential Guide to the Val di Sole DH World Champs 2016
Since the contenders for the overall 2016 UCI MTB DH World Cup season win slotted into place last weekend, they haven't had much time to rest on their laurels. The World Championships are upon us this weekend in the form of an all guns blazing race for glory on the highly technical track of Val di Sole in Italy.
Aaron Gwin has been the most successful Elite Men rider in Val di Sole, with Gee Atherton one race-win behind, although unlike Atherton, Gwin has never been able to win a World Champs, let alone a World Champs in Val di Sole. Meanwhile, Rachel has won here even more than Gwin, including a World Champs, with Myriam Nicole being her closest rival on the track; Nicole has twice come second to Atherton and even beat her to take the win in 2011. Could an on-form Pompon repeat her victory and deny Rachel the crowning glory of her year?
This is also a track where the Elite Men's G.O.A.T. has come incredibly close but has never won; Minnaar has secured two second-place finishes and a third. Can he buck the trend and make it work this weekend, after his strong season? Certainly, another World Championship win for MTB's history-maker would be yet another momentous occasion. And you can image the party afterward...the Italians won't know what's hit them!
Pride, honor, and national glory are all at stake, but the World Champs is also a chance for riders and teams to go all out with their kit and bikes. Nation-inspired colourways will be on show - like Aaron Gwin's Team USA YT Tues featured here - and it's that sort of thing that makes the World Champs that much more special.
The Val di Sole course is certainly renowned as one of the most challenging, so what better way to see the sun set on another year of fantastic international downhill racing.
Aaron Gwin has been the most successful Elite Men rider in Val di Sole, with Gee Atherton one race-win behind, although unlike Atherton, Gwin has never been able to win a World Champs, let alone a World Champs in Val di Sole. Meanwhile, Rachel has won here even more than Gwin, including a World Champs, with Myriam Nicole being her closest rival on the track; Nicole has twice come second to Atherton and even beat her to take the win in 2011. Could an on-form Pompon repeat her victory and deny Rachel the crowning glory of her year?
This is also a track where the Elite Men's G.O.A.T. has come incredibly close but has never won; Minnaar has secured two second-place finishes and a third. Can he buck the trend and make it work this weekend, after his strong season? Certainly, another World Championship win for MTB's history-maker would be yet another momentous occasion. And you can image the party afterward...the Italians won't know what's hit them!
Pride, honor, and national glory are all at stake, but the World Champs is also a chance for riders and teams to go all out with their kit and bikes. Nation-inspired colourways will be on show - like Aaron Gwin's Team USA YT Tues featured here - and it's that sort of thing that makes the World Champs that much more special.
The Val di Sole course is certainly renowned as one of the most challenging, so what better way to see the sun set on another year of fantastic international downhill racing.
There are three major differences to the World Champs course, as compared to last year's World Cup track. No longer do riders have to navigate the two lethal-looking North Shore-inspired sections in the upper woods (just after the Wall and Strada Romana AKA the Roman Road). According to the organisers, the top of the track will now be longer, with a fast flowing section and a road gap.
The diversion away from the boardwalk sections will no doubt be a huge relief to riders, as last year they got seriously wet and claimed a number of victims over the World Cup weekend. Other than that, the track stays virtually the same, winding down past Curva Ravelli, the Trentino jump, and the Hell. Unlike last year, conditions are looking prime...the Italian loam in the woods will be taking a beating, though, and it may turn into another dust-mageddon as we saw at last weekend's race in Andorra.
The diversion away from the boardwalk sections will no doubt be a huge relief to riders, as last year they got seriously wet and claimed a number of victims over the World Cup weekend. Other than that, the track stays virtually the same, winding down past Curva Ravelli, the Trentino jump, and the Hell. Unlike last year, conditions are looking prime...the Italian loam in the woods will be taking a beating, though, and it may turn into another dust-mageddon as we saw at last weekend's race in Andorra.
