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MTB World Cup XC #4 & DH #2 - CDM - CDM
Vallnord, Andorra, May 31-June 1, 2008
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Race 5 - June 1: Elite men downhill
Gee completes astounding Atherton triple
By Luke Webber in Vallnord, Andorra
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Animal Commencal rider Gee Atherton completed his family's amazing triple win when he took out the men's downhill on Sunday afternoon, edging out world champion Sam Hill (Monster Energy / Iron Horse) by just 0.31 seconds. After Rachel Atherton won the women's event in the morning, the possibility for a triple win had the Atherton camp buzzing. But it wasn't going to be easy. Gee Atherton undoubtedly had the talent to win but for many tipsters the course just played to too many of Sam Hill's strengths.
Initially the weather was much improved - the course even drying for a short time - but as the top riders started their runs rain began to fall. It looked like an obvious choice; these conditions were made for Hill and when he came over the line and dislodged Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate), celebrations were already underway. Hill's arms were aloft, the white jersey readied and journalists writing the story of another Hill win.
What they underestimated though was the belief held by the Atherton family. Nothing could damage morale, the unit is so strong and winning twice already only added to that. At the split it was clear - today Hill was not alone.
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The delirious excitement at the finish was unprecedented. Fans, press and of course family stormed the finish zone to experience an unforgettable moment in mountain bike history. For the following hour a throng followed every step of an Animal-Commencal-Atherton dominated presentation and loved every second.
It was a new beginning in downhill and fourcross racing which will add to the excitement for the rest of the series. After the race of his life Gee Atherton could not contain his excitement, but he was already looking forward to next week's Fort William round: the team's home race.
"I'm pretty stoked this has happened," said Gee. "We have been working on it for a while it's something we're always aiming at and for it to come off now it is just surreal. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season now, I can get into the travelling and the racing and get stronger as I go along. There is always more to come, I can always improve and I'm confident of doing that. That's what I love about the sport."
Gee's sister Rachel summed up the family's mood. "I am so proud of us all, Dan yesterday and Gee under pressure pulled it off, it was perfect really."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Luke Webber / www.lukewebber.com
- Sam Hill would eventually finish second to another of the Atherton siblings.
- Fabien Barel tackled the course with confidence.
- The high slopes of the course weaved between slate stacks.
- Cedric Gracia was the local’s favourites.
- Sam Hill’s fans had to be content with number two spot today...
- ...and it was all because of this man Gee Atherton.
- The Atherton family, with team manager Dan Brown, spreading the good news.
- All of the Atherton’s together on the box.
Results
