On a drying, yet still treacherous, course Frenchman Loic Bruni has shown clear intent with a victory in qualifying in Lourdes at the first round of this year’s Downhill World Cup.
All eyes were on the hill as the world’s best charged down it. Current World Cup Champion Aaron Gwin crashed at the start of the fast off-camber section of track and had to scramble back to his bike. Greg Minnaar crashed in the same place but towards the end of the section, crashing in the exit of the turn. But it was the cool, calm and confident Bruni that pounded the rest of the field by over five and a half seconds! Here is the top 5 (great to see a resurgent Steve Smith there in the mix too and three Brits in the top 6, and of course that Steve Peat is in there):
1. Loic Bruni: 3:18.072
2. Josh Bryceland: 3:23.743
3. Gee Atherton: 3:24.714
4. Steve Smith: 3:25.360
5: Troy Brosnan: 3:226.916
