Finals Photo Epic: Too Close For Comfort - Maribor DH World Cup 2019

Apr 28, 2019
by Dave Trumpore  



Photo Epic presented by Five Ten
photo

After the rain caught everyone off guard in yesterday's qualifier, today riders would at least get the benefit of some practice time on the now slippery race track prior to racing. Blue skies greeted everyone to start the day but clouds quickly moved in and it became apparent the track was unlikely to completely dry out. Further complicating setup and tire choice, large sections of the track were dry while others were covered in a thin slime of mud. Having a feel for how much grip could be had on dry roots with wet tires or vice versa would be the constant gamble of the day as riders pushed to find the track's new limits. Once again it would be a World Cup race where nerves, adaptability to react to changing conditions and the ability to change things up on the fly that would make all the difference.

First up were the juniors where Thibaut Daprela and Vali Holl continue where they left off in 2018 by taking the wins in Maribor. Thibaut would put a margin of over three seconds into first-year junior Ethan Shandro while Kye A'Hern would fall just over four seconds back for third. Once again Vali Holl would dominate the field with an almost 10 second lead over Anna Newkirk and Mille Johnset, a podium very reminiscent of the 2018 season.

Clouds began to build just before the women's race but luckily held off dropping any moisture on the rapidly drying track. It would be Marine Cabirou who would set the first fast time with a run that would have gone fastest in yesterday's qualifying round. Next to challenge her would be crowd favorite Monika Hrastnik but her time would come up just short. As soon as third place qualifier Tahnee Seagrave hit the track it was obvious she was on another level, and as her splits came up on the board it was obvious she was on an incredible run. Across the line and straight to the hot seat with only two racers on left on track to challenge her time. First up was World Champ Rachel Atherton who would flip flop between being up and down at each split, making it a nail biter of a run for those awaiting their fate at the bottom. In the end, she would come up just 0.8 off the pace to finish second. As Tracey Hannah steadily lost time at the splits it became obvious the win was Tahnee's, and as Hannah crossed the line in third the deal was sealed. Tahnee is now in the driver's seat as the series heads to round two in Fort William.

For the men's race, the track was back to it's blazing fast and nearly dry self for what would be one of the closest races we have seen in a long long time. With the top five only separated in the end by 1.5 seconds and the top four all on the same second, Maribor kept everyone on the edge of their seat. And none more so than Loic Bruni as he watched his closest rivals fall short by the slimmest of margins. With times so tight riders were pushing to the absolute limit on track and crashes would, unfortunately, keep Loris Vergier out of the mix along with 3rd place qualifier Finn Iles. Last weeks iXS Cup winner Matt Walker stayed on top form to claim 5th just behind Charlie Harrison who would pilot his new Trek to 4th in his first race with the team. Third would go to the ever consistent Troy Brosnan while the top two spots would go to Bruni and Danny Hart respectively. For the tech nerds out there his would also mark the first time a 29/27.5 combo bike has won a DH race, and in this case, that setup claimed the top two steps.

The Downhill World Cup now takes a five-week break before returning to the classic back to back rounds of Fort William and Leogang in early June.

Mechanics double checking every bolt as riders got ready to head up the hill for the final runs
Mechanics double checking every bolt as riders got ready to head up the hill for their final runs.

Tracey Hannah clearing the head for race day.
Tracey Hannah clearing the head for race day.

Joey Foresta about to head up for his first practice run.
Joey Foresta about to head up for his first practice run.

Loris Vergier getting some maintenance done on the body before the final runs.
Loris Vergier getting some maintenance done on the body before the final run.

Ethan Shandro getting ready to go.
Ethan Shandro getting ready to go.

Charlie Harrison was having a good weekend already he wasn t aware how good it was going to end up this morning when he was warming up.
Charlie Harrison was having a good weekend already, he wasn't aware how good it was going to end up this morning when he was warming up.

Mille Johnset would put the new Atherton bike on the podium with a 3rd in junior women.
Mille Johnset would put the new Atherton bike on the podium with a 3rd in Junior Women.

Vali Holl once again up to her winning ways in the Junior Women s race.
Vali Holl once again up to her winning ways in the Junior Women's race.

