Practice Photo Epic: Mont-Sainte-Anne DH World Cup 2022

Aug 4, 2022 at 22:12
by Nathan Hughes  




After a two-year hiatus we've returned to the both classic and legendary venue of Mont Sainte Anne, forty minutes up the St Lawrence from the city of Quebec. The DNA of the track remains unchanged, the biggest adjustment for this year being a fresh section of woods replacing the flat-out straight in the middle portion of the track, which looks to be a good addition to this lengthy beast of a course. The day was overcast, making for shadow-free runs in the woods and although there were periods of rain the track remained dry. The rest of the week looks pretty settled meaning we'll be for some flat-out racing.

The biggest story of the day was an unfortunate crash for Camille Balanche which looks to have taken the World Cup leader out of the running with a broken collarbone, we hope to see Cam back between the tapes soon. When the stopwatch came out for timed training in the afternoon it was Bernard Kerr and Myriam Nicole who went fastest as the racers ramp up ahead of qualifying tomorrow.

Loris Vergier gets a little TLC before practice starts.
Loris Vergier gets a little TLC before practice starts.

Take note Pinkbike and talk to FMD.
Take note, Pinkbike management. Talk to FMD.

Continental Nukeproof team mates Ronan Dunne and Chris Cummings relaxing before Group A practice session.
Continental Nukeproof teammates, Ronan Dunne and Chris Cummings, relaxing before Group A practice session.

Minnaar s V10 ready to analyse this track to pieces.
Minnaar's V10 ready to analyse this track to pieces.

Mood.
Mood.

Mille Johnset cranking out the start hut.
Mille Johnset cranking out the start hut.

Finn Iles ready to drop.
Finn Iles ready to drop.

Gracey Hemstreet jumping into the relentless track here at MSA.
Gracey Hemstreet jumping into the relentless track here at MSA.

Henry Kerr on the attack through the upper turns.
Henry Kerr on the attack through the upper turns.

Jess Blewitt styling out the morning s practice.
Jess Blewitt styling out the morning's practice.

Remi Thirion is looking mean as ever here in Quebec.
Remi Thirion is looking mean as ever here in Quebec.

Aaron Gwin s winning run here in 2017 is one of the most legendary moments in history.
Aaron Gwin's winning run here in 2017 is one of the most legendary moments in history.

Brook Macdonald getting stuck into the new woods.
Brook Macdonald getting stuck into the new woods.

Man of the moment season Andreas Kolb.
Man of the moment/season; Andreas Kolb.

Amaury Pierron finding his pace in the upper open.
Amaury Pierron finding his pace in the upper open.

Angel Suarez about to emerge from the shadows and into the light.
Angel Suarez about to emerge from the shadows and into the light.

Jackson Goldstone finally setting foot er pedal on home soil.
Jackson Goldstone finally setting foot, er pedal, on home soil.

Finn Iles on the gas. He looked comfortable right off the bat piecing together the new sections of track.
Finn Iles on the gas. He looked comfortable right off the bat piecing together the new sections of track.

Big week in West Virginia for Ronan Dunne. He was no slouch today getting up to speed either.
Big week in West Virginia for Ronan Dunne. He was no slouch today getting up to speed, either.

Jamie Edmondson taking in the view from the Mont Sainte Anne start hut.
Jamie Edmondson taking in the view from the Mont Sainte Anne start hut.

Kaos Seagrave doing Kaos Seagrave things.
Kaos Seagrave doing Kaos Seagrave things.

Fair weather welcomed the riders before a few rain showers kept everyone in check.
Fair weather welcomed the riders before a few rain showers kept everyone in check.

George Brannigan is back after a hugie in WV last week looking unphased as ever.
George Brannigan is back after a hugie in WV last week, looking unphased as ever.

Watch out for a big home loam result from Mark Wallace here at MSA.
Watch out for a big home loam result from Mark Wallace here at MSA.

Some ancient cave paintings in the woods.
Some ancient cave paintings in the woods.

Thibaut Daprela with some aggressive body language.
Thibaut Daprela with some aggressive body language.

Gaetan Vige hammering the new woods.
Gaetan Vige hammering the new woods.

Troy Brosnan has been running these slopes since 2010.
Troy Brosnan has been running these slopes since 2010.

Baptise Pierron
Baptise Pierron weaving through the chicanes.

Andreas Kolb has been one of the riders of 2022 so far.
Andreas Kolb has been one of the riders of 2022 so far.

A bit of trivia - This is the track where Greg Minnaar won his first overall on back in 2001.
A bit of trivia - This is the track where Greg Minnaar won his first overall on back in 2001.

The weather rolled in at times today but the rain didn t amount to much.
The weather rolled in at times today but the rain didn't amount to much.

Jordan Williams in the gate.
Jordan Williams in the gate.

Myriam Nicole won here back in 2019 on a slightly different beast of a track. Now a few years on the changes seem to suite her well.
Myriam Nicole won here back in 2019 on a slightly different beast of a track. Now a few years on, the changes seem to suite her well.