REAL OR CODSWALLOP?
Over the years, fans and riders alike have got themselves all in a fluster about whether the coveted Rainbow Stripes jersey - the UCI jersey that goes to the victors in the Elite Men, Elite Women and Junior categories - brings bad luck to whoever wears it the following year. So what's the real story?
Looking through the history books, a few Elite Men riders have managed to prove that the curse doesn't exist, by not just taking the World Champs but also taking the overall in the World Cup the following year (or at least be in the top three podium finishes). These riders include:
But those are the lucky few. Going back to 1992, out of 24 World Champs, 17 of those who held the Rainbow Jersey the following year were unable to finish in the top three places for the overall of the World Cup series.
Looking through the history books, a few Elite Men riders have managed to prove that the curse doesn't exist, by not just taking the World Champs but also taking the overall in the World Cup the following year (or at least be in the top three podium finishes). These riders include:
| World Champ 1995, World Cup overall winner 1996 - Nicolas Vouilloz |
| World Champ 1997, World Cup overall winner 1998 - Nicolas Vouilloz |
| World Champ 1998, World Cup overall winner 1999 - Nicolas Vouilloz |
| World Champ 1999, World Cup overall winner 2000 - Nicolas Vouilloz |
| World Champ 2006, World Cup overall winner 2007 - Sam Hill |
| World Champ 2007, World Cup overall second-place 2008 - Sam Hill |
| World Champ 2012, World Cup overall third-place 2013 - Greg Minnaar |
But those are the lucky few. Going back to 1992, out of 24 World Champs, 17 of those who held the Rainbow Jersey the following year were unable to finish in the top three places for the overall of the World Cup series.
The Elite Women have seemingly fared better. Riders who have been successful include:
A curse? So it's all in the mind, right? But you know how superstitious pro-mountain bikers are...and according to the statistics, it's the men who succumb to the curse more than the women.
| World Champ 1995, World Cup overall third-place 1996 - Leigh Donovan |
| World Champ 1996, World Cup overall second-place 1997 - Anne-Caroline Chausson |
| World Champ 1997, World Cup overall winner 1998 - Anne-Caroline Chausson |
| World Champ 1998, World Cup overall winner 1999 - Anne-Caroline Chausson |
| World Champ 1999, World Cup overall winner 2000 - Anne-Caroline Chausson |
| World Champ 2000, World Cup overall winner 2001 - Anne-Caroline Chausson |
| World Champ 2001, World Cup overall winner 2002 - Anne-Caroline Chausson |
| World Champ 2006, World Cup overall winner 2007 - Sabrina Jonnier |
| World Champ 2007, World Cup overall second-place 2008 - Sabrina Jonnier |
| World Champ 2010, World Cup overall winner 2011 - Tracy Moseley |
| World Champ 2011, World Cup overall second-place 2012 - Emmeline Ragot |
| World Champ 2013, World Cup overall second-place 2014 - Rachel Atherton |
| World Champ 2014, World Cup overall second-place 2015 - Manon Carpenter |
| World Champ 2015, World Cup overall winner 2016 - Rachel Atherton |
A curse? So it's all in the mind, right? But you know how superstitious pro-mountain bikers are...and according to the statistics, it's the men who succumb to the curse more than the women.
France has been the most successful World Champs nation when it comes to Elite Men's results, followed by Great Britain and the USA (Great Britain is second in the medal tables because it has secured one more silver medal than the USA). The mightiness of Greg Minnaar single-handedly puts South Africa in fourth place (yep, that's three golds, four silver, and three bronze medals!)
| NATION | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | |
| France | 11 | 5 | 5 | |
| Great Britain | 4 | 6 | 2 | |
| USA | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| South Africa | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| Australia | 3 | 2 | 7 | |
| Switzerland | 1 | - | - | |
| Italy, Netherlands, Canada | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Sweden | - | 1 | ||
| New Zealand | - | - | 1 |
The same top three nations apply for the Elite Women as well, with France on 14 golds, the UK on five and the USA on three.
