On day four of the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Les Gets in France, all four 2022 downhill UCI World titles were awarded. Valentina Höll (AUT) and Loïc Bruni (FRA) became the Elite 2022 UCI World Champions on the Saturday afternoon after Jenna Hastings (NZL) and Jordan Williams (GBR) had won the Junior events in the morning.
Women Junior: gold for Jenna Hastings
The rainbow jersey went to the second fastest qualifier Jenna Hastings (NZL) with her brilliant run timed at 4:18.541. The silver medal went to Canada’s Gracey Hemstreet (leader of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup overall standings), who finished +1.87 from the winner. The bronze medal went to Valentina Roa Sanchez from Colombia (+15.94). The 2021 UCI World Champion Izabela Yankova (BUL) did a DNF and Britain’s Phoebe Gale fell early but recovered to finish seventh.
— UCI MTB (@UCI_MTB) August 27, 2022With a 4:18.541 run this girl secures her Junior DHI victory!
🌈🥇 Jenna Hastings 🌈🥇#LesGets2022 pic.twitter.com/457Sjeute9
Men Junior: joy for Jordan Williams
Sixty riders took on the course in Les Gets, aiming for the rainbow stripes. With three remaining, Remy Meier-Smith (AUS) occupied the hot seat. Davide Cappello (ITA) slotted in behind him and the fastest qualifier, Britain’s Jordan Williams (second in the 2022 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup overall standings) went to the lead. Last man out was 2021 UCI World Champion Jackson Goldstone – but his fall halfway down meant it was not Canada’s day. Wiliams won gold, Meier-Smith took silver (+5.91) and Cappello secured the bronze medal (+7.69).
— UCI MTB (@UCI_MTB) August 27, 2022What a ride Jordan Williams 🇬🇧🌈
He joins a long list of Brits to claim the Men Junior title including Kade Edwards, Laurie Greenland and Matt Walker 💪#LesGets2022 pic.twitter.com/mPXls8gOvT
Women Elite: Höll in the hot seat
On a fast dusty track, with five of the 34 riders still to go, three-time European Champion Monika Hrastnik (SLO) smashed five seconds off the time set by the early leader Stacey Fisher (GBR). Italy’s Eleonora Farina crashed in sector two and the second fastest rider in the qualifications, Nina Hoffmann (GER), sliced almost another five seconds off the leader’s time on her way into the hot seat.
2021 UCI World Champion Myriam Nicole was in the lead through the first four sectors but lost momentum towards the end, slotting into second on the hot seat. Former Junior UCI World Champion Valentina Höll (AUT) hit a terrific pace, leading with four seconds half through the race but then slowed down and took the lead by one second. Last woman out, 2020 UCI World Champion Camille Balanche (SUI), recently back from an injury, never quite got the speed she wanted.
Valentina Höll took her first Elite rainbow jersey – and Austria’s first ever DHI UCI World title in the Elite category – in a time of 3:53.857. The silver went to Nina Hoffmann (+0.906) and the bronze to Myriam Nicole (+3.447).
“I felt quite good on the bike all weekend. I had a feeling I could get a medal. I just enjoyed it so much,” said Nina Hoffmann. “Representing Germany is something special and the UCI World Championships are something special!”
“We have an important race next week and I need to be ready for that,” said Valentina Höll. “But man, I’m going to party hard tonight!”
— UCI MTB (@UCI_MTB) August 27, 2022Better believe it @HllVali 😱🤯
Women Elite DHI World Champion 🌈#LesGets2022 pic.twitter.com/h7RIU6txXn
Men Elite: Bruni and France put on a show
With ten riders to go, Australia’s Troy Brosnan was in the lead, having ousted Sweden’s Oliver Zwar from the hot seat. Laurie Greenland (GBR) came back from sickness to go within one second, four-time UCI World Champion Greg Minnaar (RSA) did a great performance but could not match up to the best. Andreas Kolb (AUT) was unfortunately taken out of the competition as he hit a tree.
With Canada’s Finn Iles not starting, the last four riders were all French, pushing the Les Gets crowd’s excitement off the scale. Four-time UCI World Champion Loïc Bruni was suitably inspired and his super run secured almost a four seconds lead! National Champion Benoît Coulanges could not get close, then Loris Vergier put together a great run and took the second position on the hot seat. It then came down to 2022 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup overall leader Amaury Pierron… who finished second and secured a full podium sweep for France. Loïc Bruni’s victory meant a fifth UCI Elite World Champion title for him.
Loïc Bruni won gold on 3:20.47, Pierron took the silver (+2.58) and Loris Vergier secured the bronze (+3.386).
“I couldn't believe I could do it. This season was not the best one, I tried my best to be ready. I enjoyed the run so much, I made the best of it,” said Loïc Bruni. “I’ve never won in France and it’s the UCI World Championships, it’s insane, I’m so happy.”
“Three French on the podium, that’s pretty sick,” said Amaury Pierron. “I’m just glad to be part of the story.”
— UCI MTB (@UCI_MTB) August 27, 2022🌈🥇 @LoicBruni 🌈🥇
Five-time UCI Men Elite DHI World Champion 👏 The fans LOVE it.#LesGets2022 pic.twitter.com/bjn4JIob8J
With the downhill races concluded, excitement now turns to the cross-country Olympic with the U23 and Elite races to conclude the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships on Sunday. Check out the details of the course in this preview presented by Shimano:
