Mountain biking: French Loïc Bruni wins the Downhill World Cup

And two for Loïc Bruni! The Frenchman resisted the pressure to win his second Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup on Saturday, September 18 (after 2019) at the end of the last stage of the season in Snowshoe (United States). First in qualifying, Loïc Bruni assumed his status as favorite to come and win at the bottom of the course, and thus secure the general classification.

I just wanted to have fun in front of the audience », Reacted the French at the arrival, at the microphone of the organizers of the race. ” I felt that the title was possible and I did my best to get it. I gave everything and I’m so happy!

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In a course which made many errors and falls multiply the favorites, Loïc Bruni, on the contrary, impressed by his calm and his accuracy. As a result, he passed all the intermediaries with a lead and finished the stage 4 tenths of a second ahead of the Australian Troy Brosnan, and 6 ahead of the Spaniard Angel Suarez Alonso. Frenchman Amaury Pierron took fourth place.

This second World Cup title is one more line on the 27-year-old cyclist’s already impressive track record. It is added to the four titles of world champion (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019) and to the four others of champion of France (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017) of the French, true star of his discipline.

Three French people on the final podium

In the end, it is even three French who contend for all the places on the podium of the classification of the World Cup in downhill mountain biking. But if Loïc Bruni will remember his day at Snowshoe for a long time, his two compatriots will surely have a much more mixed memory. Starting with Thibaut Dapréla.

At the top of the general classification since July 3 and his victory in the second stage of Les Gets (Haute-Savoie), Thibaut Dapréla did not have the opportunity to defend his chances this Saturday. The two-time World Cup winner for juniors (20) crashed heavily during qualifying, and suffers from a fractured thumb and right fibula. He underwent the operation successfully.

It’s hard for Thibaut, but he’s young and I’m sure he will have a lot of other races, and especially a lot of victories. », Reacted Loïc Bruni after the race. Well present at the start of the final stage, the French European champion Loris Vergier could also dream of a coronation. But, too nervous, he chained the crippling faults, leaving the track for the first time at the start of the layout before violently hitting a tree with his left shoulder a few meters below.

He finished very far on this stage (54e), but is still third in the general classification. Amaury Pierron ranks 6e and Benoît Coulanges 8e to punctuate the beautiful group shot of the tricolors.

Myriam Nicole a few meters from the title

If the story ends well for the Blues, huge disappointment on the other hand for Myriam Nicole. The Frenchwoman, at the top of the standings before the last stage, could still dream of a magnificent double after winning the World Downhill Championships in August. She had also announced in an interview with AFP this week: the double ” that was the goal “.

Rainbow jersey on the back, Myriam Nicole had to secure a place in the top five of the stage to win the classification of the specialty for the second time in her career (after 2017). And while everything was going well and the Frenchwoman seemed to be riding calmly, she fell into one of the very last corners, a few meters from the finish. Result, a seventh place in the stage, a second in the standings and above all immense regrets.

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She left the victory of the stage, and the final classification to the Austrian Valentina Hoell, speechless by such a scenario in the finish area. Small consolation for the French clan with the second place of Marine Cabirou on the sleeve. It allows him to move up to fifth place in the general classification.

www.lemonde.fr

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