| NATION | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | |
| France | 14 | 9 | 5 | |
| Great Britain | 5 | 8 | 3 | |
| USA | 3 | 3 | 8 | |
| Italy | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Canada | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| New Zealand | 1 | - | - | |
| Finland | - | 2 | 1 | |
| Spain, Japan, Switzerland | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Australia | - | - | 3 |
 | I'm not sure if this is a prediction or pure hope, but dear God, I want to see Danny Hart destroy a World Championship hill again. After knowing the man since he was a boy and his family, I don't believe there's any rider with as much focus, love, accumulated race time and will to put in the hard graft as Danny over so much of his 24 years. Three World Cup wins in a row followed by another dash of rainbow stripes would be a dream. Brosnan will follow, his season of rough luck will finally look up. Gwin will put down a perfect run too, but I feel the American's pace is off of the two young boys at this point in the season. Rachel continues to be unbelievable, and must be close to being one of the best performing athletes in any sport, ever. I think she's going to embarrass many men's times in Val Di Sole. Tracey Hannah will continue with her good form and take a silver medal. With Carpenter seemingly off the pace recently, Tahnee will grab a bronze medal despite a body full of bruises and a shaken head after a brutal season. - Paul Aston, Pinkbike's World Champs Soothsayer |
| DATE | POSITION | NAME | TEAM | WINNING TIME | GAP |
| 2015 | 1st | Aaron GWIN | Specialized Racing | 3:31.922 | - |
| 2015 | 2nd | Loic BRUNI | Lapierre Gravity Republic | 3:33.511 | +1.589s |
| 2015 | 3rd | Troy BROSNAN | Specialized Racing | 3:33.776 | +1.854s |
| 2013 | 1st | Gee ATHERTON | GT Factory Racing | 3:12.185 | - |
| 2013 | 2nd | Steve Smith | Devinci Global Racing | 3:13.186 | +1.001s |
| 2013 | 3rd | Greg MINNAAR | Santa Cruz Syndicate | 3:13.435 | +1.250s |
| 2012 | 1st | Aaron GWIN | Trek World Racing | 3:10.577 | - |
| 2012 | 2nd | Greg MINNAAR | Santa Cruz Syndicate | 3:18.427 | +7.850s |
| 2012 | 3rd | Gee ATHERTON | GT Factory Racing | 3:18.970 | +8.393s |
| 2011 | 1st | Aaron GWIN | Trek World Racing | 3:10.356 | - |
| 2011 | 2nd | Danny HART | Giant Factory Off Road Team | 3:11.588 | +1.232s |
| 2011 | 3rd | Gee ATHERTON | Animal Commencal | 3:14.470 | +4.114s |
| 2010 | 1st | Marc BEAUMONT | GT Bikes | 3:17.850 | - |
| 2010 | 2nd | Greg MINNAAR | Santa Cruz Syndicate | 3:19.250 | +1.400s |
| 2010 | 3rd | Gee ATHERTON | Animal Commencal | 3:20.510 | +2.660s |
| 2008* | 1st | Gee ATHERTON | Great Britain | 3:12.120 | - |
| 2008* | 2nd | Steve PEAT | Great Britain | 3:14.740 | +2.620s |
| 2008* | 3rd | Sam HILL | Australia | 3:15.270 | +3.150s |
| DATE | POSITION | NAME | TEAM | WINNING TIME | GAP |
| 2015 | 1st | Rachel Atherton | GT Factory Racing | 4:08.636 | - |
| 2015 | 2nd | Myriam NICOLE | Commencal Vallnord | 4:10.875 | +2.239s |
| 2015 | 3rd | Manon CARPENTER | Madison Saracen Factory | 4:15.080 | +6.444s |
| 2013 | 1st | Rachel ATHERTON | GT Factory Racing | 3:43.810 | - |
| 2013 | 2nd | Emmeline RAGOT | Lapierre Gravity Republic | 3:49.045 | +5.235s |
| 2013 | 3rd | Floriane PUGIN | Gstaad Scott | 3:55.863 | +12.053s |
| 2012 | 1st | Rachel ATHERTON | GT Factory Racing | 3:49.436 | - |
| 2012 | 2nd | Myriam NICOLE | Commencal Riding Addiction | 3:53.921 | +4.485s |
| 2012 | 3rd | Emmeline RAGOT | MS Mondraker | 3:57.519 | +8.083s |
