The penultimate UCI Downhill World Cup of the season has been hampered by bad weather as heavy rain and impassable mud have caused carnage on the hills of Loudenvielle - Peyragudes. 

Conditions were so bad that Saturday’s Elite semi-finals were cancelled after overnight rain, with qualifying rescheduled for later in the day – the top 30 men and 10 women making the cut alongside protected riders. Even then, it wasn’t without further drama – the women’s qualifying hampered by red flags, while those who were dropping in later in the men’s field could benefit from a quickly drying track. 

SEAGRAVE SHOWS THE SERIES ISN’T OVER YET 

In the women’s field, Tahnée Seagrave (Canyon CLLCTV FMD) handled the difficult conditions best in the French Pyrenees. The Brit – who is currently second in the overall series – held on to lay down a 4:13.889 marker, showing that she is back to her race pace after a couple of disappointing seasons and looking to add to her win from Val di Sole, Trentino. 

Elise Empey (Synergy 37) backed up her top 10 finish at last weekend’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships with second in qualifying, while Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) was third.

Reigning UCI Downhill World Champion and current series leader Vali Höll (YT Mob) was 8.657 seconds off the pace in seventh, but the Austrian should never be written off come finals.

BRUNI BOUNCES BACK AFTER UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS CRASH

In the men’s field, series leader Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) took advantage of a late drop-in time and drying track to throw down the only 3:35 of the weekend so far. The Frenchman was looking for an immediate response after crashing out in Andorra last weekend and will be hoping that a strong result tomorrow can see him build an almost unassailable lead in the overall.

The one man trying to stop him though is Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction). The Frenchman was the only rider to get within three seconds of Bruni but knows he can go faster and overcome his nemesis if he irons out some mistakes on the mountain.

Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing), Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) and Matteo Iniguez (Commencal Icstudio) completed the qualifying podium, while other riders to make it through to tomorrow’s finals include two legends of the sport – Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) and Greg Minnaar (Norco Factory Racing).

Racing gets underway tomorrow (Sunday, September 8) in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes from 11:30 CEST with the women’s junior finals. Find out how to watch here, and set a reminder to join Ric McLaughlin for the pre-show live from France from 12:45 CEST.