2013 UCI World Championships Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 7:55AM Downhill (also referred to as DHI) is a race against the clock in which the rider negotiates a succession of fast and technical passages. The participant must demonstrate courage as well as sharp technical and piloting skills in order to affront tree roots, banked sections, bumps, jumps and other natural obstacles along the way. Speeds reach around 80km/h in the men’s races and 70km/h for women.
SECTOR ONE
This sector forms the steepest and most technical portion of the track. The start rock garden has been extended, creating a stair-step section down to the Eye
Boggler rock drop. From Cloud 9 the track follows a ridgeline through an off-camber single track to the Haibo road gap, then through the corkscrew and over the Doctor Evil gap jump. From here, speeds increase to almost 80km/h before the riders hit the N3 tabletops.
SECTOR TWO
The riders have to change their riding style into the second sector, for the pedal section – a 40-second sprint. This sector tests the riders’ endurance until they hit the left turn into the Bombhole and the gradient increases once again into the final sector.
SECTOR THREE
At the Air-odrome bridge drop riders need to adjust their style once again, as the track changes from a flat-out sprinting surface to a massive supercross track.
Speeds again reach in excess of 60km/h, as riders are catapulted through an endless rollercoaster of berms and jumps. The final sprint to the finish includes the Moneymaker hip, a 15-metre step-down hip that wows the crowds. From there it’s a massive power to the finish.
Italy and Switzerland became the first nations to win two world titles, when Gerhard Kerschbaumer took the Under-23 Men's cross-country title and Jolanda Neff the Under-23 Women cross-country. In the Junior Downhill, Tahnee Seagrave won the women's title for Great Britain, while Richard Rude Jr took gold for the United States in the men. The Trials also awarded their first titles, with Tatiana Janickova of Slovakia winning the Elite women's category and Spain taking the Trials Team title.
2013 MTB World Champs
The day began with the Downhill, and both Seagrave and Rude dominated their divisions. Tegan Molloy of Australia took the women's Hot Seat first, but was quickly displaced by her countrywoman Danielle Beecroft, who recorded the first sub-5 minute time for the Junior women. However, Seagrave, the top Junior woman on the World Cup circuit, came down next, obliterating Beecroft's time by over seven seconds to win her first rainbow jersey.
"I knew that I could win after my timed run [the day before]," explained Seagrave, "so I was cautious, because I was afraid of crashing. I just concentrated on pedaling in every section that I could. This [title] means everything to me, I've waited a long time for this."
Ben Hill of Australia was the first to crack the four minute and 30 second barrier, and he held the lead until team mate Aiden Varley bumped him by three seconds, with 30 riders to go. From that point the leading time dropped steadily by small increments, as riders struggled with strong gusting winds. Luca Shaw (USA) took the lead below 4:20, but the fastest riders were just getting started.
In the end, it was the three fastest riders from the seeding run who took the medal spots, with Michael Jones (Great Britain) starting third from last and taking bronze, and then Rude roaring in at a blazing fast 4:06, the only rider to go under 4:10. Loris Vergier (France), the fastest qualifier, managed to beat Jones by two seconds, but was still nearly six seconds behind Rude.
"I think the pedaling sections at the bottom of the course really worked for me," said Rude. "I just knew that when I got to the middle of the course I had to give it my all for the rest of the way."
