July 8, 2007 (Schladming, Austria) – Sam Hill Monster/Iron Horse obliterated the field in Austria winning by a staggering 5.14 seconds with a time of 3:51.44. Coming on the heels of his win at Mont Ste-Anne and his stunning performance in Champery, Switzerland the Australian pro is proving to the world that he is undoubtedly the best downhiller in the world at the moment. Hill qualified first with a few mistakes and managed to knock six seconds off his time in his final run.

Hill kept it short and sweet in a post-race interview with Pedadl when asked about his run today. “It was pretty good, I hit all my lines, stayed smooth, and didn’t get ahead of myself too much….had lots of fun. The track dried out a lot, was real rough, but it was pretty grippy.”

The Australian attempted to explain where he managed to find five seconds on a course that was under four minutes in length. “Don’t know how, I stayed smooth, hit all my lines, and taught the turns a lesson. I just picked up all the seconds people were leaving behind on the track.”

Gee Atherton (Gbr) Animal Commencal continued his rise to downhill stardom with a fantastic second place performance. South African Greg Minnaar (Honda G Cross) finished 3rd, Finnish rider Matti Lehikoinen (Honda G Cross) was 4th and Brit Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate) rounded out the podium for the men. With the win, Hill widened the gap to 168 points over rival Peat in the World Cup points chase with one event left and 300 total points up for grabs.

No Canadian men competed as Steve Smith (Can) Cove Bikes was a DNS in qualifying. According to Cove Bikes Team Manager Gabe Fox “[Steve] had a front flat as the lift people snapped the valve off. It had a slow leak and he didn’t notice until too late.”

Women’s DH

On the women’s side of things, another Australian was the center of attention. Tracey Hannah (Orange MTB) won her first ever world cup downhill final by just over 1.5 seconds stopping the clock at 4:41.50. The diminutive Aussie, who normally shies away from the limelight, has no choice but to step onto the top step of the podium this afternoon and take the well-deserved champagne shower.

World Cup leader and defending World champion, Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Monster Iron Horse took second place. The ladies podium was completed by Marielle Saner (CH) Bike park.ch, Tracy Moseley (Gbr) Kona/Les Gets and Celine Gros of France. Jonnier maintains her overall World Cup leader’s jersey going into the final event with a margin of 225 points.

“I didn’t have a great run, I wasn’t feeling it today. I made a couple of big mistakes but I am happy that Tracey Hannah got her first World Cup win, and am happy to keep the overall lead,” Jonnier commented after the race.

Top Canadian rider was Claire Buchar (Specialized) in 14th place.


