Photo Epic: Crankworx L2A DH by davetrumpore

The French put on a show for the home crowd today with Myriam Nicole and Loic Bruni both taking top honours on the brutal and dusty DH track. In the women's race, Tracey Hannah was hungry for the win. Having secured the fastest seeding time the previous day she was keen to put her love for the loose and dry conditions to good use, but it was not to be her day. Dropping in before Hannah, Myriam Nicole had a blazing fast run, pipping Emilie Siegenthaler out of the hot seat by an 8 second margin. Hannah dropped in next and at the split was two seconds back, she made up the time on the second half of the course and in a nail biting finish would miss out on first place to Nicole by .003 of a second.

In the men's race, Blenkisop took a slide that could have cost him a spot, putting him in third. It was Loic Bruni - who didn't even race on his own wheel - and who was out to ride a "safe run" that would bag the win ahead of fellow countryman Remi Thirion by over 4 seconds.

Riders head past one of Les Deux Alps en route to the top of the track.

Spanish rider Ferran Jorba drifts through the loose and drifty corners just out of the start gate. With zero moisture in weeks the entire track is made up of 2-4cm of dust.

With berms constantly blowing out, many riders opted for the inside lines. While they may have been faster, the limited traction made it quite risky.

Hi speed and wide open and rough defines the first minute of the track

High speed and wide open and rough defines the first minute of the track.

Bernard Cruz full gas off the big step down.

This wooden catch berm was covered in so much loose dirt that it became almost as sketchy as the steep chute just above. No trouble for Spain's Edgar Carvallo though.

Marcelo Gutierrez drops in as the picturesque village of Les Deux Alps lies below.

[PI=12442961 size=h align=cLloose dirt, hidden rocks and lots of tight switchbacks made for many close calls.[/PI]

Taylor Vernon leaves the technical gully section and begins the drag race across the hill that leads into the finsh arena

Taylor Vernon leaves the technical gully section and begins the drag race across the hill that leads into the finish arena.

Unlike a World Cup there was a class in L2A for Finn Iles to race.

Not surprisingly he took the top spot.

Out with a broken hand, Andrew Neethling lent his voice and knowledge by assisting with the on-site commentary.

Casey Brown had trouble in her quali run but everyone knew if she kept it upright in the finals she would be in contention for the win.

Luck would not be on Casey's side this weekend and she crossed the line in her final run covered and dirt and with a massive tear in her jersey.

Emilie Siegenthaler battled the dust to take 3rd place in the Women's race.

Tracey Hannah qualified first and even pulled back over 2 seconds after the final split, but would have to settle for 2nd place just .003 behind.

Myriam Nicole looks to have finally recovered from injuries that sidelined her for the last few WC rounds. First place for Pom Pon in front of the home crowd was certainly a good way to make a comeback.

Women's podium.

Myriam rehydrates as Tracey cools her down.

Last year's winner, Gee Atherton, crashed hard in the quali run and would start outside the top 20 in the final. He put down a solid run and sat on the hot seat for quite a while but would eventually finish off the podium.

Wyn Masters went first in qualifying but a front puncture would ruin his chances of backing that up with a win in the final.

Bernard Kerr has been having a great WC season and would keep that momentum gong here in L2A to take 5th

Bernard Kerr has been having a great WC season and would keep that momentum going here in L2A to take 5th.

Bernard gives the obligatory leaders interview for live TV before jumping onto the hotseat.

After struggling a bit in the WC this season it was good to see Guillaume Cauvin back on form and back on the podium in 4th.

Sam Blenkisop was on a great final run until drifting wide on a key corner that lead into a slight uphill pedal section. That lose of momentum would cost him at least one spot to finish the day in 3rd

Sam Blenkisop was on a great final run until drifting wide on a key corner that lead into a slight uphill pedal section. That loss of momentum would cost him at least one spot to finish the day in 3rd.

Remi Thirion continues his hot streak, taking 2nd her in Les Deux Alps.

Loic Bruni said he was just going to ride safe and smooth as the course was super blown out and he did not want to risk injury. For Loic safe and smooth must be pretty pinned as he too took the win by a convincing margin today.

Full gas to the finish line.

The home crowd approves of Loic's performance here in France. Loic had to borrow a friends wheel at the top of the course to replace his own flat.

Men's podium.

With scorching temps all week, what better way to cool down than with an ice cold shower of champagne.

With two out of three Crankworx in the books, Tracey Hannah and Loic Bruni lead the series going into the final race in Whistler at the end of August.

MENTIONS: @officialcrankworx

Author Info:

davetrumpore

Member since Feb 26, 2008
269 articles

16 Comments

20 0

rrsport FL (Jul 12, 2015 at 12:54)

Jeez blenki was inch perfect on that catch berm... A little higher and that would have gone bad

23 7

richierocket (Jul 12, 2015 at 18:43)

Nice to see men and women taking home the same purses.

z05m (Jul 12, 2015 at 20:17)

I'm definitely a backer of same purses. Totally agree.

19 6

ibishreddin (Jul 12, 2015 at 12:07)

tough season for Gee so far. Just barely off the podium every... damn... race...

sino428 (Jul 12, 2015 at 13:58)

Hasn't he been on the podium in two of the four world cups so far?

z05m (Jul 12, 2015 at 20:18)

But he's wearing the rainbow stripes

chyu (Jul 12, 2015 at 21:46)

He's wearing out too - Steve Peat.

shuwukong (Jul 12, 2015 at 21:58)

Gee dont give a damn about crankworkx

peter-lappen (Jul 12, 2015 at 17:52)

The video coverage was so boring I could not watch it. This is 10 times better. Thanks Pb

preach (Jul 12, 2015 at 14:07)

Good grief that place looks epic

inter71 (Jul 12, 2015 at 16:55)

What is up with Eliot Jackson?

jeffakalucas (Jul 12, 2015 at 20:58)

Loic Bruni has the best kits!

emmanuelwalls12 (Jul 12, 2015 at 17:10)

super dusty

GnarsellusWallace (Jul 12, 2015 at 13:51)

yeah!

gaoxiang89 (Jul 12, 2015 at 17:25)

Hanna NO2

likeittacky (Jul 12, 2015 at 20:14)

GEEEZZ, GEE needs a new race kit!!