Photo Epic: Qualifying - Mont-Sainte-Anne DH World Champs 2019

Aug 30, 2019
by Dave Trumpore  



Photo Epic presented by Five Ten
photo



In theory, today was qualifying in Mont-Sainte-Anne, but with the small number of riders entered for the World Champs it was more of a formality than anything else. All riders were nearly guaranteed a spot in the final and with no points on the line very few were willing to hang it out or show their cards. Add to that the rainstorms that varied from drizzle to downpour and the track was in no condition to be rolling the dice if not needed.

Riders have another long practice session tomorrow, unlike the World Cup, and the extra day will surely be used to up the pace and intensity quota a bit. And while qualifying are surely indicative of the the speed of a few riders, it is by no means a be and end all like we are used to seeing. Especially given the rain and mud.

Myriam Nicole would lead out the women while Danny Hart took top honors against the men. In juniors, it would of course be Vali Holl for the women, and the surprise face of EWS specialist Antoine Vidal for the men. After them it would be the usual suspects that you would expect to see in the top 10 or top 5, and in reality, any one of the riders could indeed take home the rainbow jersey and gold medal at the end of the weekend. It is World Champs after all and as we have seen in recent years, anything can and will happen. The one day format lets riders hang it all on the line with a win or die attitude and you really never know what may happen.


It s been extra moist so far in Quebec
It's been extra moist so far in Quebec.

It wasn t supposed to be this wet today
It wasn't supposed to be this wet today.

A classic technical track. MSA is one of the best out there
A classic technical track. MSA is one of the best out there.

Track conditions were good this morning before the rain arrived towards the end of the junior s and women s practice session.
Track conditions were good this morning before the rain arrived towards the end of the juniors' and women's practice session.

Tahnee Seagrave kept things chill today as she tried to conserve energy for Sunday s final. Far from full strength she how to have one flat out run in her when it matters most
Tahnee Seagrave kept things chill today as she tried to conserve energy for Sunday's final. Far from full strength she hopes to have one flat out run in her when it matters most.

Mud and slick rocks to keep things spicy during qualifying
Mud and slick rocks to keep things spicy during qualifying.

The rain has made the track extra rough and the ruts extra deep this week
The rain has made the track extra rough and the ruts extra deep this week.

Hugo Langevin was a n alternate on the Canadian team originally and today he came 10th in qualifying
Hugo Langevin was an alternate on the Canadian team originally and today he came 10th in qualifying.

Vali Holl ruking the junior women once agin
Vali Holl ruling the junior women once again.

Things were wet and wild just in time for qualifying to get under way
Things were wet and wild just in time for qualifying to get under way.

Kye A Hearn would come 7thn in juniors after a big tumble in through the mud
Kye A'Hern would come 7th in juniors after a big tumble in through the mud.

When it rains it absolutely pours.
Some days you ride the bike, and some days it's the other way around.

Finn Iles hoping to bring a medal home to Canada this weekend
Finn Iles hoping to bring a medal home to Canada this weekend.

It s good to see Myriam Nicole s death stare in the start hut once again.
It's good to see Myriam Nicole's death stare in the start hut once again.

Myriam Nicole is back with a bang riding to the qualie win by over 2 seconds after a long time away.
Myriam Nicole is back with a bang, riding to the qualie win by over 2 seconds after a long time away.

Danny Hart doing the business in the terrible weather and stomping the fastest lap by 3 and half seconds.
Danny Hart doing the business in the terrible weather and stomping the fastest lap by 3 and a half seconds.

Danny was one of three riders to send this big gap en route to his winning time in qualifying
Danny was one of three riders to send this big gap en route to his winning time in qualifying.

Laurie Greenland s wheel decided it had enough of the Mont Sainte Anne rocks during seeding runs. Luckily he has another full day of practice tomorrow to sort that out.
Laurie Greenland's wheel decided it had enough of the Mont Sainte Anne rocks during qualifying. Luckily he has another full day of practice tomorrow to sort that out.

Thibaut Daprela blasts through the fastest section of the classic Mont Sainte Anne track.
Thibaut Daprela is the firm favourite for the junior title but as we've seen in recent races, he is far from invincible.

Martin Maes playing it safe in the mud. With the race still days away not too many were willing to risk it in the mud today
Martin Maes playing it safe in the mud. With the race still days away not too many were willing to risk it in the mud today.

