Video: World Cup DH Val di Sole - Finals Highlights

 Troy's run was good, but Sam Hill had the best Australian-3rd-place-race-run-with-a-crash-at-Val-di-Sole, OF ALL TIME!

Seriously though, Troy would have won without that crash. His pace has been getting substantially faster as the season progressed, maybe culminating in a world champs win?

 Troy was fastest at split 1, 3sec back at split 2 with the crash, and only 1.8sec back at split 3.
So he was fastest at split 1, 1.2sec fastest at split 3 than Gwin on the last section... Don't you think he wasn't better than Gwin that time ?

EDIT : sorry, misunderstanding your comment

 Don't forget breaking his finger as well!!

 Considering that Troy crashed, his result was mindblowing. What could/should have been!

 A repeat of Windham for Troy...gutted for him. Rest assured, if he can grips the bars he will be a force at worlds.

 he would have SMASHED that time of Gwin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Is there any video of the crash? Must be a small one since he only lost 2/3s?

 @pi3r it was a pretty big crash according to the rider interviews

 Sometimes when don't master english it's quite hard to explain how you feel, don't forget that english isn't his first language

 @LittleWing, I think Loic explained his feelings just fine. I'm fairly certain AllMountin feels the same way and posted that quote because it's typical Bruni, very honest and with a great attitude. It's not hard to understand why so many people like him and are pulling for him to get his first World Cup victory.

 Bruni is the shit. Always so respectful and humble. He's finished second a number of times this year, and could easily be frustrated by it. Instead he congratulates and compliments the winner, and moves on. Great guy to have in the sport.

 Yeah Bruni seems like he is a pretty stand up guy. Every second he gets is just fuel for when he eventually crushes the field.

 He's still pretty young and has learned TONS already. He'll get his soon enough...possibly even in a couple of week's time.

 Can't be many race fans who wouldn't be happy to see Loic take a win, competitive in the best possible way.

 He's like the anti-Minaar. On the ragged edge; bordering on out of control. Can't stop watching.

 Seriously. I was betting on him to win and still manages a 3rd even after smashing into a rock breaking his finger. Those lines he was taking and at that speed were next level.

 Just needs to handle pressure in the finals a litle bit better and what another champion dominiation we ll have...

 I don't know that I'd look for him to dominate. Spesh has something good going with Gwin and Brosnan, but look for Loic to come back stronger next season with Vergier pushing him over at Lapierre. I see Specialized and Lapierre in a battle next year; on the podium every race. Maybe the Chainsaw Massacre and Ratboy can regain that top form as well. The stakes have been raised, but I see 5 or 6 guys with a clear shot at the top step each week. Less domination and more parity.

 yeah and why aren't there races in the winter ????? the season could begin in februari in europe and end in Africa in november !!!

 I agree completely, a winter season would be awesome. Sadly there are two words that will put a stop to your dreams. Ski Lifts.

 Totally agree..i attended the event live every year..and i never seen so much people screaming in the woods like yesterday..LONG LIVE DOWNHILL

 Long live DH! The greatest sport that there is.

 Who said it was dead?

 Noone that I've heard....do you mean 4x? People do say that's dead....arguably...26in?

 I once heard freeride was dead... maybe that's what he's talking about?

 all that "DH... Freeride...dead" i don't know where it's coming from....?if BMX is a live and kicking for so many years so for sure DH and Freeride is a live...it looks like most of PB readers are DH/freeride fanatics, there is so many sad people this weekend due to end of the worldcup season..... i got in to it in past two years, totally change my life...i can't call it sport it's pure obsession foe 2/3 min of speed orgasm and yhha it looks like it's getting better every season in all the MTB disciplines

 I mis-spoke a bit I guess...the topic of this pg is really World Cup DH. No one has said WC is anything but great....especially this yr and last. My reference was to a more general/local attitude towards DH/Freeride. Too much shift to 6x6 bikes and the feeling that DH is a shrinking segment. Just because you CAN ride a bike other than a dedicated DH bike down a trail doesn't mean you are "riding DH" in its ultimate form. Anyways...as stoked as ever on riding a bicycle down a hill at Mach 1.7 ...LONG LIVE SHUTTLING THE BIG RIGS!

 I reckon thats what the marketing people are telling you, probably not the reality out there in the real world

 loopie, what a fitting name. You're insane, my friend... but that's not a bad thing.

 haha..."Chix dig the sick Trix". I slipped a pedal once and lived to tell the tale....I didn't get the girl

 I wonder what the average 2020 Val Di Sole Race bike will look like... I bet the tires will be wider. haha.

 Definitely, I can see troy with a long future in world cup dh racing. He's still so young too so to be almost taking down Gwin is crazy.

 Next year it might be a brosnan-bruni fight, but I hope ratboy gonna join them as well

 Once he turns 14, Brosnan is going to be unstoppable.

 Yes, but Gwin is only 27. Minnaar is 33 and still in top form. If Gwin wants it, he can dominate for years to come.

 Gwin is not that old.

 Gwin had a very hard paper round.

 i liked this song, is better than the last one (the one that sounded nickelbackish eww) has been used a lot in the past??

 Anything but Sail.

 I made it 45 seconds in before hitting mute, it's a shame.

 I'm happy that they stop using sail and all its variations for everything, G what an annoying song!

 Heaven's Basement - Executioner's Day
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeaFQm5doVE

 Generic Rock - Lame Song

 all hail to the bulldog