Results

Elite Men

1. Samuel Hill (Aus) Iron Horse / Monster Energy 3:51.44 0
2. Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 3:56.58 at 5.14
3. Greg Minnaar (Rsa) Team G-Cross Honda 3:56.96 5.52
4. Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Team G-Cross Honda 3:57.01 5.57
5. Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 3:57.81 6.37
6. David Vazquez Lopez (Esp) Msc Bikes 3:57.93 6.49
7. Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Team G-Cross Honda 3:58.13 6.69
8. Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate 4:00.27 8.83
9. Marc Beaumont (GBr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 4:01.39 9.95
10. Ben Reid (Irl) 4:01.82 10.38
11. Fabien Barel (Fra) Kona Les Gets 4:03.55 12.11
12. Michael Hannah (Aus) Cannondale The Cut 4:03.93 12.49
13. Mickael Pascal (Fra) Q By Saab-Salomon 4:04.12 12.68
14. Julien Camellini (Fra) Mojo Orange 4:05.56 14.12
15. Ben Cathro (GBr) Q By Saab-Salomon 4:05.72 14.28
16. Neil Donoghue (GBr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 4:06.05 14.61
17. Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) 4:06.52 15.08
18. Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 4:07.00 15.56
19. Luke Strobel (USA) 4:07.06 15.62
20. Alan Beggin (Ita) 4:08.92 17.48
21. Pasqual Canals Flix (Esp) Massi 4:09.06 17.62
22. Nico Vink (Bel) Dolphin Bike Team 4:09.32 17.88
23. Chris Kovarik (Aus) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 4:09.36 17.92
24. Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) 4:10.11 18.67
25. Antoine Badouard (Fra) 4:10.45 19.01
26. Justin Leov (NZl) 4:10.58 19.14
27. Florent Payet (Fra) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro Team 4:10.68 19.24
28. Andrew Neethling (Rsa) 4:10.99 19.55
29. Oscar Saiz Castane (Esp) 4:12.33 20.89
30. Bernat Guardia Pascual (Esp) Msc Bikes 4:12.72 21.28
31. Adam Vagner (Cze) 4:12.82 21.38
32. Nathan Rankin (NZl) 4:13.53 22.09
33. Rémy Charrier (Fra) 4:13.59 22.15
34. Samuel Zbinden (Sui) 4:13.88 22.44
35. Chris Ball (GBr) 4:14.01 22.57
36. Matthew Simmonds (GBr) 4:14.27 22.83
37. Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Gravity Group 4:14.48 23.04
38. Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Ghost International Racin 4:14.87 23.43
39. Marcel Beer (Sui) 4:15.19 23.75
40. Nick Beer (Sui) 4:15.21 23.77
41. Claudio Caluori (Sui) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 4:15.93 24.49
42. Nicolas Ortiz (Fra) 4:16.01 24.57
43. Elias Somvi (Ita) Playbiker – Iron Horse 4:16.33 24.89
44. Marco Milivinti (Ita) 4:16.35 24.91
45. Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) 4:16.58 25.14
46. Toni Berg (Fin) 4:16.65 25.21
47. Jared Graves (Aus) 4:16.83 25.39
48. Kamil Tatarkovic (Cze) Kona Les Gets 4:17.03 25.59
49. Dominik Gspan (Sui) 4:17.36 25.92
50. Mathieu Troquier (Fra) 4:17.70 26.26
51. Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Q By Saab-Salomon 4:18.19 26.75
52. Tom Deacon (GBr) 4:18.28 26.84
53. Duncan Riffle (USA) 4:18.54 27.10
54. Glenn Haden (NZl) 4:18.78 27.34
55. Richard Cheetham (GBr) 4:18.80 27.36
56. Herman Olund (Swe) 4:19.23 27.79
57. Markus Pekoll (Aut) 4:20.20 28.76
58. Marco Bugnone (Ita) 4:20.75 29.31
59. Mike Skinner (NZl) 4:20.80 29.36
60. Alex Stock (GBr) 4:20.95 29.51
61. Jonathan Cheetham (GBr) 4:20.98 29.54
62. Mario Sieder (Aut) 4:21.04 29.60
63. Markus Schwab (Sui) 4:21.19 29.75
64. Florent Wolter (Fra) 4:21.34 29.90
65. Jorge Aguin Castro (Esp) 4:22.78 31.34
66. Dave Wardell (GBr) Gt / Burgtec 4:23.33 31.89
67. Nimrod Hemmo (Isr) 4:23.68 32.24
68. Ralph Jones (GBr) 4:25.33 33.89
69. Dan Harper (GBr) 4:26.13 34.69
70. Matej Charvat (Cze) 4:28.23 36.79
71. Mathias Haas (Aut) 4:29.27 37.83
72. Gaetan Reilhan (Fra) 4:30.47 39.03
73. Josh Bryceland (GBr) 5:11.75 1:20.31
74. Matthew Scoles (NZl) 5:20.59 1:29.15
75. Joris Bigoni (Fra) 5:36.43 1:44.99
DSQ. Adam Brayton (GBr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk
DSQ. Frank Schneider (Ger)
DSQ. Karim Amour (Fra)
DNF. Michael Staufer (Aut)
DNF. Lee Bertram (GBr)
DNF. Johan Potgieter (Rsa)
DNS. Steve Smith (Can)

