Sam Blenkinsop and Rachel Atherton put the markers down by going fastest in qualifying today at UCI World Cup round #3 in Leogang, Austria.
Minnaar was quickest on the first two splits but Blenkinsop made a ton of time up on the bottom wood section to nail a 4:03.25 just 0.21 ahead of Minnaar. Aaron Gwin showed his intentions for tomorrows final by stopping the clock 4:06.79 for 3rd. Matti Lehikoinen has clearly got his bike running sweet after yesterdays big slam by qualifying in 4th spot.
Matt Simmonds put in a scorcher 4:10.23 puts him in 6th just 0.07 behind Gee Atherton in 5th.
Full results to follow.
Rachel Atherton said she crashed in the top section but her 4:53.01 was quick enough for 50pts and top qualifying spot. Emmeline Ragot held on to an almighty nose dive over the last jump to finish just 0.61 down, Tracy Moseley put in a great qualifying run for 3rd spot 1.16seconds back. Sabrina Jonnier 7.46 secs down on Atherton has some work to do tomorrow.Nicole Myriam was 4th at the first split but must have binned it somewhere as she came across the line covered in mud for 20th spot.
Manon Carpenter destroyed the juniors, despite crashing twice she qualified in 12th with a 5:30.57.