| 2011 | 1st | Myriam NICOLE | Commencal Riding Addiction | 3:52.231 | - |
| 2011 | 2nd | Floriane PUGIN | Scott 11 | 3:53.040 | +0.809s |
| 2011 | 3rd | Rachel ATHERTON | Animal Commencal | 3:54.405 | +2.174s |
| 2010 | 1st | Emmeline RAGOT | - | 3:59.750 | - |
| 2010 | 2nd | Sabrina JONNIER | - | 4:02.150 | +2.400s |
| 2010 | 3rd | Tracy MOSELEY | - | 4:06.250 | +6.500s |
| 2008* | 1st | Rachel ATHERTON | Great Britain | 3:49.920 | - |
| 2008* | 2nd | Sabrina JONNIER | France | 4:01.910 | +11.990s |
| 2008* | 3rd | Emmeline RAGOT | France | 4:07.030 | +17.110s |
Note: * denotes UCI World Championship race.
So what is it like to win a World Championship? And how's race prep going for this weekend? We posed these questions and more to our current World Champions - Loïc Bruni and Rachel Atherton - and here's what they had to say:
What did it mean to you to win the World Champs last year, and how has it made an impact on your 2016 season?Last year it was a big surprise and a life accomplishment realised. I couldn't expect a better story after that race. I know I'll have this title for all my life and no one will ever take it away from me!
How are you preparing coming into this weekend?Preparation for this race is exactly the same as any other; just a little bit more focused maybe as it's the last one of the year. I'm not going there to defend anything, just to get this jersey as if it never happened.
What do you think of the Champs being held at Val di Sole?Val di Sole is the gnarliest track of the year and it's such a mystical place, so it's going to be an epic race!
- Loïc Bruni, 2015 UCI MTB DH World Champion
What did it mean to you to win the World Champs last year, and how has it made an impact on your 2016 season?Last year, after winning back the World Cup overall title I didn't think that I was too bothered about the World Champs as well because the overall title is so much harder to win, so much more consistency and year-long performance; but when I crossed that finish line [in Vallnord] and had won I was absolutely buzzing, and I realised that deep down I did want it just as much!
The World Champs is strange because it's one race run, one day, but for some reason it's just as prestigious, if not more so than the World Cup overall, it holds its own special value and to be World Champ is incredible, to have these stripes forever, to take home the jersey adds something to a career!
I love my rainbow jerseys and I keep them free and not confined to a showcase or frame, I let them breathe! I have three Elite jerseys and one Junior, and each one holds so many emotional memories. Racing as a World Champion during the season does add a little bit of pressure, putting on the stripes for your race run just reconfirms in your mind that you can be the best and what may be expected of you, but also I like it because it confirms that I can be the best!
How are you preparing coming into this weekend?We're coming into World Champs right from Andorra and the World Cup finals which was a BRUTAL track, so recovery is top of the agenda really. Making sure the body is recovered from last week's racing ready to tackle another big, long gnarly track is going to be hard. Apart from that I just try to take it as another race the same as any race, I try to keep things the same even though the schedule is a little different. There's more downtime at World Champs, more waiting around before finally, Race Day arrives and that can mean the nerves have longer to kick in so it's important to keep perspective!
