August 21, 2015 (Val Di Sole, Italy) – The UCI MTB World Cup DH#7 Qualifications, kicked off the final round of the series today at Val di Sole, Italy. Casey Brown (Bergamont Hayes Components Factory Team), the lone Canuck in the Elite Women’s field, was a strong 8th while Henry Fitzgerald (Can) Steve Peat Syndicate Global qualified in 13th in the Junior Men’s competition. Canada’s Steve Smith (Devinci Global Racing) placed 12th and teammate Mark Wallace (Can) was 13th in the Elite Men’s qualifications.

Rachel Atherton (GT Factory) was the top qualifier for the women, continuing to dominate the series that has seen her win five consecutive rounds and lock up the title at Round 6. Atherton’s time of 4:14.283 was over two seconds faster then world champion Manon Carpenter (Madison Saracen), who sits second to Atherton in the standings.

Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Vallnord) finished third, a further three-tenths of a second in arrears. Tahnee Seagrave (FMD Racing), third in the overall standings, was fourth at 14.045 seconds and Tracey Hannah (Polygon UR) qualified fifth.

In men’s qualifying, World Cup leader Aaron Gwin (Specialized) was just beaten by two-tenths of a second, with his team mate Troy Brosnan coming out on top. The Specialized pair were well ahead of the rest of the field, with Loic Bruni (Lapierre Gravity Republic) in third at 1.336 seconds, and number two overall Greg Minnaar of South Africa fourth at 4.016 seconds. World champion Gee Atherton (GT Racing) rounded out the top five.

In the Junior men’s category, Alex Marin Trillo (Giant Factory Off-road) was the top qualifier, followed by Andrew Crimmins (Kona Factory) and Jacob Dickson (Orange Dirt World, XFusion). World Cup leader Laurie Greenland (Trek World Racing) was fourth.

Results

Junior Men
1. Alex Marin Trillo (Esp) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 3:52.450 Q
2. Andrew Crimmins (Aus) Kona Factory Team 0.118 Q
3. Jacob Dickson (Irl) Orange Dirt World Team, Xfusion 1.890 Q
4. Laurie Greenland (Gbr) Trek World Racing 2.517 Q
5. Jordan Payet (Fra) France 2.710 Q

13. Henry Fitzgerald (Can) Steve Peat Syndicate Global 11.076 Q
36. Magnus Manson (Can) Norco Factory Racing 25.863

Full results here.

Elite Women
1. Rachel Atherton (Gbr) GT Factory Racing 4:14.283
2. Manon Carpenter (Gbr) Madison Saracen Factory Team 2.232 Q
3. Myriam Nicole (Fra) Commencal/Vallnord 2.566 Q
4. Tahnee Seagrave (Gbr) FMD Racing 14.045 Q
5. Tracey Hannah (Aus) Polygon UR 18.221 Q

8. Casey Brown (Can) Bergamont Hayes Components Factory Team 22.595 Q

Full results here.

Elite Men
1. Troy Brosnan (Aus) Specialized Racing 3:33.934 Q
2. Aaron Gwin (USA) Specialized Racing 0.168 Q
3. Loic Bruni (Fra) Lapierre Gravity Republic 1.336 Q
4. Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate 4.016 Q
5. Gee Atherton (Gbr) GT Factory Racing 4.673 Q

12. Steve Smith (Can) Devinci Global Racing 10.560 Q
13. Mark Wallace (Can) Devinci Global Racing 10.913 Q
33. Matthew Beer (Can) 15.296 Q
66. Forrest Riesco (Can) 20.666 Q
110. Jack Iles (Can) Norco Factory Racing 29.804

Full results here.