Thirion triumphs in men's downhill World Cup at Vallnord

Rémi Thirion (Commencal / Riding Addiction) won the first downhill World Cup of his career on Sunday in Vallnord, Andorra. Gee Atherton (GT Factory Racing) and Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof) rounded out the top three.

Steve Smith (Devinci Global Racing) took it over and held it until Thirion crossed the line. The eventual winner had been fifth in qualifying and bettered Smith's time in the final run by two seconds.

"Incredible. First podium for me and first win," said Thirion. "I was hoping to be in the top 10."

Atherton was among the favorites, and he had the fastest first intermediate split, but a few mistakes in the final part cost him the race, and he finished second. However, the result helped him strengthen his spot in the World Cup overall.

Hill looked at one point like he might get his first World Cup win since 2009, but he, too, lost time in the final section. Racers were clearly tired at this point.

The podium was completed by Smith, who is second in the World Cup overall standings, and Troy Brosnan.

With the World Cup completed, Vallnord, Andorra officially announced that it was putting in a bid to host the 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.

Racer Cédric Gracia announced his retirement at the event.

Full Results

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Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Rémi Thirion (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction0:04:13.666
2Gee Atherton (GBr) GT Factory Racing0:00:01.350
3Samuel Hill (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof0:00:01.756
4Steve Smith (Can) Devinci Global Racing0:00:02.273
5Troy Brosnan (Aus) Specialized Racing DH0:00:02.476
6Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate0:00:02.549
7Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:00:02.975
8Loic Bruni (Fra) Lapierre Gravity Republic0:00:03.548
9Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Col) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:00:03.979
10Aaron Gwin (USA) Specialized Racing DH0:00:04.376
11Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate0:00:05.171
12Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre Gravity Republic0:00:05.214
13Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Gstaad-Scott0:00:05.844
14Faustin Figaret (Fra) Topcycle By Trek0:00:06.543
15Marc Beaumont (GBr) GT Factory Racing0:00:06.836
16Neko Mulally (USA) Trek World Racing0:00:07.078
17Andrew Neethling (RSA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:00:07.335
18Francisco Pardal (Por) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:07.377
19Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa)0:00:07.526
20Patrick Thome (Fra) Gstaad-Scott0:00:07.748
21Sam Dale (GBr) Madison Saracen Downhill Team0:00:08.208
22Nick Beer (Swi) Devinci Global Racing0:00:08.536
23Lorenzo Suding (Ita) GT / 360 Degrees0:00:08.587
24Bernard Kerr (GBr) Pivot Factory Team0:00:09.173
25Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:09.364
26Michael Hannah (Aus) Hutchinson UR0:00:09.567
27Guillaume Cauvin (Fra) Hutchinson UR0:00:10.330
28Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof0:00:10.669
29George Brannigan (NZl) Trek World Racing0:00:10.711
30Adam Brayton (GBr)0:00:11.597
31Markus Pekoll (Aut) Ms Mondraker Team0:00:11.822
32Luke Strobel (USA) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:11.841
33Greg Williamson (GBr) Trek World Racing0:00:12.739
34Connor Fearon (Aus) Kona0:00:12.937
35Ivan Oulego Moreno (Spa)0:00:13.174
36Harry Heath (GBr)0:00:13.317
37Mitch Ropelato (USA) Specialized Racing DH0:00:13.589
38Jack Reading (GBr)0:00:13.616