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Timed Training Results Junior Women
| 1 | SEAGRAVE Tahnee | GBR19950615 | GREAT BRITAIN | 4:51.377 |
| 2 | BEECROFT Danielle | AUS19950327 | AUSTRALIA | +11.372 |
| 3 | OURDOUILLIE Fiona | FRA19950726 | FRANCE | +26.558 |
| 4 | MOLLOY Tegan | AUS19960118 | AUSTRALIA | +30.094 |
| 5 | NAKAGAWA Ayako | JPN19951003 | JAPAN | +1:20.175 |
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Timed Training Results Junior Men
| 1 | VERGIER Loris | FRA19960507 | FRANCE | 4:13.873 |
| 2 | RUDE JR Richard | USA19950101 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +00.754 |
| 3 | JONES Michael | GBR19950222 | GREAT BRITAIN | +04.145 |
| 4 | LUCAS Dean | AUS19950502 | AUSTRALIA | +05.681 |
| 5 | ATWILL Phil | GBR19950111 | GREAT BRITAIN | +07.350 |
| 6 | VEZINA Mckay | CAN19951022 | CANADA | +07.995 |
| 7 | CRIMMINS Thomas | AUS19950624 | AUSTRALIA | +08.707 |
| 8 | GRAHAM Innes | GBR19960703 | GREAT BRITAIN | +08.802 |
| 9 | VERNASSA Gianluca | ITA19950904 | ITALY | +08.829 |
| 10 | NIEDERBERGER Noel | SUI19950821 | SWITZERLAND | +09.958 |
| 11 | ALGARRA NAVARRO Daniel | ESP19950314 | SPAIN | +10.306 |
| 12 | WALLACE Mark | CAN19950601 | CANADA | +10.752 |
| 13 | PICCHIOTTINO Cole | USA19951002 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +11.091 |
| 14 | FAYOLLE Alexandre | FRA19950720 | FRANCE | +11.532 |
| 15 | SHAW Luca | USA19961225 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +12.992 |
| 16 | BROWN Gregg | RSA19961227 | SOUTH AFRICA | +13.646 |
| 17 | COMETTI Luca | USA19951208 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +13.938 |
| 18 | FESPERMAN Jay | USA19960709 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +14.022 |
| 19 | GANNICOTT George | GBR19950311 | GREAT BRITAIN | +14.355 |
| 20 | ALVES DE BORBA Lucas Eduardo | BRA19950224 | BRAZIL | +14.705 |
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Timed Training Results Women
| 1 | ATHERTON Rachel | GBR19871206 | GREAT BRITAIN | 4:35.013 |
| 2 | HANNAH Tracey | AUS19880613 | AUSTRALIA | +16.802 |
| 3 | CHARRE Morgane | FRA19900609 | FRANCE | +18.536 |
| 4 | BUCHANAN Caroline | AUS19901024 | AUSTRALIA | +21.398 |
| 5 | CARPENTER Manon | GBR19930311 | GREAT BRITAIN | +21.892 |
| 6 | PUGIN Floriane | FRA19890417 | FRANCE | +23.402 |
| 7 | BROWN Casey | CAN19901027 | CANADA | +23.783 |
| 8 | GATTO Micayla | CAN19880821 | CANADA | +27.408 |
| 9 | CERNILOGAR Zarja | SLO19891218 | SLOVENIA | +33.026 |
| 10 | NICOLE Myriam | FRA19900208 | FRANCE | +34.010 |
| 11 | ROSSER Lauren | CAN19931004 | CANADA | +37.510 |
| 12 | BARTOVA Jana | CZE19900217 | CZECH REPUBLIC | +47.431 |
| 13 | MARCELLINI Alia | ITA19910711 | ITALY | +54.589 |
| 14 | KINTNER Jill | USA19811024 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +7:18.160 |
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Timed Training Results Men
| 1 | SMITH Steve | CAN19891125 | CANADA | 4:03.021 |
| 2 | ROPELATO Mitch | USA19920303 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +02.208 |
| 3 | ATHERTON Gee | GBR19850226 | GREAT BRITAIN | +02.513 |
| 4 | HANNAH Michael | AUS19831121 | AUSTRALIA | +02.759 |
| 5 | MINNAAR Greg | RSA19811113 | SOUTH AFRICA | +03.968 |
| 6 | BLENKINSOP Samuel | NZL19881028 | NEW-ZEALAND | +04.181 |
| 7 | GRAVES Jared | AUS19821216 | AUSTRALIA | +05.072 |
| 8 | BEER Nick | SUI19870917 | SWITZERLAND | +06.240 |
| 9 | GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS Marcelo | COL19900509 | COLOMBIA | +07.134 |
| 10 | PEKOLL Markus | AUT19871013 | AUSTRIA | +08.355 |
| 11 | HART Danny | GBR19910920 | GREAT BRITAIN | +08.852 |
| 12 | BRANNIGAN George | NZL19920409 | NEW-ZEALAND | +09.444 |
