September 20, 2009 (Schladming, Austria) – Sam Hill (Aus) Monster Energy Iron Horse smashed the field here in Schladming at the final DH round to put a rubber stamp on his season and claim the UCI World Cup overall DH Champion crown. Tracy Moseley (Gbr) Trek capped off her season in style with a victory, but it was Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Maxxis who took home the overall title with an insurmountable lead.

The track here in Schladming seems tailor-made for Hill, the “wonder from Down Under”. Steep, rooty, technical, filled with over 60 corners, Hill is a legend here. He qualified well out in front, and didn’t look back come race day, winning by 2.33 seconds over last year’s winner, Samuel Blenkinsop (Nzl) Yeti. In third was Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate.

An emotional Hill discussed his day between signing autographs post race. “I was pretty nervous at the top. I could see Jacy getting texts and I knew what time Minnaar had run. I could see Jacy looking at his phone every rider and not saying anything so I knew he was still leading. I was getting more nervous the more I thought about it. The first half of the run all I could think about was, I’d be coming into turns and I should be turning, and I was thinking about the overall.”

“About half way down the crowd got me into it cheering. When I hit the open grass I could hear everyone screaming and knew it was on a good run. The bottom grass turns sorta felt like a celebration lap. It’s pretty awesome to get the win as well as take home the overall,” said an ebullient Hill.

“[Sean] Palmer’s an idol of mine and we are good buddies, basically at Ste-Anne at the World Cup he said he’d lend me his old gold jacket that his mom made for him – he used to wear it on the podium – if got close to the overall and had a shot. It’s the real deal that jacket. I’m pretty proud to be able to wear it up there for him.”

Canadian Steve Smith (MS Evil Racing) crashed hard in the middle wood section and ended up 45th.

Moseley held off the best women on the mountain after a poor qualifier, and ended up with a long stay in the hot seat. “This rack has never been a strong point for me so it’s good. Only my final run this morning did I feel like I started to get it together. Even then I didn’t get a great run. That’s the secret of this track, you never get a perfect run. You see people make mistakes, it was rough and tiring today. I knew it would be rough today and I hoped if I stayed smooth I’d get a top 5 or top 3. I’m amazed to get the win,” commented Moseley, “I’m happy to end the season this way and start winter training with a good feeling. I’m super happy.”

Floriane Pugin of France (Kenda Playbiker) scored her second World Cup podium with a second place, and Celine Gros of France was third.

Canada’s Claire Buchar (Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense) was 8th after a solid run on a course she isn’t normally strong on. “My run went pretty good. This track is a tough one for me. It’s long and physical,” said Buchar post-race. “I had a smooth run and held it together and pedalled where I could. It went well. I was hoping for a top ten, so 8th makes me happy. It’s a good result for me on this track. I’m gonna get a lot stronger for next season,” she added.

Final Stage 8 women’s full results here.
Final Stage 8 men’s full results here.
Final Overall women’s standings here.
Final Overall men’s standings here.

Results (brief)

Elite Women

1. Tracy Moseley (Gbr) Trek World Racing 4:54.73
2. Floriane Pugin (Fra) Iron Horse-Kenda-Playbiker 0.84
3. Céline Gros (Fra) Morzine-Avoriaz 74 1.79
4. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 4.98
5. Mio Suemasa (Jpn) funnyfancy.jp 5.14
6. Petra Bernhard (Aut) Ancillotti Doganaccia Racing Team 8.26
7. Emmeline Ragot (Fra) Suspension Center 10.13
8. Claire Buchar (Can) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 13.24
9. Miriam Ruchti (Sui) Team Vario Racing 14.45
10. Anita Ager-Wick (Nor) 16.10

Elite Men

1. Sam Hill (Aus) Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz 4:01.10
2. Sam Blenkinsop (Nzl) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 2.33
3. Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate 3.61
4. Aaron Gwin (USA) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 6.97
5. Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz 7.83
6. Justin Leov (Nzl) Trek World Racing 8.18
7. Steve Peat (Gbr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 8.25
8. Josh Bryceland (Gbr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 8.27
9. Luke Strobel (USA) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 8.49
10. Mickael Pascal (Fra) MSC Bikes 8.79

45. Steve Smith (Can) MS Evil Racing 19.20

Final Overall (brief)

Elite Women

1. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 1,767
2. Tracy Moseley (Gbr) Trek World Racing 1,355
3. Emmeline Ragot (Fra) Suspension Center 1,335

9. Claire Buchar (Can) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 510
14. Micayla Gatto (Can) Commencal Oakley 265

Elite Men

1. Sam Hill (Aus) Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz 1,469
2. Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate 1,349
3. Steve Peat (Gbr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 1,258

11. Steve Smith (Can) MS Evil Racing 620