39Matthew Walker (NZl)0:00:13.785
40Florent Payet (Fra) Evil CK Racing Evian0:00:13.956
41Harry Molloy (GBr) Madison Saracen Downhill Team0:00:13.969
42Mitchell Delfs (Aus) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:14.517
43Joe Connell (GBr) SC Intense0:00:15.610
44Robin Wallner (Swe) Team W-Racing0:00:15.672
45Ben Reid (Irl) Dirt Norco Race Team0:00:15.918
46Wyn Masters (NZl) Team Bulls - DH0:00:16.330
47Richard° Rude Jr (USA) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team0:00:16.396
48Ziga Pandur (Slo) Unior Tools Team0:00:16.724
49Filip Polc (Svk) Evil Vengeance Tour0:00:17.339
50Remi Gauvin (Can)0:00:17.557
51Jack Moir (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team0:00:18.248
52Iago Garay Tamayo (Spa)0:00:18.882
53Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate0:00:19.637
54Christopher Mcglinchey (Irl)0:00:19.988
55Benoit Coulanges (Fra) Roc VTT Oz En Oisans0:00:20.612
56Mickael Pascal (Fra) Evil CK Racing Evian0:00:21.082
57Florian Arthus (Fra)0:00:21.150
58David Mcmillan (Aus)0:00:21.205
59Brook Macdonald (NZl) Trek World Racing0:00:21.441
60Alexis Pujol (Fra)0:00:21.530
61Guy Gibbs (Nor)0:00:21.764
62Joseph Smith (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof0:00:22.540
63Terje Nylende (Nor)0:00:23.151
64Guillem Jorba Prats (Spa)0:00:24.066
65Melvin Pons (Fra) US Cagnes VTT0:00:24.361
66Johannes Fischbach (Ger) RRP Ghost0:00:24.548
67James Swinden (GBr)0:00:26.455
68Cédric Gracia (Fra) Cg Racing Brigade0:00:26.762
69Peter Williams (GBr)0:00:28.194
70Baptiste Pierron (Fra)0:00:28.521
71Carlo Caire (Ita)0:00:30.079
72Ludovic Oget (Fra)0:00:33.206
73David Trummer (Aut) RRP Ghost0:00:40.946
74Bryn Dickerson (NZl)0:00:41.521
75Romain Paulhan (Fra)0:00:44.564
76Boris Tetzlaff (Aut) Alpine Commencal Austria0:01:08.320
77Mathew Stuttard (GBr)0:01:10.064
78Kyle Sangers (Can)0:02:29.741
79Cyrille Kurtz (Fra) Evil CK Racing Evian0:02:40.266
DNFAlexander Kangas (Swe)Row 79 - Cell 2
DNFCameron Cole (NZl) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1GT Factory Racing91pts
2Commencal / Riding Addiction70Row 1 - Cell 3
3Lapierre Gravity Republic68Row 2 - Cell 3
4Giant Factory Off-Road Team60Row 3 - Cell 3
5Gstaad-Scott52Row 4 - Cell 3
6Specialized Racing DH49Row 5 - Cell 3
7Santa Cruz Syndicate46Row 6 - Cell 3
8Madison Saracen Downhill Team45Row 7 - Cell 3
9Devinci Global Racing39Row 8 - Cell 3
10Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof35Row 9 - Cell 3
11MS Mondraker Team20Row 10 - Cell 3
12Evil Vengeance Tour19Row 11 - Cell 3
13FMD Racing / Intense Cycles18Row 12 - Cell 3
14Topcycle By Trek17Row 13 - Cell 3
15Trek World Racing17Row 14 - Cell 3
16Team Norco International16Row 15 - Cell 3
17RRP Ghost10Row 16 - Cell 3
18Unior Tools Team9Row 17 - Cell 3
19Hutchinson UR9Row 18 - Cell 3
20GT / 360 Degrees8Row 19 - Cell 3
21Pivot Factory Team7Row 20 - Cell 3
22Team Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie6Row 21 - Cell 3
23US Cagnes VTT6Row 22 - Cell 3
24Torpado Surfing Shop5Row 23 - Cell 3
25Blackthorn GT3Row 24 - Cell 3
26SC Intense1Row 25 - Cell 3
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Elite men World Cup standing
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Gee Atherton (GBr) GT Factory Racing680pts
2Steve Smith (Can) Devinci Global Racing477Row 1 - Cell 3
3Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate391Row 2 - Cell 3
4Rémi Thirion (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction368Row 3 - Cell 3
5Samuel Hill (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof349Row 4 - Cell 3
6Loic Bruni (Fra) Lapierre Gravity Republic325Row 5 - Cell 3
7Troy Brosnan (Aus) Specialized Racing DH315Row 6 - Cell 3
8Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre Gravity Republic301Row 7 - Cell 3
9Michael Hannah (Aus) Hutchinson UR297Row 8 - Cell 3
10Brook Macdonald (NZl) Trek World Racing284Row 9 - Cell 3
11Aaron Gwin (USA) Specialized Racing DH282Row 10 - Cell 3
12Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team273Row 11 - Cell 3
13Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Col) Giant Factory Off-Road Team219Row 12 - Cell 3
14Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate216Row 13 - Cell 3
15Neko Mulally (USA) Trek World Racing215Row 14 - Cell 3
16Lorenzo Suding (Ita) GT / 360 Degrees200Row 15 - Cell 3
17Florent Payet (Fra) Evil CK Racing Evian198Row 16 - Cell 3
18Markus Pekoll (Aut) Ms Mondraker Team192Row 17 - Cell 3
19Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) Evil Vengeance Tour186Row 18 - Cell 3
20Brendan Fairclough (GBr) Gstaad-Scott185Row 19 - Cell 3
21Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate181Row 20 - Cell 3
22Sam Dale (GBr) Madison Saracen Downhill Team180Row 21 - Cell 3
23Guillaume Cauvin (Fra) Hutchinson UR164Row 22 - Cell 3
24Faustin Figaret (Fra) Topcycle By Trek162Row 23 - Cell 3
25Andrew Neethling (RSA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team161Row 24 - Cell 3
26Marc Beaumont (GBr) GT Factory Racing160Row 25 - Cell 3
27Connor Fearon (Aus) Kona157Row 26 - Cell 3
28Greg Williamson (GBr) Trek World Racing153Row 27 - Cell 3
29Joseph Smith (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof149Row 28 - Cell 3
30Harry Heath (GBr)136Row 29 - Cell 3
31Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof135Row 30 - Cell 3
32Bernard Kerr (GBr) Pivot Factory Team135Row 31 - Cell 3
33Francisco Pardal (Por) Evil Vengeance Tour128Row 32 - Cell 3
34Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa)127Row 33 - Cell 3
35Johannes Fischbach (Ger) RRP Ghost121Row 34 - Cell 3
36Patrick Thome (Fra) Gstaad-Scott121Row 35 - Cell 3
37Joe Connell (GBr) SC Intense121Row 36 - Cell 3
38George Brannigan (NZl) Trek World Racing120Row 37 - Cell 3
39Cameron Cole (NZl) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team119Row 38 - Cell 3
40Ben Reid (Irl) Dirt Norco Race Team112Row 39 - Cell 3
41Mitchell Delfs (Aus) Evil Vengeance Tour108Row 40 - Cell 3
42Luke Strobel (USA) Evil Vengeance Tour108Row 41 - Cell 3
43Austin Warren (USA) Pivot Factory Team100Row 42 - Cell 3
44Robin Wallner (Swe) Team W-Racing98Row 43 - Cell 3
45Harry Molloy (GBr) Madison Saracen Downhill Team96Row 44 - Cell 3
46Edward Masters (NZl)95Row 45 - Cell 3
47Wyn Masters (NZl) Team Bulls - DH94Row 46 - Cell 3
48Richard° Rude Jr (USA) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team92Row 47 - Cell 3
49Aurélien Giordanengo (Fra) Topcycle By Trek87Row 48 - Cell 3
50Ziga Pandur (Slo) Unior Tools Team77Row 49 - Cell 3
51Jack Moir (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team76Row 50 - Cell 3
52Christopher Mcglinchey (Irl)73Row 51 - Cell 3
53Remi Gauvin (Can)71Row 52 - Cell 3
54Nick Beer (Swi) Devinci Global Racing70Row 53 - Cell 3
55Lewis Buchanan (GBr) SC Intense69Row 54 - Cell 3
56Mickael Pascal (Fra) Evil CK Racing Evian68Row 55 - Cell 3
57Mathew Stuttard (GBr)66Row 56 - Cell 3
58Filip Polc (Svk) Evil Vengeance Tour64Row 57 - Cell 3
59Matthew Walker (NZl)63Row 58 - Cell 3
60Fraser Mcglone (GBr)63Row 59 - Cell 3
61David Trummer (Aut) RRP Ghost59Row 60 - Cell 3
62Jack Reading (GBr)54Row 61 - Cell 3
63Oscar Harnstrom (Swe) GT / 360 Degrees54Row 62 - Cell 3
64Boris Tetzlaff (Aut) Alpine Commencal Austria54Row 63 - Cell 3
65Adam Brayton (GBr)51Row 64 - Cell 3
66Cyrille Kurtz (Fra) Evil CK Racing Evian51Row 65 - Cell 3
67Melvin Pons (Fra) US Cagnes VTT50Row 66 - Cell 3
68Isak Leivsson (Nor)48Row 67 - Cell 3
69Ivan Oulego Moreno (Spa)46Row 68 - Cell 3
70Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction46Row 69 - Cell 3
71Bryn Atkinson (Aus) Team Norco International45Row 70 - Cell 3
72Terje Nylende (Nor)45Row 71 - Cell 3
73Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team44Row 72 - Cell 3
74Mitch Ropelato (USA) Specialized Racing DH44Row 73 - Cell 3
75Ben Cathro (GBr)38Row 74 - Cell 3
76Julien Piccolo (Fra)37Row 75 - Cell 3
77Oliwer Kangas (Swe)33Row 76 - Cell 3
78Zakarias Blom Johansen (Nor)32Row 77 - Cell 3
79Marco Milivinti (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop31Row 78 - Cell 3
80Reece Potter (NZl)31Row 79 - Cell 3
81Iago Garay Tamayo (Spa)29Row 80 - Cell 3
82Cédric Gracia (Fra) Cg Racing Brigade29Row 81 - Cell 3
83Alexander Kangas (Swe)28Row 82 - Cell 3
84Rudy Cabirou (Fra)28Row 83 - Cell 3
85Kyle Sangers (Can)27Row 84 - Cell 3
86Benoit Coulanges (Fra) Roc VTT Oz En Oisans26Row 85 - Cell 3
87Scott Mears (GBr)25Row 86 - Cell 3
88Florian Arthus (Fra)24Row 87 - Cell 3
89Lars Vatnebryn Sandviken (Nor)23Row 88 - Cell 3
90David Mcmillan (Aus)23Row 89 - Cell 3
91Niklas Wallner (Swe) Team W-Racing22Row 90 - Cell 3
92Gaetan Ruffin (Fra) Commencal / Riding Addiction22Row 91 - Cell 3
93Alexis Pujol (Fra)21Row 92 - Cell 3
94Martin Knapec (Svk)21Row 93 - Cell 3
95Richard Thomas (GBr)20Row 94 - Cell 3
96Guy Gibbs (Nor)20Row 95 - Cell 3
97Benny Strasser (Ger)20Row 96 - Cell 3
98Johann Potgieter (RSA) RRP Ghost19Row 97 - Cell 3
99Marcus Klausmann (Ger) Ghost Factory Racing Team18Row 98 - Cell 3
100Guillem Jorba Prats (Spa)17Row 99 - Cell 3
101Arthur Parret (Fra)17Row 100 - Cell 3
102Matej Charvat (Cze)16Row 101 - Cell 3
103Bryn Dickerson (NZl)16Row 102 - Cell 3
104James Swinden (GBr)14Row 103 - Cell 3
105Gareth Brewin (GBr)14Row 104 - Cell 3
106Fabien Cousinie (Fra) Hutchinson UR14Row 105 - Cell 3
107Kevin Aiello (USA)13Row 106 - Cell 3
108Peter Williams (GBr)12Row 107 - Cell 3
109Logan Binggeli (USA)12Row 108 - Cell 3
110Baptiste Pierron (Fra)11Row 109 - Cell 3
111Carlo Caire (Ita)10Row 110 - Cell 3
112Ludovic Oget (Fra)9Row 111 - Cell 3
113Rhys Atkinson (Aus)8Row 112 - Cell 3
114Romain Paulhan (Fra)6Row 113 - Cell 3
115Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) Lac Blanc/Scott6Row 114 - Cell 3
116Charly Di Pasquale (Fra)4Row 115 - Cell 3
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Teams World Cup standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1GT Factory Racing271pts
2Lapierre Gravity Republic208Row 1 - Cell 3
3Santa Cruz Syndicate160Row 2 - Cell 3
4Commencal / Riding Addiction150Row 3 - Cell 3
5Gstaad-Scott143Row 4 - Cell 3
6Specialized Racing DH133Row 5 - Cell 3
7Madison Saracen Downhill Team117Row 6 - Cell 3
8Giant Factory Off-Road Team112Row 7 - Cell 3
9MS Mondraker Team106Row 8 - Cell 3
10Devinci Global Racing106Row 9 - Cell 3
11Trek World Racing102Row 10 - Cell 3
12Chain Reaction Cycles.Com / Nukeproof96Row 11 - Cell 3
13Hutchinson UR94Row 12 - Cell 3
14Evil Vengeance Tour53Row 13 - Cell 3
15Team Norco International41Row 14 - Cell 3
16Topcycle By Trek29Row 15 - Cell 3
17Blackthorn GT29Row 16 - Cell 3
18FMD Racing / Intense Cycles28Row 17 - Cell 3
19Pivot Factory Team27Row 18 - Cell 3
20RRP Ghost25Row 19 - Cell 3
21GT / 360 Degrees25Row 20 - Cell 3
22Evil CK Racing Evian23Row 21 - Cell 3
23Dirt Norco Race Team20Row 22 - Cell 3
24Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team18Row 23 - Cell 3
25SC Intense18Row 24 - Cell 3
26Team Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie15Row 25 - Cell 3
27Torpado Surfing Shop11Row 26 - Cell 3
28Kona10Row 27 - Cell 3
29Unior Tools Team9Row 28 - Cell 3
30Team Bulls - DH9Row 29 - Cell 3
31US Cagnes VTT8Row 30 - Cell 3

 

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