Vali Holl won the Junior Women s today just shy of 10 seconds over the rest.
Vali Holl won the Junior Women's today just shy of 10 seconds over the rest.

Ethan Shandro crushed it at his first World Cup to take 2nd in juniors
Ethan Shandro crushed it at his first World Cup to take 2nd in Juniors

Kye A Hern slots into 3rd 4 seconds back.
Kye A'Hern slots into 3rd, four seconds back.

Junior Thibaut Daprela squeezing through the trees on a winning run
Junior Thibaut Daprela squeezing through the trees on a winning run

Thibaut Daprela once again leads the junior men s series
Thibaut Daprela once again leads the Junior Men's series

Vali and the familiar leader s dress code.
Vali and the familiar leader's dress code.

So close but just off the win today for Rachel Atherton and her family s new Atherton DH bike.
So close but just off the win today for Rachel Atherton and her family's new Atherton DH bike.

Sandra Rubesam sneaks inside the top 10 in 9th.
Sandra Rubesam sneaks inside the top 10 in 9th.

Marine Cabirou was up the splits but went down just short of the line and back in 15th.
Hear that sound? It's the sound of thing's clicking for Marine Cabirou. After almost taking the qualies by storm, but crashing in sight of the line she got her spot on the podium this afternoon.

Top qualifier Tracey Hannah would have to settle for Third.
Top qualifier Tracey Hannah would have to settle for Third.

Monika Hrastnik went and swiped herself a podium spot just a couple of hours from her hometown here in Slovenia.
Monika Hrastnik went and swiped herself a podium spot just a couple of hours from her hometown here in Slovenia.

Relief for Monika Hrastnik after delivering a podium result in front of her home country
Relief for Monika Hrastnik after delivering a podium result in front of her home country

Tahnee rode the rocks like a boss
Tahnee rode the rocks like a boss

Big victory today for Tahnee Seagrave after landing in third for qualies. Clearly the weather holding off played in her favour.
Big victory today for Tahnee Seagrave after landing in third for qualies. Clearly, the weather holding off played in her favour.

It was a nail bitter for Tahnee as she watched Rachel fall back at some splits and pull ahead at others.
It was a nail biter for Tahnee as she watched Rachel fall back at some splits and pull ahead at others.

And then victory
And then victory.

The fastest woman in the world Tahnee Seagrave flanked by Rachel Atherton and Tracey Hannah on the podium
The fastest woman in the world, Tahnee Seagrave, flanked by Rachel Atherton and Tracey Hannah on the podium.

Tracey Hannah starts the season off in 3rd place
Tracey Hannah starts the season off in 3rd place.

Marine Cabirou put in one hell of a performace here in Maribor. Clearly the new set up is working and it looks like she could be moving higher up the podium in the races to come.
Marine Cabirou put in one hell of a performace here in Maribor. Clearly the new set up is working and it looks like she could be moving higher up the podium in the races to come.

Rachel enjoying time with her fans.
Rachel enjoying time with her fans.

Fist bumps.
Fist bumps.

Tahnnee providing the showers for the afternoon.
Tahnee providing the showers for the afternoon.

Ed Masters had a good day on the forest. 14th for the Kiwi towball .
Ed Masters had a good day on the forest. 14th for the Kiwi 'towball'.

10th for Dakotah Norton and only 3 seconds off the win on a day of incredibly tight racing.
10th for Dakotah Norton and only three seconds off the win on a day of incredibly tight racing.

The loudest cheers went to Slovenian Jure Zabjek
The loudest cheers went to Slovenian Jure Zabjek.

MacDonald grinds to a halt in the finsih area. The crowds were a little slow to arrive in the stands with quite a traffic jam congregating around the most savage rock garden on the circuit up in the woods.
MacDonald was in dangerous form here no doubt, just a couple of race run mistakes knocked him back to 13th place, four seconds back.

17th for Remi Thirion
17th for Remi Thirion.

David Trummer has been at the sharp end of the time sheets all weekend and rounded it off with a great run to 15th.
David Trummer has been at the sharp end of the timesheets all weekend and rounded it off with a great run to 15th.

Just off there top 10 for Dean Lucas in 11th
Just off the top 10 for Dean Lucas in 11th

Not the start Pierron would have wanted but 7th is no bad score and leaves him with scope to make the right moves on the overall.
Not the start Pierron would have wanted, but 7th is no bad score and leaves him with scope to make the right moves on the overall.

Connor Fearon avoiding the monstrous compressions in style.
Connor Fearon avoiding the monstrous compressions in style.

What a day for Charlie Harrison and the new Trek Factory DH program.
What a day for Charlie Harrison and the new Trek Factory DH program.

Matt Walker monster trucking through the rocks to round out the podium in 5th.
Matt Walker monster trucking through the rocks to round out the podium in 5th.

 In behind me are Gwin Pierron... It s fair to say Matt Walker was chuffed with his first podium as he checked in back home.
"In behind me are Gwin, Pierron..." It's fair to say Matt Walker was chuffed with his first podium as he checked in back home.

Vergier is a danger man on any track. Today he went down hard and took himself and his peak out of the running.
Vergier is a danger man on any track. Today he went down hard and took himself and his peak out of the running.

A battered Vergier limps his way back into the finish area with thoughts of what could have been.
A battered Vergier limps his way back into the finish area with thoughts of what could have been.

Greenland was on it from the get-go here in Slovenia and 9th will only fire him up for an assault on Fort Bill.
Greenland was on it from the get-go here in Slovenia and 9th will only fire him up for an assault on Fort Bill.

Another top contender down Finn Iles.
Another top contender down; Finn Iles.

Finn Iles was on pace to shake things up and rode strong in practice. Risks do yield rewards but can easily take them away. On to Fort Bill.
Finn Iles was on pace to shake things up and rode strong in practice. Risks do yield rewards but can easily take them away. On to Fort Bill.

Danny Hart blurs his way on to 2nd on his 29 27.5 wheel combo
Danny Hart blurs his way into 2nd on his 29/27.5 wheel combo

Super Bruni was off the rev limiter all weekend.
Super Bruni was off the rev limiter all weekend.

Loic Bruni on the last dash to the line.
Loic Bruni on the last dash to the line.

Troy boosts the final jump en route to a strong 3rd place finish.
Troy boosts the final jump en route to a strong 3rd place finish.

Troy Brosnan just never has a bad day at the races. 3rd place for the fastest Aussie in the game.
Brosnan just never has a bad day at the races.

AG engaging Apache helicopter mode in the finish area.
AG engaging Apache helicopter attack mode in the finish area.

What a contrast to 12 months ago. 1 year ago Loic was hobbling out of a Croatian hospital where as this year he started with the right kind of bang.
What a contrast to 12 months ago. 1 year ago Loic was hobbling out of a Croatian hospital, whereas this year he started with the right kind of bang.

That s one one too many for the man who has taken the majority of opening rounds since starting his downhill career. Still 6th place is still vital points in the bag heading to the Highlands next month.
That's one 'one' too many for the man who has taken the majority of opening rounds since starting his downhill career. Still, 6th place is still vital points in the bag heading to the Highlands next month.

A very Happy Danny Hart after taking second place.
A very Happy Danny Hart after taking second place.

Troy Brosnan didn t miss it by much today. He ll be back for more.
Troy Brosnan didn't miss it by much today. He'll be back for more.

Loic Bruni truly has become the new people s champion and they love to see him win.
Loic Bruni truly has become the new people's champion, and they love to see him win.

What a start for the World Champ and quite a contrast from last season s injury disaster.
What a start for the World Champ, and quite a contrast from last season's injury disaster.

The current top 5 men in the 2019 World Cup
The current top 5 men in the 2019 World Cup

