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Cairns World Cup 2016: Practice photos

Slipping and sliding down Smithfield

It was a frustrating day for most riders out in Cairns as the first practice sessions were marred by red flags and intermittent showers.

Photos: Seb Schiek

They don’t call it a rainforest without good reason and bang on time, the blue skies above the Cairns jungle have been blanketed in thick, pregnant clouds. The silver lining is that it’s not anywhere near as bad as 2014… yet.

As it stands the red clay has become more tacky, which is allowing the riders to open the gas on most of the course, except for the greasy rock garden that has become more slippery than a bar of soap wrapped in a banana peel.

Unfortunately three junior riders had to be stretchered off course this morning, two with spinal injuries, we hate to see any riders getting hurt and we wish them a speedy recovery. Their injuries led to a number of course delays that meant timed training runs were disrupted and B-practice was a stop-start affair.

The spirits of the riders weren’t dampened though as they tried to get to grips with a course that can pounce on you like a snake from the undergrowth. Scroll down to catch all the best action from the day’s riding:

Overnight rain must have made for a nervy uplift for the riders
The uplift was efficient, but practice was delayed by a series of red flags
Tahnee is running her lowest ever plate, she’ll have to work hard to keep hold of it here
Manon snipes a highline into one of the 11 opening switchbacks
The high speeds shouldn't phase Seagrave thanks to her Morzine upbringing
This is my yard - first place in timed training for the Cairns local Tracey Hannah, she even beat the entire junior field
As another local lad, we’re sure Connor Fearon will want to put on a good show here
Bruni sniped from the undergrowth.
Blink and you’ll him, Stevie Smith was almost too quick for this pan
A junior dislodged one of the rocks in practice meaning lines through the rock garden had to be re-scoped
Amaury Pierron, who started the season with his first ever podium, unluckily crashed at the entrance of the rock garden and broke his wrist
Danny Hart was one of the few that was able to handle this section pretty well.
Mick Hannah knows these rocks like the back of his hand
Even tech-masters like Remi Thirion struggled through this section
Bruni tastes Cairns clay
Gee was top of timed training in 2014, he’s 9th this time around
Never one to show his hand on the first day, Aaron Gwin was circling in sixth but second fastest through the speed trap
Enduro crossover could help Blenky on the final pedal, this kind of style helps whatever you’re doing
Loic Bruni started here as he left Lourdes, the fastest man on track topping out timed training.
Neko Mulally shocked everyone with a third place in 2014, could this race kick-start his Scott career?
Fastest through the speed trap, Mick Hannah shows he poses a real threat this weekend.
Tear offs may be banned in the BDS but intermittent rain was enough to bring them out here
Ratboy follows Brendan Fairclough through the supercross section. His helmet cam is live now here.
Nearly two minutes back for Rach, we have to assume she’s yet to string together a full run.
Brosnan was carrying crazy speeds through the fast sections
With a couple more short rain showers after practice and in the evening, what does tomorrow bring?

 

 

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