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Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) broke a streak of bad luck in Maribor, becoming the first World Cup Downhill leader in the 2010 series.
The opening round of the downhill saw a slight easing overnight of the rain that had turned the four cross into a mud bath, which wasn't necessarily a positive thing, since it made the course sticky and slower; especially for the top-seeded men.
Ben Cathro set the early fast time of 3:31.52, before being bumped by Joe Smith (3:30.35) then Aaron Gwin (Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team), who became the first to go under 3:30. Gwin's time held up until Fabien Pedemanaud (Scott 11) took the best time down to 3:25.84; good enough for fourth.
The course was becoming more rutted and beat up as the top seeds took to the course, and riders were having to pick their lines carefully. Gee Atherton (Commencal) was the next to take the lead, choosing different lines from previous riders in the top section of the course, attacking the roots and rocks but slowing in sticky mud at the bottom, to knock two seconds off the best time.
Minnaar rode next, but took the opposite approach - more cautious in the upper technical portion, but powering through the lower third to beat Atherton by a quarter of a second become the first World Cup leader of the season, after the final two riders Brendan Fairclough (Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz) and Sam Hill (Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz) slotted in third and fifth, respectively.
Hill, coming off knee surgery over the winter, had the fastest split for the upper half of the course, but a crash dropped him down to the final podium spot. Canada's Steve Smith (MS Evil Racing) had his best World Cup finish to date, qualifying fifth and finishing sixth, one spot off the podium.
"I have always liked Maribor, but I've always done bad on the track. So that has changed now," said Minnaar. "I knew it was going to be a tough race, but decided to take it a bit safe and easy at the top, and ride a bit smoother; but it is so hard out there.
"I had a few mistakes myself, but I guess a lot less than the other guys. I am overwhelmed; I came here wanting to do well and for me, on this course, in these conditions, I felt a top three would be good, but a win was out of the question. But I pulled it off."
Full Results
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| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 0:03:23.42 |
| 2 | Gee Atherton (GBr) Commencal | 0:00:00.25 |
| 3 | Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 0:00:01.82 |
| 4 | Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) Scott 11 | 0:00:02.42 |
| 5 | Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 0:00:04.68 |
| 6 | Steve Smith (Can) MS Evil Racing | 0:00:05.11 |
| 7 | Aaron Gwin (USA) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team | 0:00:05.28 |
| 8 | Joseph Smith (GBr) Kona | 0:00:06.93 |
| 9 | Cameron Cole (NZl) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain | 0:00:07.23 |
| 9 | Justin Leov (NZl) Trek World Racing | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| 11 | Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 0:00:07.29 |
| 12 | Bryn Atkinson (Aus) | 0:00:07.31 |
| 12 | Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre International | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
| 14 | Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 0:00:07.51 |
| 15 | Mitchell Delfs (Aus) | 0:00:07.78 |
| 16 | Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 0:00:07.82 |
| 17 | Ben Cathro (GBr) | 0:00:08.09 |
| 18 | Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 0:00:08.17 |
| 19 | Marc Beaumont (GBr) GT Bicycles | 0:00:08.26 |
| 20 | Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Team | 0:00:08.30 |
| 21 | Julien Camellini (Fra) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 0:00:08.80 |
| 22 | Luke Strobel (USA) MS Evil Racing | 0:00:08.88 |
| 23 | Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa) Massi Team | 0:00:08.97 |
| 24 | Florent Payet (Fra) Blackmountain Morewood United | 0:00:09.81 |
| 25 | Robin Wallner (Swe) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 0:00:10.72 |
| 26 | Ben Reid (Irl) Dirt Norco Race Team | 0:00:10.73 |
| 27 | Nick Beer (Swi) Scott 11 | 0:00:11.24 |