Final 1 Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 2.35.4 2 Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster Energy 0.00.3 3 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate 0.01.4 4 Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 0.02.1 5 Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Rac 0.03.4 6 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.03.8 7 Fabien Barel (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro 0.03.9 8 Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) Team Pyrenees Morewood 0.06.1 9 Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 0.06.3 10 Steve Smith (Can) 0.06.6 11 Mickael Pascal (Fra) Msc Bikes 0.06.9 12 Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa) Msc Bikes 0.07.1 13 Nick Beer (Swi) Ixs Sports Division Racin 0.07.3 14 Justin Leov (NZl) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Rac 0.08.4 15 Andrew Neethling (RSA) Gt Bicycles 0.08.6 16 Florent Payet (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro 0.08.8 17 Pasqual Canals Flix (Spa) Massi 0.09.5 18 Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro 0.09.6 19 Dan Stanbridge (GBr) Mojo Orange 0.09.8 20 Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 0.09.8 21 David Vazquez Lopez (Spa) Lapierre Dh Powered By Sa 0.09.9 22 Danny Hart (GBr) Lapierre Dh Powered By Sa 0.09.9 23 Ivan Oulego Moreno (Spa) Massi 0.10.0 24 Mitchell Delfs (Aus) Kenda Tomac 0.10.7 25 Robin Wallner (Swe) 0.10.8 26 Antoine Badouard (Fra) 0.11.1 27 Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.11.1 28 Bryn Atkinson (Aus) Gt Bicycles 0.11.2 29 Duncan Riffle (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing 0.11.2 30 Amiel Cavalier (Aus) Giant Mountain Bike Team 0.11.4 31 Joseph Smith (GBr) Tomac Factory Racing 0.11.4 32 Wyn Masters (NZl) 0.12.4 33 Marcel Beer (Swi) Ixs Sports Division Racin 0.12.6 34 Dominik Gspan (Swi) 0.12.6 35 Gracia Cédric (Fra) Commencal - Furious - Oak 0.12.8 36 Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) 0.13.0 37 Joshua Button (Aus) 0.13.0 38 Jared Rando (Aus) Giant Mountain Bike Team 0.13.1 39 Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.13.1 40 Cody Warren (USA) 0.13.3 41 Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) 0.13.4 42 Maxime Remy (Fra) Team Sunn 0.13.4 43 Kowan Sorrell (GBr) 0.13.5 44 Herman Olund (Swe) 0.13.6 45 Alan Beggin (Ita) 0.13.9 46 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate 0.14.2 47 Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Team Ghost International 0.14.4 47 Arnau Sugranes Mateu (Spa) Msc Bikes 49 Adam Brayton (GBr) Playbiker - Iron Horse 0.14.5 50 Chris Hutchens (GBr) Mojo Orange 0.14.9 51 Adam Vagner (Cze) 0.15.1 52 Markus Pekoll (Aut) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.15.3 53 Brook Macdonald (NZl) 0.15.4 54 Cameron Cole (NZl) Team Maxxis 0.16.2 55 Sam Dale (GBr) Cannondale Factory Racing 0.16.5 56 Danh Pha Kévin (Fra) Team Pyrenees Morewood 0.16.5 57 Esteban Deronzier (Fra) Sport Promotion 0.17.6 58 Nico Vink (Bel) Dolphin-Trek Mountainbike 0.17.6 59 Neil Donoghue (GBr) Team Bike Radar 0.17.8 60 Carlo Gambirasio (Ita) Surfing Shop 0.18.1 61 Marco Milivinti (Ita) 0.18.9 62 Julien Camellini (Fra) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.19.6 63 Thirion Rémi (Fra) Team Sunn 0.19.6 64 John Swanguen (USA) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 0.20.0 65 Daniel Critchlow (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.20.4 66 Andreas Sieber (Ger) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.20.6 67 Cole Bangert (USA) 0.20.7 68 Kyle Strait (USA) Specialized Factory Racin 0.20.9 69 Anton Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) Massi 0.21.6 70 Nathan Vials (GBr) Reverse Components 0.22.3 71 Ivan Oziol (Fra) 0.22.3 72 Tamryn Murrell (Aus) 0.22.4 73 Matej Charvat (Cze) 0.23.8 74 Emanuel Pombo (Por) 0.26.2 75 Filip Polc (Svk) Kenda Tomac 0.27.1 76 Ben Cathro (GBr) Mojo Orange 0.28.9 77 Vlastimil Hyncica (Cze) 0.30.5 78 Marco Bugnone (Ita) 0.32.5 79 Will Rischbieth (Aus) 0.50.3 80 Oscar Saiz Castane (Spa) Giant Mountain Bike Team 2.00.5 81 Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Monster Energy 4.33.3 DNS Marc Beaumont (GBr) Team Bike Radar Semi Final 1 Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 2.41.6 2 Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster Energy 0.01.7 3 Fabien Barel (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro 0.01.8 4 Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 0.02.3 5 Steve Smith (Can) 0.03.3 6 Nick Beer (Swi) Ixs Sports Division Racin 0.03.4 7 Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Rac 0.03.6 8 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate 0.03.6 9 Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) Team Pyrenees Morewood 0.03.6 10 Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 0.03.8 11 Neil Donoghue (GBr) Team Bike Radar 0.04.3 12 Pasqual Canals Flix (Spa) Massi 0.04.7 13 Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Monster Energy 0.04.8 14 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.05.3 15 Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro 0.06.0 16 Bryn Atkinson (Aus) Gt Bicycles 0.06.4 17 Andrew Neethling (RSA) Gt Bicycles 0.06.5 18 Mitchell Delfs (Aus) Kenda Tomac 0.06.6 19 Mickael Pascal (Fra) Msc Bikes 0.06.6 20 Florent Payet (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro 0.07.4 21 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate 0.07.7 22 Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa) Msc Bikes 0.08.0 23 Filip Polc (Svk) Kenda Tomac 0.08.1 24 Sam Dale (GBr) Cannondale Factory Racing 0.08.1 25 Joseph Smith (GBr) Tomac Factory Racing 0.08.2 26 Dominik Gspan (Swi) 0.09.1 27 Amiel Cavalier (Aus) Giant Mountain Bike Team 0.09.4 28 Danny Hart (GBr) Lapierre Dh Powered By Sa 0.09.4 29 Ivan Oulego Moreno (Spa) Massi 0.09.4 30 Duncan Riffle (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing 0.09.4 31 Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 0.09.8 32 Antoine Badouard (Fra) 0.09.8 33 David Vazquez Lopez (Spa) Lapierre Dh Powered By Sa 0.10.1 34 Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.10.5 35 Gracia Cédric (Fra) Commencal - Furious - Oak 0.11.0 36 Marcel Beer (Swi) Ixs Sports Division Racin 0.11.3 37 Adam Brayton (GBr) Playbiker - Iron Horse 0.11.4 38 Cameron Cole (NZl) Team Maxxis 0.11.5 38 Chris Hutchens (GBr) Mojo Orange 40 Oscar Saiz Castane (Spa) Giant Mountain Bike Team 0.11.6 41 Daniel Critchlow (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.12.2 42 Anton Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) Massi 0.12.4 43 Cody Warren (USA) 0.12.5 44 Emanuel Pombo (Por) 0.13.1 45 Adam Vagner (Cze) 0.13.3 46 Arnau Sugranes Mateu (Spa) Msc Bikes 0.13.4 47 Kowan Sorrell (GBr) 0.13.5 48 Robin Wallner (Swe) 0.13.5 49 Cole Bangert (USA) 0.13.6 50 Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) 0.13.6 51 Herman Olund (Swe) 0.13.7 52 Jared Rando (Aus) Giant Mountain Bike Team 0.13.8 53 Maxime Remy (Fra) Team Sunn 0.14.1 54 Ben Cathro (GBr) Mojo Orange 0.14.2 54 Nathan Vials (GBr) Reverse Components 56 Danh Pha Kévin (Fra) Team Pyrenees Morewood 0.14.2 57 Brook Macdonald (NZl) 0.14.4 58 Joshua Button (Aus) 0.14.6 59 Wyn Masters (NZl) 0.14.8 