Opening title shot
That's it, That's all. See you in Fort William


Posted In:
Stories


Author Info:
davetrumpore avatar

Member since Feb 26, 2008
269 articles

90 Comments
  • 175 7
 Can we talk about redbull putting "loic bruni's winning run" on the homepage of redbull tv? Just spent a day avoiding social media, open it up to watch it and there it is, spoiled. I'm so annoyed about this I need some fellow mountain bikers to vent to
  • 21 6
 Yeah that's BS. Redbull's dropping the ball all over the place this weekend.
  • 31 1
 Yea that was tweaked. Feels like I waited all off-season for these races, building up to the day. And I'm looking for the replay feed and snap! I couldn't believe what I was seeing, "Loic Bruni's winning run". Not cool. Must be a new guy at Red Bull.
  • 19 1
 @jorukfundan: will need to have a friend not interested in mtb (aka peasant) navigate the app for me next time
  • 6 0
 @velociraptor-clintthrust: That's a solid way forward. I'm going to do the same and give clear very instructions on where to go. I'll say "when you see Rob Warner the dude with the mustache and Claudio Caluori the Swiss guy, before the riders have come down the hill, then call me to the TV. Don't mention any other names." I was up before the rest of the house to watch this, and it was spoiled!
  • 25 43
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 28, 2019 at 22:36) (Below Threshold)
 Being a Pinkbike sissy reached the new low.
  • 11 0
 i'm with you on this one - hate the way i avoid spoilers all day, even when some people are watching bits in between uplifts, only to have it ruined by redbull themselves - that's my sunday routine on champs days : go for the uplifts in the morning, stay away from spoilers for the whole day, grab a kebab on the way home, put a wash with all the gear, shower, guiness and kebab, enjoy the stream.... except i already know the outcome.... thanks redbull....
  • 11 12
 @WAKIdesigns: all I’m saying is when I get free content, I want it they way I choose not how they provide to me for free.
  • 13 52
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 28, 2019 at 23:08) (Below Threshold)
 @asboites: or you are going to do what exactly? And who are you to decide? What exactly gives you power to decide? Where was the last time you bought Red Bull? Do you even spend 10k a year on bikes?

Moooooom, I want to decide when you give me ice cream or I will scream! Ice cream now! Moooooom! Ice creaaaaaaam! I will cry I swear! I will cry now! I may even break a glass in the kitchen! I am going to the kitchen now mom! I will break your favorite sht! Mmm mmm. Mmmoooooooom!
  • 4 0
 Yeah. That sucked.
Then I watched it anyway before the women's race and Warner drops the result (as usual) right out the gate.
  • 9 0
 @WAKIdesigns: whoooooosh!
  • 16 1
 @WAKIdesigns: do you come on here purely to troll?
  • 13 0
 @asboites: but lets discuss free. Redbull are not a charity. The commodity you are exchanging with them here might not be cash but there is a monetary value to it. Your eyes, your app time, your comments it's all worth something to them. It's in their interests to make the feed in the interests of the watchers, so they keep coming back.
  • 8 0
 I’m glad it wasn’t just me who was pissed at this!! Utterly ridiculous putting names on the winning runs underneath the watch replay!
  • 8 0
 This is bad. The whole point of it all is enjoying the suspense. Next time, Google "Maribor men's DH finals replay" or similar to bypass the homepage. Thanks for the heads-up, might not be able to catch it live next time.
  • 11 31
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 29, 2019 at 0:55) (Below Threshold)
 @mluk2004: no, actually I am here to be judgmental about folks who have no bigger problems in life than a spoiler of a bicycle race. It makes me think of bullsht like Jason Momoa shaving his beard to save a message about the state of environment. Weak, spoiled Sissies. Snowflakes. Yes. melting snowflakes.
  • 16 1
 @WAKIdesigns: it's a legitimate complaint. If a product has a flaw, it needs to be flagged. When you know the result, the replay is as much use as a chocolate teapot. It's not a life changing incident, but these little moments of joy help keep our minds off the impending apocalypse.
  • 2 15
flag thesharkman (Apr 29, 2019 at 1:57) (Below Threshold)
 It's real life. It happened. Why avoid it for the people who claim they care but apparently didn't care enough to watch it live? Those of us who watched it live, because we care, want to start talking about it and I know I won't avoid just because semi fans act like they give a damn.
  • 13 0
 @thesharkman: You can still fully care about World Cup DH but not be able to watch the race live. Some people do work on Sundays or have something called a family to attend to.
  • 5 0
 @ka-brap: Impressively measured response.
  • 3 19
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 29, 2019 at 3:10) (Below Threshold)
 @BenPea: ask your woman to open the replay for you so that you cannot see results by mistake. Send me the pic of her face after you asked the question.
  • 4 0
 @velociraptor-clintthrust man I was so pissed when I saw that, same deal, was on media black out all day only for the gimboids who broadcast the bloody show to ruin it for me, eeurgh
  • 4 0
 Thank you Red Bull for spoilering!
  • 4 1
 @WAKIdesigns: nobody needs to go through that. Tech solutions ftw.
  • 1 0
 Just wait til you watch the intro and see the giveaway for the JABRA bluetooth headphones that Rob is wearing without needing to. I hope Claudio was judging him.
  • 3 0
 Totally agree. Literally avoided all social media all day and log on to Rud Bull and its the first thing I see. I was trying to avoid looking too much as I'm sure this was the same set up at least year. While it was still ace to watch it takes the edge off the excitement. Don't mind them having it on there but come on who goes on there just to watch the winning run, just hide it further along the toolbar. I bet 90% of the people are on there to catch up on the whole event.
  • 1 0
 Yep this was not cool. Shame as the coverage was top notch.
  • 4 0
 @tomhib13: Take a leaf out of F1's book, if you go to watch the replay it'll have a thumbnail of some random midfield car and the title of the race, not a massive headline saying "WATCH HAMILTON WIN".

Personally I think Red Bull are aiming to cater for the semi-interested part time rider, not really a fan. Those sorts of "Watch Bruni's Winning Run" headline are aimed at them, not at the serious fan, something like watch the men's winning run would be easy to do but potentially advertise their sponsored rider less to a non-rider punter flicking through the app.

For anyone arguing it's my fault for not watching it live, partly I often work Sundays and on this occasion I was out, you know, riding my actual bike during the day, and had then organised ~10 mates to come over to watch the race and eat.

Happy to throw the fanbase under the bus for mass appeal.
  • 3 0
 Totally ruined it for me. Who in their right mind would do that? Complete and total noob move.
  • 3 0
 Yep, another one here who avoided it all day only to be ruined by those ‘winning run’ videos. Cheers red bull
  • 4 0
 By the way... there’s a feedback section on the client / website ( can’t recall now ) and I remember sending feedback about this - maybe if more people share the opinion with them this could be taken in consideration !?
  • 1 0
 @velociraptor-clintthrust: i just bookmark it the day before (easy on computer).
appletv easy to find without spoliers. not sure on other apps.

i dont touch the bike sites / most the internet until i've watched the reply.
  • 7 0
 @WAKIdesigns: I think it's pretty ignorant to assume that me being annoyed about seeing a spoiler about a MTB race, and then bringing it up in a MTB forum, means I have no bigger problems in life. I f#cking wish mate
  • 2 0
 I submitted feedback about my frustration with having the race winner's spoiled here:
feedback.redbull.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
  • 2 0
 @rscreen: The issue here is not that people saw it on bike sites but in trying to load the replay on the red bull app it was advertised to you as the winning run with the rider name.
  • 1 0
 @velociraptor-clintthrust: we call them muggles
  • 40 0
 Charlie Harrison's run was really exciting to watch
  • 2 0
 He looked lose like brannigan before his injure years.
  • 32 1
 Is it just me or do DH kits get tighter every year?
  • 3 0
 Hrastnik with the skinsuit pants. Might as well be Lycra compared to anyone else.
  • 3 0
 Wonder how long it will be till they're back at skinsuit tightness again. 11 years on and we're quite close.
  • 3 1
 Think it’s as much to do with how physical DH has become. These guys and girls are ripped to have enough strength to hold onto a 3-5 min run on any World Cup track these days
  • 6 0
 @Rowlapa1974: haha no, it's all about aero
  • 16 0
 PB should make a "tightest pants award" at each round. Pierron is clearly winning this one, heard he was wearing Nicole's pants.
  • 8 0
 @Whipperman: insert 'getting into her pants' joke here.
  • 25 1
 The photographers are killing it, lots of amazing shots in all of these photo reports so far.
  • 11 0
 Never seen Danny smile so much! Such a good race run from him, basically destroyed the rock garden!
  • 4 0
 That grin into the camera when he was in the hot seat was hilarious man.
  • 10 1
 Gwin still hasn't posted on IG; usually hes really quick on his social media. This loss must have hurt.
  • 3 0
 @dobermon: seemed like everybody was expecting him to step it up but the big wheels or something held him back. He's usually the king of tracks where you can pump for speed like on this one so it was a surprise. More like his first race on Specialized versus his first race on Trek or yt. He'll be back.
  • 19 0
 @Flowcheckers: let's remember that whole top 10 here was separated by only 3 seconds... Gwin in 6th was just 1.8 seconds off the win and 0.2 off the podium. Anyone in that top ten was at the pace to win and when races are this tight just looking at the final placing isn't fully indicative of speed.