| 27 | Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) Commencal Superiders | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
| 29 | Aurélien Giordanengo (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 0:00:11.75 |
| 30 | Michael Hannah (Aus) GT Bicycles | 0:00:12.21 |
| 31 | Mickael Pascal (Fra) | 0:00:12.24 |
| 32 | Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) XMS Racing Squad | 0:00:12.61 |
| 33 | Andrew Neethling (RSA) Trek World Racing | 0:00:12.68 |
| 34 | Joshua Button (Aus) Kona | 0:00:12.96 |
| 35 | Emanuel Pombo (Por) | 0:00:13.48 |
| 36 | Matthew Scoles (NZl) Team Cingolani - Protone | 0:00:13.60 |
| 37 | Harry Molloy (GBr) | 0:00:13.61 |
| 38 | Brook Macdonald (NZl) MS Evil Racing | 0:00:13.91 |
| 39 | Adam Vagner (Cze) | 0:00:14.44 |
| 40 | Marco Milivinti (Ita) Team Cingolani - Protone | 0:00:14.48 |
| 41 | Matej Charvat (Cze) K.T.R. Racing Team | 0:00:14.51 |
| 42 | Thomas Braithwaite (GBr) | 0:00:14.57 |
| 43 | Nico Vink (Bel) | 0:00:14.67 |
| 44 | Shaun O'connor (Aus) Kenda-Playbiker | 0:00:15.96 |
| 45 | Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 0:00:16.20 |
| 46 | Emyr Davies (GBr) | 0:00:16.34 |
| 47 | Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 0:00:19.25 |
| 48 | Troy Brosnan* (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 0:00:19.46 |
| 49 | Lars Peyer (Swi) Suspension Center | 0:00:19.60 |
| 50 | Scott Mears (GBr) | 0:00:20.12 |
| 51 | Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) Solid Aclass Factory Team | 0:00:20.47 |
| 52 | Romain Paulhan (Fra) | 0:00:20.80 |
| 53 | Bernard Kerr (GBr) Norco World Team | 0:00:21.26 |
| 54 | Wyn Masters (NZl) Kenda-Playbiker | 0:00:21.30 |
| 55 | Olivier Nicole (Fra) | 0:00:21.62 |
| 56 | Benny Strasser (Ger) | 0:00:21.63 |
| 57 | Curtis Keene (USA) | 0:00:21.77 |
| 58 | Filip Polc (Svk) MS Evil Racing | 0:00:21.96 |
| 59 | Joe Barnes (GBr) | 0:00:22.69 |
| 60 | Jack Reading (GBr) | 0:00:23.16 |
| 61 | Nejc Rutar (Slo) MBK Orbea | 0:00:23.51 |
| 62 | Oliver Burton (GBr) | 0:00:23.87 |
| 63 | Duncan Riffle (USA) Giant Factory Team | 0:00:25.23 |
| 64 | Markus Pekoll (Aut) Solid Aclass Factory Team | 0:00:25.73 |
| 65 | Rémi Thirion (Fra) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 0:00:25.95 |
| 66 | Ludovic May (Swi) | 0:00:27.34 |
| 67 | George Brannigan* (NZl) Ancillotti Doganaccia Racing Team | 0:00:27.89 |
| 68 | Marco Bugnone (Ita) Argentina Bike Gravity Team | 0:00:31.01 |
| 69 | Boris Tetzlaff (Aut) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team | 0:00:33.64 |
| 70 | Kyle Strait (USA) | 0:00:34.31 |
| 71 | Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 0:00:35.18 |
| 72 | Jan Javornik (Svk) | 0:00:35.72 |
| 73 | Florian Arthus (Fra) | 0:00:36.55 |
| 74 | Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team | 0:00:36.65 |
| 75 | Sam Dale (GBr) | 0:00:37.84 |
| 76 | Richard Thomas (GBr) | 0:00:43.16 |
| 77 | Kim Petersson (Swe) | 0:00:45.18 |
| 78 | Mark Scott* (GBr) | 0:00:46.47 |
| 79 | Maxime Remy (Fra) Suspension Center | 0:00:48.23 |
| 80 | Joris Bigoni (Fra) | 0:01:11.21 |
| 81 | Harry Heath (GBr) | 0:01:12.85 |
| DNF | Nathan Rankin (NZl) Kenda-Playbiker | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
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| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott 11 | 88 | pts |
| 2 | Commencal | 75 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 64 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 60 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain | 57 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz Syndicate | 55 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Trek World Racing | 45 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | MS Evil Racing | 35 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Commencal Superiders | 34 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | RC Alpine Commencal Austria | 28 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team | 24 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Kona | 23 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Mondraker Factory Team | 22 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Suspension Center | 21 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie | 20 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Lapierre International | 19 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| 17 | Norco World Team | 19 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
| 18 | Dr-Gravity Union | 13 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
| 19 | GT Bicycles | 13 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
| 20 | Giant Factory Team | 11 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
| 21 | Massi Team | 8 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
| 22 | Blackmountain Morewood United | 7 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
| 23 | Team Sunn Montgenevre | 6 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
| 24 | Dirt Norco Race Team | 5 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 230 | pts |
| 2 | Gee Atherton (GBr) Commencal | 185 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 180 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 160 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) Scott 11 | 136 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Steve Smith (Can) MS Evil Racing | 117 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Justin Leov (NZl) Trek World Racing | 93 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Cameron Cole (NZl) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain | 92 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Aaron Gwin (USA) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team | 90 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 86 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | Joseph Smith (GBr) Kona | 85 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre International | 84 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 83 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Luke Strobel (USA) MS Evil Racing | 79 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Bryn Atkinson (Aus) | 78 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Ben Reid (Irl) Dirt Norco Race Team | 72 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| 17 | Marc Beaumont (GBr) GT Bicycles | 68 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
| 18 | Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Team | 68 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
| 19 | Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa) Massi Team | 68 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
| 20 | Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 67 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
| 21 | Mitchell Delfs (Aus) | 66 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
| 22 | Ben Cathro (GBr) | 64 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
| 23 | Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 63 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
| 24 | Julien Camellini (Fra) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 60 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
| 25 | Aurélien Giordanengo (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 60 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
| 26 | Florent Payet (Fra) Blackmountain Morewood United | 57 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
| 27 | Robin Wallner (Swe) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 56 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
| 28 | Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) Commencal Superiders | 54 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
| 29 | Nick Beer (Swi) Scott 11 | 54 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
| 30 | Michael Hannah (Aus) GT Bicycles | 51 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
| 31 | Mickael Pascal (Fra) | 50 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
| 32 | Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 50 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
| 33 | Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) XMS Racing Squad | 49 | Row 32 - Cell 3 |
| 34 | Andrew Neethling (RSA) Trek World Racing | 48 | Row 33 - Cell 3 |
| 35 | Joshua Button (Aus) Kona | 47 | Row 34 - Cell 3 |
| 36 | Emanuel Pombo (Por) | 46 | Row 35 - Cell 3 |
| 37 | Matthew Scoles (NZl) Team Cingolani - Protone | 45 | Row 36 - Cell 3 |
| 38 | Harry Molloy (GBr) | 44 | Row 37 - Cell 3 |
| 39 | Brook Macdonald (NZl) MS Evil Racing | 43 | Row 38 - Cell 3 |
| 40 | Adam Vagner (Cze) | 42 | Row 39 - Cell 3 |
| 41 | Marco Milivinti (Ita) Team Cingolani - Protone | 41 | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