MacDonald was out teaching this track a lesson.
MacDonald was out teaching this track a lesson.

Where other may pencil Dakotah Norton never dissapoints.
Where others may pencil, Dakotah Norton never disappoints.

Could Finn Iles take that first World Cup win on home soil
Could Finn Iles take that first World Cup win on home soil?

Greenland was one of the last on the hill still sussing out the track today.
Greenland was one of the last on the hill still sussing out the track today.

Charlie Hatton turning on the heat.
Charlie Hatton turning on the heat.

Fastest in TT was Bernard Kerr. There s definitely a fire lit under his seat at the moment.
Fastest in TT was Bernard Kerr. There's definitely a fire lit under his seat at the moment.

Vali Holl entering the steep and technical chute in the fresh woods section.
Vali Holl entering the steep and technical chute in the fresh woods section.

An unfortunate crash for Camille Balanche took her out the running with a broken collar bone.
An unfortunate crash for Camille Balanche took her out the running with a broken collar bone.

Last time the circus visited Quebec was 2019 and Loic Bruni took the top step. Will history repeat itself here on Saturday
Last time the circus visited Quebec was 2019 and Loic Bruni took the top step. Will history repeat itself here on Saturday?

Welcome back to the classic venue of Mont Sainte Anne.
Bring on the beeps of qualifying tomorrow.


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39 Comments
  • 87 0
 Some of the pictures are really good. The rest of them are excellent.
  • 8 0
 I am genuinely impressed with the pictures delivered!
  • 8 0
 best photos of the year I think
  • 2 0
 PB, these pictures are amazing. Well done PB, well done.
  • 36 0
 Bangers!! Pic of Suarez in the start hut !!!
  • 22 0
 This Bernard Kerr story is pretty remarkable. I'll be praying to the MTB gods to send him to the top step this week. It's unbelievable really.
  • 20 0
 I like downhill
  • 7 1
 PB - how about a follow cam story with one of these media squids during a race weekend?. It's got to be interesting and exhausting work.
  • 6 0
 “…..one of the most legendary moments in history“

  • 12 2
 Not wrong, but the invention of the wheel in 3500BC, the day the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and the abolition of slavery gotta be in contention for runner up position.
  • 1 0
 @mi-bike: I still have a small piece of that wall!
  • 1 0
 @mi-bike: no doubt...."mtb is important"....
  • 5 0
 The cave paintings are sick!
  • 5 0
 Dakotah Never Not Stylish Norton
  • 2 0
 I love seeing some of the fast guys throwing style in their runs.
  • 2 1
 So is Camille out for the overall then? When might she be back and if she gets say a top 5 at the last race and Pom Pon doesn't do well can Camille still win? Or is it all over?
  • 1 0
 Next race is world champs in 3 weeks. Next wc is in 4 weeks, not enough time to heal. Huge bummer.
  • 3 0
 @kcy4130: seems like possibly enough time if it's just a collarbone and they can pin it. There are moto dudes that have been back racing after just a couple weeks.
  • 2 0
 Andreas Kolb has been one of the riders of 2022 so far. Yes. Yes he has.
  • 1 0
 Excellent geologic pictures within landscaped terrain, the riders looks in their elements.
  • 2 0
 THIS PHOTO EPIC MAKES ME WANT TO EAT BURGERS ......
  • 1 0
 I saw that too. Miss those burgers, no Harveys out west
  • 1 0
 Great job, beautiful picture to go along with great coffee this morning! thank you PB
  • 3 0
 Let's go sportsfans
  • 2 1
 Loam (/lōm/): a soil with roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay.
  • 2 1
 Right, and what most incorrectly refer to as “loam” is more properly referred to as organic litter and/or duff.
  • 1 0
 Finn on a new Specialized Dissident helmet?
  • 1 0
 Unreal images, great job guys
  • 2 1
 what about bruni and separated shoulder? will he race?
  • 1 0
 What????? New Injury?
  • 2 0
 @neimbc: news was „ We've heard Elite Women's series leader, Camille Balanche, is out for the season broken collarbone after a crash in practice, Loic separated his shoulder and Loris had a big off as well. We wish them all the best.“
but i couldnt find any further info so i asked here…got downvoted
  • 1 0
 @skintightleather: nothing on superbruni's IG feed yet, so hopefully he's ok.
  • 1 0
 Serious shot of Jackson in the start hut.
  • 1 0
 Excellent pics!!! Thank you.
  • 1 0
 No more michelin tyres for Bulldog ???
  • 4 5
 Talk to FMD? Foot and mouth disease? Fibromiscular dysplasia? Falsified medicines directive? Whaaaaaat?
  • 2 0
 FMD Racing. The acronym stands for “follow my dream”. More:
fmdracing.com/about
  • 1 1
 @tbmaddux: Gotcha. Cheers!
  • 1 0
 Great photos







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