60 Nico Vink (Bel) Dolphin-Trek Mountainbike 0.14.8 61 Matej Charvat (Cze) 0.14.9 62 Andreas Sieber (Ger) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.14.9 63 Marco Bugnone (Ita) 0.15.1 64 Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) 0.15.1 65 Julien Camellini (Fra) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.15.3 66 Marc Beaumont (GBr) Team Bike Radar 0.15.3 67 Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycle 0.15.4 68 Markus Pekoll (Aut) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.15.5 69 Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Team Ghost International 0.15.6 70 Marco Milivinti (Ita) 0.15.8 71 Dan Stanbridge (GBr) Mojo Orange 0.15.9 72 Alan Beggin (Ita) 0.16.1 73 Esteban Deronzier (Fra) Sport Promotion 0.16.2 74 Will Rischbieth (Aus) 0.16.2 75 Tamryn Murrell (Aus) 0.16.3 76 John Swanguen (USA) Ms-Intense Factory-Racing 0.16.5 77 Kyle Strait (USA) Specialized Factory Racin 0.16.6 78 Ivan Oziol (Fra) 0.16.6 79 Vlastimil Hyncica (Cze) 0.16.6 80 Carlo Gambirasio (Ita) Surfing Shop 0.16.8 81 Mike Skinner (NZl) Playbiker - Iron Horse 0.16.9 82 Tom Patton (Aus) 0.16.9 83 Boris Tetzlaff (Aut) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.17.1 84 Pavel Cep (Cze) 0.17.1 85 Ralph Jones (GBr) 0.17.2 85 Ruben Garcia Ramon (Spa) Motril-Sierra Nevada Bike 87 Will Longden (GBr) Team Bike Radar 0.17.6 88 Fabien Cousinie (Fra) 0.17.7 88 Yannick Colomb (Fra) 90 Claudio Loureiro (Por) 0.17.9 91 Clément Benoit (Fra) 0.18.1 92 Lorenzo Suding (Ita) Playbiker - Iron Horse 0.18.2 93 Kieran Bennett (NZl) 0.18.3 94 Thirion Rémi (Fra) Team Sunn 0.18.4 95 Guilhem Andre (Fra) Team Sunn 0.18.7 96 Groizard Félix (Fra) 0.18.8 97 Mathias Haas (Aut) 0.18.9 98 Justin Leov (NZl) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Rac 0.19.0 99 John Holbrook (GBr) Reverse Components 0.19.2 100 Arnaud Delente (Fra) 0.19.3 101 Nathan Rankin (NZl) Playbiker - Iron Horse 0.19.5 102 Claudio Caluori (Swi) Tomac Factory Racing 0.19.6 103 Rhys Willemse (Aus) Tomac Factory Racing 0.19.6 104 Espen Johnsen (Nor) 0.19.8 105 Valentin Juillard (Fra) Team Sunn 0.20.0 106 Gerard Wolfe (Irl) 0.20.0 107 Gareth Brewin (GBr) 0.20.1 108 Brad Oien (USA) 0.20.2 109 Paul Aston (GBr) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.20.2 110 Mario Jo Jarrin Molina (Ecu) 0.20.6 111 Charrier Rémy (Fra) Team Sunn 0.20.7 112 Nicolas Ortiz (Fra) 0.20.7 113 Joris Bigoni (Fra) 0.20.8 114 Jonas Simon (Fra) 0.21.0 115 Lars Sternberg (USA) 0.21.1 116 Richard Cunynghame (GBr) 0.21.2 117 Pierre Laurent Bucci (Fra) Corsica Fed Consulting 0.21.4 118 Ben Reid (Irl) 0.21.7 119 Mario Sieder (Aut) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.21.8 120 Kevin Mollard (Fra) 0.22.0 121 Mathieu Troquier (Fra) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.22.2 122 Tim Eaton (Aus) 0.22.4 123 José Borges (Por) 0.22.5 124 Georg Sieder (Aut) Solid Aclass Factory Team 0.22.6 125 Patrick Meyer (Swi) Ixs Sports Division Racin 0.22.8 126 Jose Bartolome Aviles (Spa) Giant Mountain Bike Team 0.22.8 127 David Camp (USA) Team Sol Vista Basin 0.22.9 128 Ped Ferreira Landskron (Chi) 0.22.9 129 Romain Lescure (Fra) 0.23.0 130 Andréa Gamenara (Ita) Argentina Bike Gravity Te 0.23.3 131 Samuel Zbinden (Swi) Argentina Bike Gravity Te 0.23.5 132 Camille Blanchard (Fra) Team Sunn 0.23.7 133 Jamie Biluk (Can) Can Mojo Orange 0.23.9 134 Joey Schusler (USA) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Rac 0.24.1 135 Joseph Nation (NZl) 0.24.1 136 Alex Prochazka (Can) 0.24.2 137 Ewan Doherty (Irl) 0.24.6 