| 42 | Matej Charvat (Cze) K.T.R. Racing Team | 40 | Row 41 - Cell 3 |
| 43 | Thomas Braithwaite (GBr) | 39 | Row 42 - Cell 3 |
| 44 | Nico Vink (Bel) | 38 | Row 43 - Cell 3 |
| 45 | Shaun O'Connor (Aus) Kenda-Playbiker | 37 | Row 44 - Cell 3 |
| 46 | Emyr Davies (GBr) | 35 | Row 45 - Cell 3 |
| 47 | Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 34 | Row 46 - Cell 3 |
| 48 | Troy Brosnan* (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 33 | Row 47 - Cell 3 |
| 49 | Lars Peyer (Swi) Suspension Center | 32 | Row 48 - Cell 3 |
| 50 | Scott Mears (GBr) | 31 | Row 49 - Cell 3 |
| 51 | Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) Solid Aclass Factory Team | 30 | Row 50 - Cell 3 |
| 52 | Romain Paulhan (Fra) | 29 | Row 51 - Cell 3 |
| 53 | Bernard Kerr (GBr) Norco World Team | 28 | Row 52 - Cell 3 |
| 54 | Wyn Masters (NZl) Kenda-Playbiker | 27 | Row 53 - Cell 3 |
| 55 | Olivier Nicole (Fra) | 26 | Row 54 - Cell 3 |
| 56 | Benny Strasser (Ger) | 25 | Row 55 - Cell 3 |
| 57 | Curtis Keene (USA) | 24 | Row 56 - Cell 3 |
| 58 | Filip Polc (Svk) MS Evil Racing | 23 | Row 57 - Cell 3 |
| 59 | Joe Barnes (GBr) | 22 | Row 58 - Cell 3 |
| 60 | Jack Reading (GBr) | 21 | Row 59 - Cell 3 |
| 61 | Nejc Rutar (Slo) MBK Orbea | 20 | Row 60 - Cell 3 |
| 62 | Oliver Burton (GBr) | 19 | Row 61 - Cell 3 |
| 63 | Duncan Riffle (USA) Giant Factory Team | 18 | Row 62 - Cell 3 |
| 64 | Markus Pekoll (Aut) Solid Aclass Factory Team | 17 | Row 63 - Cell 3 |
| 65 | Rémi Thirion (Fra) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 16 | Row 64 - Cell 3 |
| 66 | Ludovic May (Swi) | 15 | Row 65 - Cell 3 |
| 67 | George Brannigan* (NZl) Ancillotti Doganaccia Racing Team | 14 | Row 66 - Cell 3 |
| 68 | Marco Bugnone (Ita) Argentina Bike Gravity Team | 13 | Row 67 - Cell 3 |
| 69 | Boris Tetzlaff (Aut) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team | 12 | Row 68 - Cell 3 |
| 70 | Kyle Strait (USA) | 11 | Row 69 - Cell 3 |
| 71 | Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 10 | Row 70 - Cell 3 |
| 72 | Jan Javornik (Svk) | 9 | Row 71 - Cell 3 |
| 73 | Florian Arthus (Fra) | 8 | Row 72 - Cell 3 |
| 74 | Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team | 7 | Row 73 - Cell 3 |
| 75 | Sam Dale (GBr) | 6 | Row 74 - Cell 3 |
| 76 | Joris Bigoni (Fra) | 6 | Row 75 - Cell 3 |
| 77 | Richard Thomas (GBr) | 5 | Row 76 - Cell 3 |
| 78 | Kim Petersson (Swe) | 4 | Row 77 - Cell 3 |
| 79 | Mark Scott* (GBr) | 3 | Row 78 - Cell 3 |
| 80 | Maxime Remy (Fra) Suspension Center | 2 | Row 79 - Cell 3 |
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| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott 11 | 88 | pts |
| 2 | Commencal | 75 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 64 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 60 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain | 57 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz Syndicate | 55 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Trek World Racing | 45 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | MS Evil Racing | 35 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Commencal Superiders | 34 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | RC Alpine Commencal Austria | 28 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team | 24 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Kona | 23 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Mondraker Factory Team | 22 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Suspension Center | 21 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie | 20 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Lapierre International | 19 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| 17 | Norco World Team | 19 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
| 18 | Dr-Gravity Union | 13 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
| 19 | GT Bicycles | 13 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
| 20 | Giant Factory Team | 11 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
| 21 | Massi Team | 8 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
| 22 | Blackmountain Morewood United | 7 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
| 23 | Team Sunn Montgenevre | 6 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
| 24 | Dirt Norco Race Team | 5 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
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