Gee Atherton claims downhill World Cup in Cairns

British brother and sister combination of Gee and Rachel Atherton dominated the Australian leg of the UCI World Cup Series, claiming downhill victories at the Smithfield Regional Park in Cairns on Saturday.

The win was the fourth time that reigning world champion Rachel and elder brother Gee (both GT Factory Racing) have reached the top step of the podium at the same World Cup event.

After a wet qualifying session held on Friday, roots and rocks began to protrude from the peanut butter like course, undoing many top players including reigning world champion Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate).

However the ever flawless Atherton siblings soared through their final run, with Gee stopping the clock in four minutes flat, four seconds ahead of Great Britain's Josh Bryceland (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and close to seven seconds in front of America's Neko Mulally (Trek World Racing).

"It's been a tough weekend with really testing conditions. Yesterday's qualifier was quite a big learning round for me, I was surprised how hard it was when I got here," said Gee of his sixth place in qualifying.

"It was absolutely nuts in that rock garden, I knew the crowd were going to be loud, and it was a real struggle to concentrate but it definitely pushed me on, I was pretty amped when I got to the finish."

World Cup series leader Aaron Gwin (Specialized Racing DH) finished fourth while Australia's Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles.com) ignited the crowd by taking the hot seat before being usurped by Bryceland.

Gwin remains in the UCI World Cup series lead (415 points), ahead of Gee Atherton (305 points) and Samuel Blenkinsop (Lapierre Gravity Republic / 262).

 