Troy full gas over the wet roots during qualifying
Troy full gas over the wet roots during qualifying.

Andy Vathis braving the elements which were signifcantly less agreeable than forecast this afternoon.
Andy Vathis braving the elements which were significantly less agreeable than forecast this afternoon.

One of those days then.
One of those days then.

Lucas Cruz came out top Canadian junior with a 2nd place for qualies.
Lucas Cruz came out top Canadian junior with a 2nd place for qualies.

And the mud spray was flying.
And the mud spray was flying.

Classic Sainte Anne scenes.
Classic Sainte-Anne scenes.

Brook MacDonald cracking on towards a casual 3rd place finish for the day.
Brook MacDonald cracking on towards a casual 3rd place finish for the day.

Loic ran the telemetry bike for most of the day. If anything this is the track to get the most feedback on considering how relentless it is.
Loic ran the data acquisition bike for most of the day. If anything, this is the track to get the most feedback on considering how relentless it is.

Tuhoto-Ariki Pene good for a top 10 in the mud but the kiwi will be looking for much more come Sunday.
Tuhoto-Ariki Pene, good for a top 10 in the mud, but the kiwi will be looking for much more come Sunday.

Mille Johnset taming the slick rock drop of the middle woods on her way to 2nd.
Mille Johnset taming the slick rock drop of the middle woods on her way to 2nd.

Emelie Siegenthaler coping well with the adverse conditions and riding to just outside the medal positions.
Emelie Siegenthaler coping well with the adverse conditions and riding to 4th, just outside the medal positions.

3rd place this afternoon Marine Cabirou would love to end a superb break-out season with the rainbows and the overall title... both well within her reach.
3rd place this afternoon, Marine Cabirou would love to end a superb break-out season with the rainbows and the overall title... both well within her reach.

Loris Vergier maintains style even at 2nd place kind of speed.
Loris Vergier maintains style even at second place kind of speed.

Luca Shaw through of the ricks in the final wooded section of track
Luca Shaw through of the rocks in the final wooded section of track.

Greg Minnaar is always a threat at World Champs. This race definitely bring out the best in him.
Minnaar was 7th until it was ruled he went off course and was DQ'd. No worries though, he will still race finals.

Jack Moir looked comfortable in the wet today and slotted into 7th fastest.
Jack Moir looked comfortable in the wet today and slotted into 7th fastest.

Charlie Harrison dropping into the Steve Smith drop. He laid down a smooth run into 8th.
Charlie Harrison dropping into the Steve Smith drop. He laid down a smooth run into 8th.

13th Vaea Verbeeck
13th for Canadian Champion and Queen of Crankworx Vaea Verbeeck

2nd for Tracey Hannah
Second for Tracey Hannah

Theo Erlangsen getting wild after the Stevie Smith drop.
Theo Erlangsen getting wild after the Stevie Smith drop.

Reece Wilson skimming trees on his way to a steady run into the top 10.
Reece Wilson skimming trees on his way to a steady run into the top 10.

Anna Newkirk looked at ease as the bike squirmed beneath her in the greasy conditions.
Anna Newkirk looked at ease as the bike squirmed beneath her in the greasy conditions.

Miranda Miller trucks on through the waterlogged motorway section for team Canada.
Miranda Miller trucks on through the waterlogged motorway section for Team Canada.

Pure nostalgia for Aaron Gwin who casually rode one of the greatest race runs in DH history in the similar conditions of 2017.
Pure nostalgia for Aaron Gwin who casually rode one of the greatest race runs in DH history during similar conditions in 2017.

Lots of broken bikes and bodies after heavy rains brought icy conditions during seeding.
Lots of broken bikes and bodies after heavy rains brought icy conditions during qualifying.

4th for Loic who admittedly did not lay it won the line in the sketchy conditions
Fourth for Loic who admittedly did not lay it all on the line in the sketchy conditions

Rolls offs helped with the rain but it was heavy fog at the top that made visibility impossible
Roll offs helped with the rain but it was the heavy fog at the top that made visibility impossible.

Privateer Hugo Langevin in the top 10 on home soil
Privateer Hugo Langevin in the top 10 on home soil.

