Pinkbike Poll: Who's Going to Win World Champs?

Sep 7, 2018
by Paul Aston  
The final showdown. With the World Cup season done and dusted there's nothing to lose in the quest for the fabled rainbows. There's no need to play it safe to think about accumulating points for the overall and riders have a long winter ahead to recover if things go south, but the opportunity and privilege to wear the rainbow jersey for a year and position the stripes on custom race kits for eternity is seriously tempting. Place your bets now:


Loic Bruni Mick Hannah and Aaron Gwin wash off the dust from atop the podium.


Junior Women

In the Junior Women, there's one name that stands out, an Austrian capable of beating the elites a minimum of two years older than her. If things don't go to plan for Vali Holl, there's a bunch of talent ready to grab some gold.

Vali Holl making light work of the slick conditions up top this morning.

World Champ Winners: Junior Women






Junior Men

In the Junior Men's race, times start to get a little tighter. Thibaut Daprela has been part of the nouveau French charge this year and took the Junior overall convincingly winning five from seven and filling in the blanks with 2x second places. But, Kerr, Kade, and A'Hern could easily pull one out of the bag for this one off race.

World Cup DH finals La Bresse 2018

World Champ Winners: Junior Men






Elite Women

Elite Women were getting more competitive over the last few seasons as the Atherton whitewash was diluted, but judging by the last two World Cups, she is back and stronger than ever. Seagrave, Hannah, and Nicole are her main threats and as we know, anything can happen at the World Championships.


Rachel Atherton rose to Seagrave s qualie challenge taking the win by a convincing 5 seconds.

World Champ Winners: Elite Women






Elite Men

Will it be the year that Gwin breaks his World Championships curse? After a season plagued with injury, a swap to wagon wheels, and an uncharacteristic fall in La Bresse, it's hard to tell his form, but it is likely to be bloody good as always. Danny Hart has done well here in the past, and Pierron is on fire. The Elite Men's category is insanely competitive, and in reality, there are more than a few dozen riders that could ride to the top step.


World Cup DH finals La Bresse 2018

World Champ Winners: Elite Men



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71 Comments
  • 91 6
 Greg Minnaar: I now he's been injured and slow on the comeback, but he owns that rock garden and running in as an underdog will suit him just fine. The speeds of this track are not for fast pedaling youngsters, but smooth fast brave lines and carrying speed through tough sections. Yeh, I'm also South African, Go Greg!
  • 33 1
 SA needs a hero right now ... Just little positivity can go a long way
  • 20 10
 Do you now de wae?
  • 33 3
 Lets not forget that Minnaar won that race because Gwin (who was far ahead at the splits) flatted. Greg is reluctant to say he owns this course(Wyn TV). This really is Gwins track and his race to win/lose. With the way his season has gone I am sure he will put it all on the line and either win as World Champ, or go down in flames because his equipment cant keep up with him.
  • 22 1
 @Spark24: Greg is a hero already! To me, he has nothing to prove, except to himself!
  • 26 8
 I would also win on this track, own it like a boss, the only reason why I didn't is that everyone else didn't crash... in qualifying. It is called racing and there is no discipline of MTB about making the best "what if" ever.
  • 12 8
 @Boardlife69: What are the excuses for Minnaar's other 20 WC wins, or for his 3 gold medal World Championship runs? Never mind his other 8 word champs medals. Plus, tyres don't just puncture - it's usually line choice, section approach & timing or wrong tyre pressure that causes a puncture in a downhill race, it's not as much about 'bad luck' as people like to think.
  • 2 0
 @Boardlife69: to win the race first you have to finish.
  • 5 0
 @Hellchops: Excuses??? A badass like Minnaar needs no excuses. But he did say he got lucky last time he won here. (His own words)
  • 2 0
 At least he didn't get involved in any short videos.
  • 2 0
 Plus it looks like he must be from another planet since they didn't put a country after his name.
  • 2 1
 @Boardlife69: Its not so much luck I think, its riding on the edge, I feel Gwin does this better than anyone, that is why Gwin either wins, crashes or has a mechanical failure, but that doesn't make a better rider, at the end of the day is the one who wins is the best (until the next race)
  • 1 0
 @Boardlife69: that’s called humility.
  • 43 7
 Its got to be Atwill apparently he's faster than Gee and Gee was second at the last WC so logic states its Atwill
  • 27 2
 Minnaar = Winnaar
  • 8 0
 Hoender Aandete
  • 1 0
 Thanks guys!



(And thanks google translate.)
  • 15 1
 I don't care who will win. I just hope everyone will do full run without flats,destroyed bike or crash and so we will be able to watch the most exciting race of the season.
  • 21 8
 Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin! Gwin!....
  • 3 3
 Win!
  • 10 0
 any of the top ten have an equal shot at this. deep field, much fun to watch.
  • 4 0
 That they do, however Martin Maes has as good a chance as all of them, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the top step either.

Although I’m hoping Laurie has some glory!
  • 9 0
 Well, Minaar is not on the list I could have voted him to do a repeat on this track, I just voted luca shaw to finally snag a win on this final race Wink
  • 3 0
 It's a big field with lots of potential winners. I voted Loic only because he's doing the Red Bull Foxhunt in Ireland next month (with Gee and Greg Callaghan) so I can say - as a 40yo 100kg retired/injured rugby player - that this slow big old guy has raced the current DH world champ (...it's not really a race but wow is it fun)!