Standings after four events

1. Samuel Hill (Aus) Iron Horse / Monster Energy 807points
2. Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 639
3. Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Team G-Cross Honda 566
4. Greg Minnaar (Rsa) Team G-Cross Honda 520
5. Fabien Barel (Fra) Kona Les Gets 391
6. Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 390
7. Marc Beaumont (GBr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 386
8. Michael Hannah (Aus) Cannondale The Cut 379
9. David Vazquez Lopez (Esp) Msc Bikes 360
10. Mickael Pascal (Fra) Q By Saab-Salomon 308
11. Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate 263
12. Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Team G-Cross Honda 213
13. Bernat Guardia Pascual (Esp) Msc Bikes 179
14. Ben Reid (Irl) 171
15. Julien Camellini (Fra) Mojo Orange 167
16. Justin Leov (NZl) 167
17. Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Ghost International Racin 148
18. Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) 137
19. Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 125
20. Josh Bryceland (GBr) 121
21. Dan Stanbridge (GBr) Mojo Orange 118
22. Neil Donoghue (GBr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 117
23. Alan Beggin (Ita) 114
24. Marco Milivinti (Ita) 114
25. Adam Brayton (GBr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 112
26. Nico Vink (Bel) Dolphin Bike Team 105
27. Luke Strobel (USA) 104
28. Pasqual Canals Flix (Esp) Massi 104
29. Adam Vagner (Cze) 100
30. Andrew Neethling (Rsa) 99
31. Dave Wardell (GBr) Gt / Burgtec 99
32. Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) 97
33. Matthew Simmonds (GBr) 93
34. Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Gravity Group 88
35. Florent Payet (Fra) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro Team 84
36. Cédric Gracia (Fra) 82
37. Thomas Braithwaite (GBr) 80
38. Ben Cathro (GBr) Q By Saab-Salomon 75
39. Rémi Thirion (Fra) 75
40. Chris Kovarik (Aus) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 55
41. Tom Deacon (GBr) 55
42. Carlo Gambirasio (Ita) 55
43. Claudio Caluori (Sui) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 53
44. Fabien Cousinie (Fra) 52
45. Jurgen Beneke (Ger) 51
46. Mathias Haas (Aut) 49
47. Dominik Gspan (Sui) 48
48. Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Q By Saab-Salomon 48
49. Duncan Riffle (USA) 48
50. Samuel Zbinden (Sui) 46
51. Filip Polc (Svk) Gravity Group 46
52. Sam Dale (GBr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 46
53. Kamil Tatarkovic (Cze) Kona Les Gets 45
54. Mike Skinner (NZl) 45
55. Antoine Badouard (Fra) 44
56. Markolf Berchtold (Bra) 40
57. Jared Graves (Aus) 39
58. Herman Olund (Swe) 36
59. Ivan Oulego Moreno (Esp) Massi 33
60. Joseph Smith (GBr) 32
61. Mathieu Troquier (Fra) 31
62. Joris Bigoni (Fra) 31
63. Bryn Atkinson (Aus) 31
64. Chris Ball (GBr) 30
65. Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) 30
66. Espen Johnsen (Nor) 28
67. Karim Amour (Fra) 26
68. Amiel Cavalier (Aus) Giant Mountain Bike Team 25
69. Jeff Beatty (Can) Mojo Orange 24
70. Scott Mears (GBr) 24
71. Oscar Saiz Castane (Esp) 22
72. Nick Beer (Sui) 21
73. Nathan Rankin (NZl) 20
74. Nicolas Vouilloz (Fra) Team Lapierre Internation 20
75. Rémy Charrier (Fra) 18
76. Lee Bertram (GBr) 18
77. Ralph Jones (GBr) 17
78. Esteban Deronzier (Fra) Chatel Mountain Cycle 16
79. Tyler Morland (Can) 16
80. Richard Cunynghame (GBr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 15
81. Benny Strasser (Ger) 13
82. Joel Bain (Aus) 12
83. Marcel Beer (Sui) 12
84. Arnaud Delente (Fra) 12
85. James Maltman (Aus) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro Team 11
86. Damien Mermoud (Sui) 11
87. Vincent Saut (Fra) 10
88. Nicolas Ortiz (Fra) 9
89. Joe Barnes (GBr) 9
90. Mitchell Delfs (Aus) 8
91. Elias Somvi (Ita) Playbiker – Iron Horse 8
92. Ramon Antonio Leiva Figueroa (Chi) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro Team 8
93. Chris Hutchens (GBr) 7
94. Rowen Sorrell (GBr) 7
95. Hans Lambert (Can) 6
96. Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) 6
97. Patrik Kotrla (Cze) 6
98. David Smith (GBr) Mtb-Direct.Co.Uk 6
99. Will Longden (GBr) Team Mbuk Santacruz 5
100. Toni Berg (Fin) 5
101. Georg Sieder (Aut) 5
102. Marco Bugnone (Ita) 4
103. Helder Padilha (Por) 4
104. Luke Kitzanuk (Can) 3
105. Glenn Haden (NZl) 3
106. Julius Syvanen (Fin) 2
107. Charles-Alexandre Dube (Can) 1
108. Matej Charvat (Cze) 1

