The UCI Downhill World Cup rounds are coming thick and fast with riders taking to the start huts in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria) only five days after Loudenvielle-Peyragudes’ (France) Finals runs.

Conditions were perfect in The Epic Bikepark with the sunbaked Speedster trail running fast and smooth throughout Qualifying, leaving the world’s best downhill athletes to focus on laying down rapid runs to make it through to tomorrow’s finals.

The new qualifying format, where there are no longer protected rider spots, meant that there was still some jeopardy on course though, highlighting how competitive it is at the pinnacle of the sport.

HÖLL FASTEST ON HOME SOIL

Valentina Höll (YT Mob) hasn’t won yet this season – the first time the three-time UCI Downhill World Champion hasn’t clinched victory in the opening two rounds since 2022. But the 23-year-old is looking to right that wrong at her home UCI World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland, throwing down a blistering run in the first Qualifying round that no one could get within a second of. The winner of the last two UCI Downhill World Cups on the course, she has put herself in the best position to make it a hattrick tomorrow.

It could have all been so different though, with Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) the fastest in the first split and marginally off of Höll’s pace in splits two and three before a big crash sent the Frenchwoman over the handlebars and resulted in a DNF. She was fortunate to walk away with only bruises but decided to sit out the rest of the weekend.

Back on track, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/5Dev) was the only rider to get close to the rainbow jersey, stopping the clock 1.096 seconds behind Höll. The American pinner has started the season strongly and will be targeting another podium finish to go with her second in Bielsko-Biała (Poland).

Current series leader Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) meanwhile came third in the first Qualifying round, and, along with fifth-place qualifier Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), is one of only two riders other than Höll who knows what it takes to win in Austria – the Brit clinching the top spot at the venue back in 2017.

Sandwiched between Seagrave and Balanche was last week’s winner in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) – the Canadian youngster recovering from a slower start with a barnstorming bottom section to put herself in contention.

Elsewhere, Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) and Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing – Tourne Campervans) needed the second qualifying round to make it through to finals.

VERGIER SHOWS WORLD CHAMPION FORM WITH FASTEST QUALIFYING RUN

In the men’s field, UCI Downhill World Champion Loris Vergier (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) recorded the fastest first qualifying round time, and the rainbow jersey will be the last man down the hill in tomorrow’s finals. The Frenchman is yet to win since he clinched the title in Andorra last August, but two seventh-placed finishes so far this season show he’s not far off piloting his new Commencal to a podium spot.

The top five all came in within a second of Vergier’s run, with Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) recovering from 29th in the first sector to finish closest on course. The Brit recorded his first podium of the season by finishing third in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes and has clearly carried that form with him from the Pyrenees to the Alps.

Series leader Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) meanwhile finished third, while his main rival in the overall standings, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), had a poor run by his high standards that was only good enough for 16th.

Other notable highlights include last week’s winner Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) qualifying 14th, while the Canadian’s teammate Laurie Greenland (Santa Cruz Syndicate) made it through to his first finals of the year in 10th.

Riders forced to take a second bite of the cherry and make it to finals via the second qualifying round include local favourite and 2023 winner Andreas Kolb (YT Mob), Oisin O’Callaghan (YT Mob), Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) and Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH). Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) will also have a chance to claim a record-extending fifth win at the venue – Saalfelden-Leogang - Salzburgerland the site of the American’s most famous victory in 2015, where he was somehow the fastest on course despite riding without a chain for the whole run.

CLARK AND ZIERL FASTEST IN JUNIORS

Oli Clark (MS-Racing) put in a storming performance in the men's Junior Qualifying – the New Zealander going fastest in every split to record a time that would have been good enough for fourth place in the men's Elite first Qualifying round. Overall leader Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-off by Riding Addiction) was second fastest on the hill, while last week's winner Bode Burke (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) missed out on a Finals run by finishing 33rd.

Rosa Zierl (Cube Factory Racing) meanwhile put on a show for the home fans – the Austrian rider emulating her compatriot Höll by qualifying fastest. With Lina Frener (Norco Race Division) not racing in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, Zierl will fancy her chances especially with third-place ranked rider Matilda Melton (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) not doing enough to qualify for tomorrow's Finals.

The UCI Downhill World Cup Finals get underway tomorrow (Saturday, June 7) in Saalfelden-Leogang - Salzburgerland from 12:30 CEST with the women’s Junior finals. Find out how to watch here.