I remember you saying in the past that Val di Sole is a special place for you. What do you think of the Champs being held here? Val di Sole is indeed a special place for me, Gee and I won our first Elite World Champs titles here in 2008, that day is deeply ingrained in my mind, I remember everything about it, and before that the European Champs a couple of times so the place is special and I love it. I love the Italians, I love the fields and the river, the mountains, the organisers are really cool and fun, and the race has a good vibe, lots of fans and smiles...it's just a rad track really natural and VERY hard! I'm very excited for the race!
- Rachel Atherton, 2015 UCI MTB DH World Champion
The Val di Sole World Champs this year makes Italy the country that's held the most UCI Mountain Biking World Championships in history. Hot on the heals are the USA, Switzerland, and Canada who have each held a World Champs three times. It hasn't always been Val di Sole, either, in 1991 Ciocco held the second ever World Champs where Albert Iten of Switzerland won for Elite Men and Giovanna Bonazzi won on her home turf in Elite Women. In 2005, Livigno took on the duties, where the French dominated with Fabien Barel and Anne-Caroline Chausson winning Elite Men and Elite Women respectively.
In 2008, Val di Sole hosted its first ever World Champs, with the inaugural victory going to an on-form Gee Atherton who beat his fellow countryman Steve Peat by 2.62 seconds. For the Elite Women, Rachel Atherton held firm against a strong French contingent, making it a double World Champs win for the Atherton family.
In 2008, Val di Sole hosted its first ever World Champs, with the inaugural victory going to an on-form Gee Atherton who beat his fellow countryman Steve Peat by 2.62 seconds. For the Elite Women, Rachel Atherton held firm against a strong French contingent, making it a double World Champs win for the Atherton family.
| YEAR | COUNTRY | RESORT |
| 2016 | Italy | Val di Sole |
| 2015 | Andorra | Vallnord |
| 2014 | Norway | Hafjell |
| 2013 | South Africa | Pietermaritzburg |
| 2012 | Austria | Leogang-Saalfelden |
| 2011 | Switzerland | Champery |
| 2010 | Canada | Mont-Sainte-Anne |
| 2009 | Australia | Canberra |
| 2008 | Italy | Val di Sole |
| 2007 | Great Britain | Fort William |
| 2006 | New Zealand | Rotorua |
| 2005 | Italy | Livigno |
| 2004 | France | Les Gets |
| 2003 | Switzerland | Lugano |
| 2002 | Austria | Kaprun |
| 2001 | USA | Vail |
| 2000 | Spain | Sierra Nevada |
| 1999 | Sweden | Are |
| 1998 | Canada | Mont-Sainte-Anne |
| 1997 | Switzerland | Chateau-d'Oex |
| 1996 | Australia | Cairns |
| 1995 | Germany | Kirchzarten |
| 1994 | USA | Vail |
| 1993 | France | Metabief |
| 1992 | Canada | Bromont |
| 1991 | Italy | Ciocco |
| 1990 | USA | Durango |
While we're talking about 2008, let's not forget that that year was the year of Sam Hill's 'run to remember' (or forget if you're Sam); fighting for his right to wear the Rainbow Stripes for a second year in a row, Hill was up by six seconds but crashed near the finish line. Sliding off, but then jumping back on his bike, he still managed to cross the line to claim the bronze medal. High drama indeed!
Rumors abound that Josh Bryceland may be ready to pack it all in and retire from the international racing circuit at the end of the season, coinciding with his mentor, Steve Peat's retirement after just over two decades of UCI World Cup racing. This would mean Val di Sole may see Bryceland's last World-level UCI event. If so, Ratboy's laid-back attitude and indeed riding style would be sorely missed. We wait with bated breath...
The finals take place on Sunday, the 11th of September, with the live broadcast commencing at 12:30 local/Val di Sole time (11:30 BST).
For those interested in the live timing from the day of the finals, according to the organisers, they'll be at the following times (all are local to Val di Sole):
- 11:00 Junior Women and Junior Men
- 12:45 Elite Women
- 14:00 Elite Men
Stay tuned to Pinkbike.com throughout the weekend for all of the latest news from the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships 2016, including live timing from timed training, as well as photo stories and tech content.
