MTB News: After her third place in Fort William, Nina Hoffmann went one better at the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang on Sunday. Although the young woman from Saalfeld did not get the first curves in the best possible way, she was able to push the pace further and further in the course of the race and ended up setting a sensational time. Only Tracey Hannah from Australia was able to ban Nina Hoffmann from the Hot Seat.
Fast, faster, Nina Hoffmann: The Thuringian is really stirring up the Downhill World Cup this year. The 23-year-old already caused a big surprise last weekend - and with second place yesterday in Saalfelden Leogang, she impressively underlines her currently strong condition. The young woman from Saalfeld did not take the first curves optimally, but she was highly motivated and got better and better into the race and already set a best time in the first split. The willingness to take risks paid off in the end with a lead of seven seconds. From the hot seat, Nina Hoffmann followed the runs of the two top favorites Rachel Atherton and Tracey Hannah. For Rachel Atherton, however, things didn't go well at all. A driving mistake at the beginning of the race forced her to the ground, but in the end she couldn't do more than 15th and thus last place. The Australian Tracey Hannah was the last driver to start.
The second from Fort William drove a courageous race with a lot of risk, even touching the barriers several times. With a lead of 2,4 seconds, Tracey Hannah won the final run. The podium was completed by Kate Weatherly from New Zealand. The elite men also had high tension until the end. A real showdown developed between France's Loic Bruni and South Africa's Greg Minnaar. With a lead of just 0,3 seconds, the Frenchman celebrated his second win of the season, while Greg Minnaar achieved his best result of the season with second place. Troy Brosnan of Australia completed the podium.
UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup: Women's overall standings
- Tracey Hannah (AUS) 650 points
- Rachel Atherton (GBR) 500 points
- Nina Hoffmann (GER) 475 points
- Marine Cabirou (FRA) 440 points
- Veronika Widmann (ITA) 307 points
UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup: Men's overall standings
- Troy Brosnan (AUS) 520 points
- Loic Bruni (FRA) 515 points
- Amaury Pierron (FRA) 450 points
- Danny Hart (GBR) 435 points
- Greg Minnaar (RSA) 321 points