138 Renato Ventura (Por) 0.24.7 139 Seanan O'Riordan (Irl) 0.25.0 140 Erik Irmisch (Ger) 0.25.2 141 Matthew Walker (NZl) 0.25.3 142 Sjur Faerden (Nor) 0.25.5 143 Marco Esp Fernandez Garcia (Spa) Motril-Sierra Nevada Bike 0.25.6 144 Bradley Benedict (USA) 0.25.7 145 Massimo Rosson (Ita) 0.26.1 146 Roland Seereiner (Aut) Team Scott Lactat 0.26.1 146 Markolf Berchtold (Bra) 148 Richard Leacock (NZl) 0.26.1 149 Santiago De Santiago (Arg) 0.26.3 150 Nicolas Gspan (Swi) 0.26.5 151 Liam Mason (GBr) Printexpress Uk Mtb Team 0.26.6 152 Matthieu Gallean (Fra) Argentina Bike Gravity Te 0.26.7 153 Marco Fidalgo (Por) 0.26.7 154 Thomas Warmuth (Aut) 4 Elements Yet 0.26.8 155 Alexander Evans (GBr) 0.26.8 156 Craig Pattle (NZl) 0.27.2 157 Tim Hammar (Swe) 0.27.2 158 Bernard Kerr (GBr) 0.27.2 159 Oyvind Maehle (Nor) 0.27.3 160 Kristof Lenssens (Bel) 0.27.5 161 Luca Pittino (Ita) Pro-Bike Riding Team 0.27.7 162 Robin Hagen (Swi) Tomac Factory Racing 0.28.0 163 Lars Peyer (Swi) Suspension Center 0.28.5 164 Luca Bertocchi (Ita) Playbiker - Iron Horse 0.28.5 165 Matej Vitko (Svk) 0.28.5 166 Simon Charvat (Cze) 0.28.7 167 Benny Strasser (Ger) Ixs Sports Division Racin 0.28.8 168 Richard Lee (Aus) 0.29.0 169 Roman Roschi (Swi) Suspension Center 0.29.4 170 Brian Buell (USA) The Fix 0.29.6 171 Niklas Wallner (Swe) 0.29.9 172 Daniel Wolfe (Irl) 0.29.9 173 Martins Sprogis (Lat) 0.30.0 174 Edga Carballo Gonzalez (Spa) 0.31.6 175 Jonty Neethling (RSA) 0.31.8 176 Ben Mullen (Irl) 0.32.2 177 Martin Frei (Swi) 0.32.3 178 Bostjan Volf (Slo) 0.32.9 179 Alexander Mikowitsch (Aut) Team Scott Lactat 0.33.2 180 Dylan Prohm (Aus) 0.33.4 181 Ondrej Barta (Cze) 0.33.8 182 Justin Norek (Ita) 0.33.9 183 Steve Wentz (USA) Team Sol Vista Basin 0.34.2 184 David Kennan (Irl) 0.34.3 185 Martin Hanak (Cze) 0.34.5 186 Sacha Robert (Swi) Suspension Center 0.35.1 187 Martin Mikulenka (Cze) 0.36.0 188 Boris Petrau (Fra) Team Pyrenees Morewood 0.36.1 189 Afonso Ferreira (Por) 0.36.7 190 Tobias Sieber (Ger) 0.36.9 191 Jordi Bago (Spa) 0.37.4 192 Matthew Vincent (Aus) 0.37.7 193 Lucas Meyer (Swi) Ixs Sports Division Racin 0.37.9 194 Jack Geoghegan (GBr) 0.38.3 195 Albe Barilaro Caparros (And) 0.38.8 196 Daniel Aitken (NZl) 0.39.4 197 Michael Buell (USA) The Fix 0.41.5 198 Matej Laktis (Svk) 0.41.8 199 Caleb Cambern (USA) The Fix 0.42.3 200 Laurie Dinham (Aus) Tomac Factory Racing 0.43.1 201 Tomas Kybic (Cze) 0.45.2 202 Tine Mahkovec (Slo) Team Scott Lactat 0.45.9 203 Thomas Jeandin (Swi) Argentina Bike Gravity Te 0.46.0 204 Samuele Aicardi (Ita) Argentina Bike Gravity Te 0.46.8 205 Petr Nechutny (Cze) 0.47.5 206 Bjorn Ballangrud (Nor) 0.48.6 207 Michael Matt (Aut) 0.49.5 208 Martin Mitvalsky (Cze) 0.50.2 209 Michal Wiesenganger (Svk) 0.50.9 210 Stuart Jenkinson (GBr) Printexpress Uk Mtb Team 0.54.3 211 Thibaud Radermecker (Bel) 0.54.9 212 Marcel Vasko (Svk) 0.55.8 213 Andrew Godfrey (Irl) 0.59.3 214 Edoardo Franco (Ita) Playbiker - Iron Horse 0.59.5 215 Leoluca Scurria (Ita) Surfing Shop 1.00.3 216 Filip Srail (Cze) 1.05.9 217 Jorg Jaramillo Salazar (Col) 1.07.7 218 Vittorio Gambirasio (Ita) Surfing Shop 1.09.4 219 Stephen Beattie (Irl) 1.10.2 220 Geoffrey Arthur Ulmer (USA) Playbiker - Iron Horse 1.14.1 221 Alexi Garcia (Chi) 1.17.1 222 Ricard Ferreira Campos (And) 1.19.8 DNF Dave Wardell (GBr) DNF Nicklas Fastegaard (Nor) DNF Alexander Kangas (Swe) DNS Jan Javornik (Svk) DNS Falco Ruppert (Ger) DNS Scott Beaumont (GBr) Rocky Mountain Uk DNS Ben Baker (GBr) Printexpress Uk Mtb Team DNS Aari Barrett (NZl) DNS Nathaniel Giacomozzi (Bra)