Moustache World Champs in the bag for AG and two days left to work on the other title.
Moustache World Champs in the bag for AG and two days left to work on the other title.

Big smiles from the Bulldog after a medal-worthy lap in the mud.
Big smiles from the Bulldog after a medal-worthy lap in the mud.

The man of the moment and many moments before that...
The man of the moment and many moments before that...

Laurie Greenland was the last man back to the pits today after a slight case of a wheel explosion and then a panic that he would fail to qualify coming in more than 200 from the winning time. Under the new rules he was in fact protected anyway.
Laurie Greenland was the last man back to the pits today after a slight case of a wheel explosion and then a panic that he would fail to qualify coming in more than 200% from the winning time. Under the new rules, he was in fact protected anyway.

The aftermath of a very wet day on the hill.
The aftermath of a very wet day on the hill.

At least the tools stayed clean today
At least the tools stayed clean today

Hopefully the rain is gone and things dry out by Sunday s final
Hopefully the rain is gone and things dry out by Sunday's final

It was a bit soggy in the maple leaf county today
It was a bit soggy in the maple leaf country today.

Opener
More flats and wheel failures than we've seen all season. The MSA reputation of pure savagery is continued. Let's hope everything survives another two days


Author Info:
davetrumpore avatar

Member since Feb 26, 2008
269 articles

31 Comments
  • 23 0
 Okay worlds riders- challenge: everyone shave yourself a mustache. Call it the Stevie Challenge, donate your prize winnings to under privileged riding clubs and go drink a cold Molson.
  • 11 1
 Drink luck dogs instead. Good ol Vancouver Island beer
  • 14 4
 Underprivileged riding clubs?! That’s top level virtue signalling. You just unlocked 1000 new skins, instant access to the netherworld and gained the status of SJ Elemental. You can melt Yeti frames with your sight.
  • 16 1
 Is that an alloy rim? Jesus christ
  • 16 5
 Nah from what I’ve read in the comment section only carbon rims do that. Alloy components and frames are indestructible right?
  • 7 6
 Didn‘t know alloy rims are still being produced.....
  • 1 3
 @vhdh666: ????????????
  • 3 0
 @whistlerdh1: was a joke mate
  • 9 0
 "Danny was one of three riders to send this big gap en route to his winning time in qualifying." Who were the other two?
  • 13 4
 Dear UCI, please ban tear offs. Dear PB Photographers, epic work in the rain guys thanks.
  • 12 0
 There are biodegradable tear offs, those should be mandatory.
  • 24 5
 @fiatpolski: spectators leave behind more trash and litter than a few tearoffs. It's a closed race course, and it all gets picked up when the event is over... Just like pretty much every other sporting event
  • 2 11
flag yakimonti (Aug 31, 2019 at 8:48) (Below Threshold)
 @davetrumpore: awesome slam on the spectators, that the sport relies on.
  • 10 1
 @yakimonti: Just because you help pay for something doesn't give you the right to be a messy prick and let someone else clear up after you.
  • 8 0
 Hugo Langevin!!! Insane
  • 8 1
 I'm sure Mavic loves the cover photo of an exploded DeeMax…..
  • 6 1
 Huge kudos to the photographers in this article! Incredible images.
  • 6 2
 Well, you now ... bigger 29er wheels are also more fragile.
  • 1 1
 Nope, it's just a Mavic wheel !
  • 3 0
 I never thought exploded puddles could be so beautiful... As for the racing...I smell tension in these images.
  • 2 0
 Everything is so up for grabs. Stoked to watch the battle!!! If only I could..... Racing is rad!!!
  • 5 0
 VPN is your friend
  • 1 0
 @RCederholm: I'll check it out. Thanks!!!!! Gotta watch if I can!!!!
  • 3 0
 photography cranked up to 11 again,top work guys.
  • 3 2
 You call it seeding in one pic. The next you call it qualifing. What is it? No points so seeding!
  • 7 0
 Seeding order already set... So qualifying ;-)
  • 2 0
 About a third of the way down...best water/mud roost shot ever.
  • 1 0
 so hanging to watch!! woooaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
  • 1 0
 what's that extra thing on Loic Bruni's fork?
  • 2 0
 Electronic travel measurement for data recording
  • 1 0
 So why is there only a small number of riders entered in the World Champs?







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