  • 1 0
 He's still probably contemplating on what had happened. Hope he bounce back next round.
  • 2 0
 @Flowcheckers: was thinking of the same thing. It was like his first race on Spez.
  • 1 0
 @davetrumpore: Is this yhe tightest WC ever so far?
  • 1 0
 @ibis09: Tottally!! it looked like he was doing everything right but, just wasn't generating top speed........
  • 1 0
 @nojzilla: Even Claudio and Rob was saying what is happening here? Imo it even looked like he didn't make any mistake at all.
  • 11 1
 No photos or mention of Mark Wallace!?!
  • 8 0
 Loris looked like he tank slapped like a moto GP bike.
  • 6 0
 Yes chuck!!! Stoked for you
  • 3 0
 I'd expect Rachel and perhaps Tracy to switch to 97.5 sooner than later. I though Rachel would start with that setup straight away.
  • 1 0
 She's on a 29'er
  • 4 1
 Troy looked pretty relaxed, didn't look like he was at full attack compared to the others. Reckon he is in for a big season!
  • 10 0
 I think that’s just his style though. He never looks like he’s pushing it! Silky..
  • 3 0
 Awesome photos team. Fantasy pick for Fort Bill might be based on those who don't shave but should!
  • 2 0
 How the f*** does one get 820 points for fantasy in one single round?
Amazing!
  • 3 0
 Damn time travellers is who!
  • 3 0
 29/27.5 the way to go??
  • 1 0
 Seemed to work for Bruni and Hart... was left wondering what size tire thy were running in the back...
  • 4 0
 Who doesn't love a good mullet. Business up front, party in the back!
  • 2 7
flag Flowcheckers (Apr 28, 2019 at 21:27) (Below Threshold)
 Yep, hot pro tip is to buy a 29er then spend another $500-1500 for a smaller back wheel, go ride steep trails, and get injured and out for the season overestimating your new bike and it's high speed capabilities. Love this sport.
  • 2 0
 @Flowcheckers: I was under the impression one must buy a 275 plus a 29er fork and a 29er front wheel.
  • 3 2
 "just shy of 10 seconds over the rest." -- I've been using "just shy" wrong all this time....
  • 1 0
 Sitting at Munich airport, unsuspecting, and I think I just saw Angel Suarez. Starstruck. What’s next? Greg Minnaar?
  • 1 3
 I used to wait like crazy the streaming of Freecaster for these races, but nowdays there something that is not pulling me, also with Endgarme and Game of Thrones the very same weekend there was very little chance I was going to be watching this.
  • 3 1
 Bruni running minions?
  • 6 1
 Specialized doesn’t make a butcher in a 29er DH casing, so yes
  • 6 0
 @zdubyadubya: except they do make one in 27.5, but that was a minion too.
  • 2 0
 Big Bottles........
  • 3 1
 What a fresh podium !
  • 1 0
 Any idea what the wheels size Troy Brosnan was running on?
  • 1 0
 27.5 both ends
  • 4 0
 @H3RESQ: Oh wow. Thank you for the info. I guess either both or 27.5 on rear will be the next thing this year
  • 1 0
 Any word on Loris after that crash?
  • 1 0
 Here's one: beast. Looks like he was on top 5 pace the rest of the way down.
  • 1 0
 Question is, where did Loris's go pro go?
  • 1 4
 RB can swallow their stuff just sometimes the podium photo shows more monster and that is the race!
Second thought: trek for the hiring of the year.
  • 4 0
 Trek’s whole team is a top 15 monster. Harrison 4th, Wilson 12th, Edwards missed qualifying by only a handful of spots even though he’s not even sposed to be on the bike yet after injury, and Shandro 2nd juniors.
Lose the Super Family and rebuild with the youngest and fastest out there. Worked out pretty well for them I reckon!
  • 1 0
 @samjobson: that's what I would say... It seems my bad english couldn't be able to say trek had a very good recruitment...
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.060934
Mobile Version of Website