For those interested in the live timing from the day of the finals, according to the organisers, they'll be at the following times (all are local to Val di Sole):
- 11:00 Junior Women and Junior Men
- 12:45 Elite Women
- 14:00 Elite Men
Stay tuned to Pinkbike.com throughout the weekend for all of the latest news from the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships 2016, including live timing from timed training, as well as photo stories and tech content.
MENTIONS: @geebeebee / @natedh9 / @davetrump / @mdelorme / @Specialized / @trek / @YTIndustries
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Must Read This Week
so british
I hope rat boy does retire the race plate if having more fun on the bike is his goal. God I hope so.
Obviously prepping for his new career
Yup
A lot of people think about life changes when things don't go as plan and mentors retire and/or leave teams.
Syndicate is gonna have to do some serious work in the offseason.
The WC needs people like Peaty, Rat, Hart, Minaar etc, who all bring a mellow and fun vibe to the sport, but are all absolute animals on track...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqYgAX6D43Q
They should bring back commentary on the beers, especially if it ends up Warner and Peaty!
You can only tell how good Rach is by comparing her to the other women - if she wasn't bloody quick, she wouldn't continually win against the world's best, but she does, so she must be bloody quick.
True that... But I will say this... The Missy beat a lot of dudes when she was in her prime.
You can get thrashed all season on WC circuit, then do well in one race and you get to call yourself "World Champion"?
Just seems kind of weird to me. I know they are separate things, I just think that the WC circuit shit garner more bragging rights then calling yourself the world champion off of a single race.
#bringbackhafjell !!!
To be honest at some point the old adage " where there's smoke there's fire" just becomes "yup it's fire" ... It sounds like the syndicate team we know is dead and Ratboy boy is f*cking off for a while... But hey, remember, Sick Mick took some time off but returned.
And I guess this means next gear the syndicate will be Minnaar and Shaw??
I for one couldn't care less if the bike I am buying has won a title...all of the bikes in the top 20 are capable of a win under the right rider.
Maybe I'm off base, but the personalities on your team will trump their results in the long run as there are very few riders who consistently stay at the top
The WC of Downhill is a nasty piece of shit when you get past the surface. I'm not gonna say who but a local pro rider who used to race DH talked to me for a long while about how ruthless the sponsors treat a lot of the riders and that can include their bike sponsors as well. To break it down what I gathered is... If you are top 10 they love you, if you aren't.... good chance they won't even reply to your emails.... so have a shit season and the sponsors go quiet, have one good race at the end of the year and your phone dies from email alerts.
We all think that because it's mountain biking that the whole industry must have a little more of a laidback feel to it... but let's be real bottom line, everyone wants to be richer.
I just feel like you are going to sell more bikes having a big personality on your team who is a top 10 rider rather than someone who flies under the radar but wins races.
That said, ratty hasn't been top 10 lately from what I recall, so maybe he isn't really in either bucket anymore. Would be sad to see him go, but that's the nature of racing I guess
Ratboy won't compete next year I'm guessing.. but with his talent, he could easily return and win an overall. Not surprised that he's over it after the pressure from Santa Cruz, that would be enough to make most people hate racing.
Either way... baring some kind of mechanical failure or wreck those two are gonna end up 1/2.
Bruni has looked fast as hell too.
That's your top 3 in one order or another.
1-Loic BRUNI
2-Greg MINNAAR
3-Danny HART
---------------------
Go France!>
OHH GOD!! DANNY STAY ON YOUR BIKE!?!!?!! He's gonna smash it..!! He's gonna smash it...!! he loves this jumps.. OH MY GOD!!!! Look at danny hart, he's an absolut legend.... well, I think he's gonna be world champion.
Ratboy to team Peat ? Hope dh team
luca shaw to syndicate
Loic to syndicate
Greg to retire