Elite Women

1. Tracey Hannah (Aus) 4:41.50 0
2. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Iron Horse / Monster Energy 4:43.06 at 1.56
3. Marielle Saner (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Tui 4:44.21 2.71
4. Tracy Moseley (GBr) Kona Les Gets 4:46.07 4.57
5. C?line Gros (Fra) 4:50.19 8.69
6. Vanessa Quin (NZl) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 4:53.00 11.50
7. Emmeline Ragot (Fra) 4:59.27 17.77
8. Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Norco/Griffiths 5:00.59 19.09
9. Helen Gaskell (GBr) 5:01.09 19.59
10. Petra Bernhard (Aut) 5:03.27 21.77
11. Floriane Pugin (Fra) Chatel Mountain Cycle 5:03.27 21.77
12. Anja Rees Jones (GBr) Stendec Racing 5:06.75 25.25
13. Mio Suemasa (Jpn) 5:09.89 28.39
14. Claire Buchar (Can) 5:12.01 30.51
15. Silja Stadler (Sui) 5:22.78 41.28
16. Emily Horridge (GBr) Chatel Mountain Cycle 5:23.22 41.72
17. Calamaty Jayne Cann (GBr) 5:26.52 45.02
18. Miriam Ruchti (Sui) 5:30.73 49.23
19. Helene Fruhwirth (Aut) 5:36.78 55.28
20. Olivia Johnston (NZl) 5:37.17 55.67
21. Elisa Canepa (Ita) Playbiker – Iron Horse 5:38.55 57.05
22. Dalma Kiss (Hun) 5:44.24 1:02.74
23. Sue Mahony (GBr) 5:56.08 1:14.58
24. Aimee Dix (GBr) 5:58.16 1:16.66
25. Jaymie Mart (Bar) 5:59.68 1:18.18
26. Katarina Tothova (Cze) 6:12.16 1:30.66
27. Monika Maria Rosifka (Aut) 6:55.49 2:13.99
DSQ. Daniela Bossard (Sui)
DSQ. Harriet Rucknagel (Ger)
DNF. Pascaline Reusser (Sui)

Standings after four events

1. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Iron Horse / Monster Ener 880 points
2. Tracy Moseley (GBr) Kona Les Gets 655
3. Emmeline Ragot (Fra) 655
4. Tracey Hannah (Aus) 620
5. Marielle Saner (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Tui 565
6. Celine Gros (Fra) 485
7. Mio Suemasa (Jpn) 410
8. Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Norco/Griffiths 336
9. Helen Gaskell (GBr) 307
10. Floriane Pugin (Fra) Chatel Mountain Cycle 245
11. Scarlett Hagen (NZl) 205
12. Helene Fruhwirth (Aut) 195
13. Jennifer Makgill (NZl) Ssangyong-Fusion Pro Team 194
14. Vanessa Quin (NZl) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 193
15. Claire Buchar (Can) 174
16. Melissa Buhl (USA) 170
17. Anja Rees Jones (GBr) Stendec Racing 165
18. Emily Horridge (GBr) Chatel Mountain Cycle 165
19. Daniela Bossard (Sui) 160
20. Petra Bernhard (Aut) 134
21. Calamaty Jayne Cann (GBr) 126
22. Miriam Blas Otondo (Esp) Massi 118
23. Elisa Canepa (Ita) Playbiker – Iron Horse 115
24. Jaymie Mart (Bar) 102
25. Diana Marggraff (Ecu) Zenith 80
26. Lisa Myklak (USA) 75
27. Olivia Johnston (NZl) 68
28. Joanna Pettersen (Rsa) 67
29. Pascaline Reusser (Sui) 67
30. Sue Mahony (GBr) 62
31. Silja Stadler (Sui) 55
32. Mireia Bosca Ballester (Esp) 55
33. Anita Molcik (Aut) Team Hotec / Rsp 52
34. Sheila Morris (Can) 49
35. Miriam Ruchti (Sui) 46
36. Aurea Agostinho (Por) 46
37. Mylene-Kim Fortier (Can) 43
38. Micayla Gatto (Can) Rocky Mountain Haywood 37
39. Jessica Vogt (USA) 34
40. Dalma Kiss (Hun) 34
41. Amy Laird (NZl) 32
42. Patarina Tothova (Cze) 32
43. Claudia Paquin (Can) 30
44. Aimee Dix (GBr) 30