Broke myself a bit in last year's Foxhunt when Loic was there.
  • 5 0
 I would not bet on anyone this year, the field is stacked and talent deep. Gonna be a sick race.
  • 3 0
 My "underdog" hope is for Ed Masters. He's had a great season and that would be an amazing end. That said you are totally correct, no way to call this race and it's anyone's race. Time will tell.
  • 4 0
 Leaving Minnaar off that list is a massive oversight. He undoubtedly has more chance of winning than at least 80% (probably more) of the riders on that list.
  • 1 0
 He`s on the list?
  • 1 0
 @dannyfag: he wasn’t when I first posted this.
  • 6 0
 I'm voting for Gwin for a super sweet injury comeback and 1st Champs win!
  • 5 0
 Loic for the hat-trick!
#ridejoystick#
  • 1 0
 Because "Superbruni"!
  • 1 0
 Told ya Big Grin
  • 5 0
 Brosnan. Go big or go home.
  • 3 2
 So many Gwin supporters. I'm not a big fan of his to begin with, but I just don't see him with the speed/confidence right now to be fastest down the mountain. He's been off the circuit for a bit and still nursing that injured thumb. Plus he's on a totally new bike isn't he? A 29er?

I voted for Loic. He's been getting faster of late and is carrying some confidence. Plus he always seems to just bring it for worlds.

For the women I picked Tahnee. She's been on fire this season. Even a DQ couldn't keep her from the top 3. I still think Rachel is very dangerous as she has demonstrated once again just why they call her "Queen of the mountain".

I hope Finn & Miranda have clean, fast runs and end the season on a positive. Was so stoked for Miranda this year but she was plagued with injuries.
  • 3 0
 Greg Minnaar. Unless he's still injured and won't ride, which could be the reason he's not listed.
  • 7 2
 bulldog
  • 3 0
 Schäferhund
  • 1 0
 ridgeback
  • 3 2
 Funny to see people voting for anyone but Vali Höll in Junior women. The question is "who do you think will win" not "who do you want to win". Must be family members chiming in.
  • 3 0
 You didnt even put number 68 rider on the list!
  • 4 1
 Rachel and Tahnee are tied. LOOK AT THE VOTES!!
  • 2 0
 As of 1:47 am psdt..Tahnee is leading..Smile
  • 1 0
 @Hammer48: Didn't expect to see Tahnee leading in the votes. It would be great to see her win, but my hat tip has godda be for Rach...
  • 1 0
 @Mojo348: Tahnee crashed and was 0.6 slower than Rachel, this is the logic behind the votes
  • 6 2
 MARTIN MAES
  • 3 5
 Couldn’t agree more, that would be beatiful. But he may be confused and it will be hard for him to keep it together. I’d just like Tahnee to win. She’s stylish as fukh.
  • 2 3
 Confidence brings good results so its hard to look past Amaury Pierron, Gwin is on the comeback so confidence isnt high and he doesnt have that invincibility about him that he had a few years ago, especially on Trek (yes a good few years ago now).
Seems that the Commencal is a very very fast bike.
  • 4 1
 Possibly, but I don't think Gwin's confidence is lacking. He has a good mind set, which is WIN..barring any unforeseen problems..I voted for him, and hope he has a great ride.
  • 3 0
 With his super F1 mountain bike A.G. is wining.
  • 2 0
 Connor Fearon for dark horse vote. I love how wide open the men's field is this year.
  • 1 0
 Rachel 100%

For men I wish Danny Hart or Gwin or Macdonald.
Hope not trust-fund duo Bruni Vergier as they are boring as hell.
  • 4 2
 Came here to vote for Gee!
  • 1 1
 So, what are the odds a 29er will win? Im saying 69%. The chance is realistically a lot closer to 100%.
  • 2 1
 SUPERBRUNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII !!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Pieron for sure he’s the fastest and the pressure doesn’t faze him .
  • 2 0
 Right, I've vote Pieron FTW. I'm rooting for Minnaar and Gwin, but they both are still coming back. The Frenchies go all out for WC prep, and the big P is on the best form out of all of them. Troy is gunna be right there too...
  • 1 0
 Podium gonna be Luca, Minnaar and Brook. In that order
  • 1 0
 Gwinner! Fingers crossed for podium for Finn!! Oh Canada!
  • 1 0
 Hannah X 2 for the win!!!
  • 1 0
 Aaron gwin on that 29er yt tues
  • 1 0
 Rachel women... Mens mmmmm.
  • 1 0
 Nathan StClaire will place...RAMFB
  • 1 0
 looks like me and a handful of others got it right. Yeah Loic Bruni!!!
  • 1 1
 Waffle House can’t lose!
  • 1 0
 If Gwin wins oh my god
  • 1 0
 Go the mighty Bull Dog!
  • 1 0
 No Eddie on this list?
  • 5 6
 Sam Hill... sorry but I'm from the oldschool ;0







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