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Gee Atherton (GBr) Gt Factory Racing0:04:00.700
2Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate0:00:04.229
3Neko Mulally (USA) Trek World Racing0:00:06.930
4Aaron Gwin (USA) Specialized Racing Dh0:00:07.093
5Samuel Hill (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof0:00:07.182
6Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre Gravity Republic0:00:08.576
7Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate0:00:10.073
8Sam Dale (GBr) Madison Saracen Factory Team0:00:10.284
9Troy Brosnan (Aus) Specialized Racing Dh0:00:10.535
10Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Col) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:00:10.925
11Jack Moir (Aus) Bergamont Hayes World Team0:00:11.787
12Johannes Fischbach (Ger) Rrp Ghost0:00:12.238
13Joseph Smith (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof0:00:12.348
14Michael Hannah (Aus) Hutchinson Ur0:00:12.558
15Markus Pekoll (Aut) Ms Mondraker Team0:00:13.329
16Marc Beaumont (GBr) Gt Factory Racing0:00:13.340
17Loic Bruni (Fra) Lapierre Gravity Republic0:00:13.954
18Patrick Thome (Fra) Gstaad-Scott0:00:14.130
19Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Madison Saracen Factory Team0:00:15.019
20Lorenzo Suding (Ita)0:00:15.187
21Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:00:15.593
22Matthew Walker (NZl) Banshee Bikes Factory Team0:00:15.729
23Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Gstaad-Scott0:00:17.347
24Nick Beer (Swi) Devinci Global Racing0:00:17.771
25Eliot Jackson (USA) Pivot Factory Dh Team0:00:18.398
26Edward Masters (NZl) Bergamont Hayes World Team0:00:19.033
27Brook Macdonald (NZl) Trek World Racing0:00:19.294
28Florent Payet (Fra) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:21.310
29Graeme Mudd (Aus)0:00:21.591
30Michael Jones (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof0:00:21.671
31Chris Kovarik (Aus)0:00:21.772
32Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Ms Mondraker Team0:00:24.309
33Isak Leivsson (Nor)0:00:24.486
34Reece Potter (NZl) Banshee Bikes Factory Team0:00:25.420
35Wyn Masters (NZl) Team Bulls - Dh0:00:26.993
36Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) Lac Blanc/Scott0:00:27.348
37Forrest Riesco (Can)0:00:27.595
38Connor Fearon (Aus) Kona Factory Team0:00:27.762
39Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:27.865
40Mitch Ropelato (USA) Specialized Racing Dh0:00:27.979
41Lindsay Klein (Aus)0:00:29.148
42Rupert Chapman (NZl)0:00:29.298
43Ziga Pandur (Slo) Unior Tools Team0:00:29.754
44George Brannigan (NZl) Trek World Racing0:00:30.122
45Guillaume Cauvin (Fra) Hutchinson Ur0:00:30.166
46Fraser Mcglone (GBr) Perth City Cycles0:00:30.225
47Faustin Figaret (Fra) Commencal0:00:31.317
48Andrew Neethling (RSA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:00:31.976
49Cameron Cole (NZl) Commencal / Riding Addiction0:00:35.901
50Benny Strasser (Ger)0:00:36.497
51Dean Lucas (Aus) Devinci Global Racing0:00:36.603
52David Mcmillan (Aus)0:00:36.726
53Ben Power (Aus)0:00:38.268
54Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Unior Tools Team0:00:40.460
55Quentin Chanudet (Fra)0:00:42.077
56Tom Matthews (NZl) Banshee Bikes Factory Team0:00:42.364
57Dominik Gspan (Swi)0:00:43.557
58Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction0:00:45.585
59Louis Hamilton (NZl)0:00:46.005
60Cyrille Kurtz (Fra) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:47.089
61Harry Molloy (GBr) Rrp Ghost0:00:51.911
62Felix Heine (Ger)0:00:54.448
63Junya Nagata (Jpn)0:00:57.290
64Lachlan Blair (GBr)0:00:57.565
65Brendan Moon (Aus)0:00:57.805
66Hajime Imoto (Jpn)0:00:58.609
67Luke Ball (GBr)0:01:01.057
68Thomas Crimmins (Aus)0:01:02.712
69Greg Williamson (GBr) Trek World Racing0:01:06.131
70Yuki Kushima (Jpn)0:01:06.872
71Jono Jones (GBr)0:01:06.958
72Bryn Atkinson (Aus)0:01:16.005
73Jesse Beare (Aus)0:01:19.212
74Peter Knott (Aus)0:01:42.658
75Joshua Button (Aus)0:01:53.478
76Rémi Thirion (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction0:05:34.319
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite men downhill World Cup standings after two rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Aaron Gwin (USA) Specialized Racing DH415pts
2Gee Atherton (GBr) GT Factory Racing305Row 1 - Cell 3
3Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre Gravity Republic262Row 2 - Cell 3
4Neko Mulally (USA) Trek World Racing261Row 3 - Cell 3
5Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate249Row 4 - Cell 3
6Loic Bruni (Fra) Lapierre Gravity Republic231Row 5 - Cell 3
7Michael Hannah (Aus) Hutchinson UR227Row 6 - Cell 3
8Troy Brosnan (Aus) Specialized Racing DH224Row 7 - Cell 3
9Sam Dale (GBr) Madison Saracen Factory Team212Row 8 - Cell 3
10Samuel Hill (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof206Row 9 - Cell 3
11Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate200Row 10 - Cell 3
12Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate163Row 11 - Cell 3
13Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Madison Saracen Factory Team159Row 12 - Cell 3
14Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Col) Giant Factory Off-Road Team154Row 13 - Cell 3
15Markus Pekoll (Aut) Ms Mondraker Team145Row 14 - Cell 3
16Marc Beaumont (GBr) GT Factory Racing141Row 15 - Cell 3
17Cameron Cole (NZl) Commencal / Riding Addiction127Row 16 - Cell 3
18Nick Beer (Swi) Devinci Global Racing126Row 17 - Cell 3
19Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team124Row 18 - Cell 3
20Patrick Thome (Fra) Gstaad-Scott117Row 19 - Cell 3
21Lorenzo Suding (Ita)116Row 20 - Cell 3
22Connor Fearon (Aus) Kona Factory Team115Row 21 - Cell 3
23Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Gstaad-Scott114Row 22 - Cell 3
24Andrew Neethling (RSA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team107Row 23 - Cell 3
25Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Ms Mondraker Team107Row 24 - Cell 3
26Jack Moir (Aus) Bergamont Hayes World Team105Row 25 - Cell 3
27Matthew Walker (NZl) Banshee Bikes Factory Team101Row 26 - Cell 3
28Brook Macdonald (NZl) Trek World Racing100Row 27 - Cell 3
29Guillaume Cauvin (Fra) Hutchinson UR99Row 28 - Cell 3
30Joseph Smith (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof98Row 29 - Cell 3
31Isak Leivsson (Nor)98Row 30 - Cell 3
32George Brannigan (NZl) Trek World Racing96Row 31 - Cell 3
33Florent Payet (Fra) Evil Vengeance Tour95Row 32 - Cell 3
34Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Unior Tools Team93Row 33 - Cell 3
35Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) Lac Blanc/Scott93Row 34 - Cell 3
36Ziga Pandur (Slo) Unior Tools Team89Row 35 - Cell 3
37Eliot Jackson (USA) Pivot Factory DH Team85Row 36 - Cell 3
38Johannes Fischbach (Ger) Rrp Ghost84Row 37 - Cell 3
39Edward Masters (NZl) Bergamont Hayes World Team80Row 38 - Cell 3
40Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) Evil Vengeance Tour79Row 39 - Cell 3
41Wyn Masters (NZl) Team Bulls - DH77Row 40 - Cell 3
42Faustin Figaret (Fra) Commencal77Row 41 - Cell 3
43Aurã©Lien Giordanengo (Fra) Hutchinson UR71Row 42 - Cell 3
44Greg Williamson (GBr) Trek World Racing70Row 43 - Cell 3
45Bryn Atkinson (Aus)67Row 44 - Cell 3
46Rémi Thirion (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction66Row 45 - Cell 3
47Dean Lucas (Aus) Devinci Global Racing62Row 46 - Cell 3
48Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction59Row 47 - Cell 3
49Graeme Mudd (Aus)52Row 48 - Cell 3
50Michael Jones (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof51Row 49 - Cell 3
51Chris Kovarik (Aus)50Row 50 - Cell 3
52Reece Potter (NZl) Banshee Bikes Factory Team47Row 51 - Cell 3
53Harry Heath (GBr) Orange Dirt World Team, O'neal47Row 52 - Cell 3
54Tomas Slavik (Cze)45Row 53 - Cell 3
55Forrest Riesco (Can)44Row 54 - Cell 3
56Jack Reading (GBr) Sc Intense41Row 55 - Cell 3
57Mitch Ropelato (USA) Specialized Racing DH41Row 56 - Cell 3
58Bernard Kerr (GBr) Pivot Factory DH Team40Row 57 - Cell 3
59Lindsay Klein (Aus)40Row 58 - Cell 3
60Adam Brayton (GBr)39Row 59 - Cell 3
61Rupert Chapman (NZl)39Row 60 - Cell 3
62Fraser Mcglone (GBr) Perth City Cycles35Row 61 - Cell 3
63Timothy Bentley (RSA)33Row 62 - Cell 3
64Benny Strasser (Ger)31Row 63 - Cell 3
65David Mcmillan (Aus)29Row 64 - Cell 3
66Stefan Garlicki (RSA)28Row 65 - Cell 3
67Ben Power (Aus)28Row 66 - Cell 3
68Francisco Pardal (Por)27Row 67 - Cell 3
69Tiaan Odendaal (RSA)26Row 68 - Cell 3
70Quentin Chanudet (Fra)26Row 69 - Cell 3
71Joseph Connell (GBr) Sc Intense25Row 70 - Cell 3
72Tom Matthews (NZl) Banshee Bikes Factory Team25Row 71 - Cell 3
73Samuel Bull (RSA)24Row 72 - Cell 3
74Dominik Gspan (Swi)24Row 73 - Cell 3
75Fabien Cousinie (Fra) Hutchinson UR23Row 74 - Cell 3
76Harry Molloy (GBr) Rrp Ghost23Row 75 - Cell 3
77Jasper Jauch (Ger)22Row 76 - Cell 3
78Louis Hamilton (NZl)22Row 77 - Cell 3
79Matej Charvat (Cze) Banshee Bikes Factory Team21Row 78 - Cell 3
80Cyrille Kurtz (Fra) Evil Vengeance Tour21Row 79 - Cell 3
81Jono Jones (GBr)21Row 80 - Cell 3
82Charly Di Pasquale (Fra)20Row 81 - Cell 3
83Mario Josã© Jarrin Molina (Ecu)19Row 82 - Cell 3
84Felix Heine (Ger)19Row 83 - Cell 3
85Alexandre Fayolle (Fra)18Row 84 - Cell 3
86Junya Nagata (Jpn)18Row 85 - Cell 3
87Jonty Neethling (RSA)17Row 86 - Cell 3
88Lachlan Blair (GBr)17Row 87 - Cell 3
89Brent Smith (Aus)16Row 88 - Cell 3
90Brendan Moon (Aus)16Row 89 - Cell 3
91Zakarias Blom Johansen (Nor)15Row 90 - Cell 3
92Hajime Imoto (Jpn)15Row 91 - Cell 3
93Gaetan Ruffin (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction14Row 92 - Cell 3
94Luke Ball (GBr)14Row 93 - Cell 3
95Chris Barlin (Aus) Green To Gold Race Development13Row 94 - Cell 3
96Thomas Crimmins (Aus)13Row 95 - Cell 3
97Mathew Stuttard (GBr)12Row 96 - Cell 3
98Yuki Kushima (Jpn)11Row 97 - Cell 3
99Josh Lowe (GBr)10Row 98 - Cell 3
100Francesco Colombo (Ita) Gravitalia Squadra Corse9Row 99 - Cell 3
101Jesse Beare (Aus)8Row 100 - Cell 3
102Alasdair Fey (RSA)8Row 101 - Cell 3
103Peter Knott (Aus)7Row 102 - Cell 3
104Kazuki Shimizu (Jpn) Madison Saracen Factory Team7Row 103 - Cell 3
105Joshua Button (Aus)6Row 104 - Cell 3
106Travis Browning (RSA)6Row 105 - Cell 3
107Peter Williams (GBr)5Row 106 - Cell 3

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