| 13 | MASTERS Wyn | NZL19870418 | NEW-ZEALAND | +10.441 |
| 14 | FISCHBACH Johannes | GER19880304 | GERMANY | +11.289 |
| 15 | PEAT Steve | GBR19740617 | GREAT BRITAIN | +12.081 |
| 16 | BROSNAN Troy | AUS19930713 | AUSTRALIA | +12.442 |
| 17 | MULALLY Neko | USA19930219 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +12.815 |
| 18 | THOME Patrick | FRA19911020 | FRANCE | +13.247 |
| 19 | SIMMONDS Matthew | GBR19870520 | GREAT BRITAIN | +13.250 |
| 20 | BRUNI Loic | FRA19940513 | FRANCE | +13.502 |
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Final Results Junior Women
| 1 | SEAGRAVE Tahnee | GBR19950615 | GREAT BRITAIN | 4:52.001 |
| 2 | BEECROFT Danielle | AUS19950327 | AUSTRALIA | +07.512 |
| 3 | MOLLOY Tegan | AUS19960118 | AUSTRALIA | +19.448 |
| 4 | OURDOUILLIE Fiona | FRA19950726 | FRANCE | +21.731 |
| 5 | NAKAGAWA Ayako | JPN19951003 | JAPAN | +1:13.791 |
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Final Results Junior Men
| 1 | RUDE JR Richard | USA19950101 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 4:06.640 |
| 2 | VERGIER Loris | FRA19960507 | FRANCE | +05.727 |
| 3 | JONES Michael | GBR19950222 | GREAT BRITAIN | +07.403 |
| 4 | NIEDERBERGER Noel | SUI19950821 | SWITZERLAND | +07.784 |
| 5 | LUCAS Dean | AUS19950502 | AUSTRALIA | +08.908 |
| 6 | SHAW Luca | USA19961225 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +12.985 |
| 7 | VEZINA Mckay | CAN19951022 | CANADA | +13.944 |
| 8 | CRIMMINS Thomas | AUS19950624 | AUSTRALIA | +14.101 |
| 9 | WALLACE Mark | CAN19950601 | CANADA | +14.938 |
| 10 | VERNASSA Gianluca | ITA19950904 | ITALY | +15.674 |
| 11 | ATWILL Phil | GBR19950111 | GREAT BRITAIN | +15.753 |
| 12 | FESPERMAN Jay | USA19960709 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +16.822 |
| 13 | GRAHAM Innes | GBR19960703 | GREAT BRITAIN | +17.774 |
| 14 | GANNICOTT George | GBR19950311 | GREAT BRITAIN | +18.192 |
| 15 | COLOMBO Francesco | ITA19951209 | ITALY | +18.267 |
| 16 | VARLEY Aiden | AUS19960816 | AUSTRALIA | +18.488 |
| 17 | KNOTT Peter | AUS19950616 | AUSTRALIA | +18.869 |
| 18 | FAYOLLE Alexandre | FRA19950720 | FRANCE | +19.127 |
| 19 | DU PLESSIS J P | RSA19950703 | SOUTH AFRICA | +19.482 |
| 20 | COMETTI Luca | USA19951208 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +19.547 |
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Final Results Women
| 1 | ATHERTON Rachel | GBR19871206 | GREAT BRITAIN | 4:28.043 |
| 2 | RAGOT Emmeline | FRA19860527 | FRANCE | +08.632 |
| 3 | HANNAH Tracey | AUS19880613 | AUSTRALIA | +12.395 |
| 4 | KINTNER Jill | USA19811024 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +13.425 |
| 5 | BUCHANAN Caroline | AUS19901024 | AUSTRALIA | +13.612 |
| 6 | CHARRE Morgane | FRA19900609 | FRANCE | +15.637 |
| 7 | SIEGENTHALER Emilie | SUI19860919 | SWITZERLAND | +18.269 |
| 8 | BROWN Casey | CAN19901027 | CANADA | +18.525 |
| 9 | PUGIN Floriane | FRA19890417 | FRANCE | +20.769 |
| 10 | GATTO Micayla | CAN19880821 | CANADA | +20.906 |
| 11 | NICOLE Myriam | FRA19900208 | FRANCE | +27.532 |
| 12 | GRIFFITHS Fionn | GBR19820827 | GREAT BRITAIN | +30.378 |
| 13 | ROSSER Lauren | CAN19931004 | CANADA | +38.035 |
| 14 | BARTOVA Jana | CZE19900217 | CZECH REPUBLIC | +38.998 |
| 15 | MARCELLINI Alia | ITA19910711 | ITALY | +42.913 |
2013 MTB World Champs Pietermaritzburg Final Results Men
| 1 | MINNAAR Greg | RSA19811113 | SOUTH AFRICA | 3:58.058 |
| 2 | HANNAH Michael | AUS19831121 | AUSTRALIA | +00.396 |
| 3 | GRAVES Jared | AUS19821216 | AUSTRALIA | +03.333 |
| 4 | BLENKINSOP Samuel | NZL19881028 | NEW-ZEALAND | +03.746 |
| 5 | SIMMONDS Matthew | GBR19870520 | GREAT BRITAIN | +03.939 |
| 6 | BEER Nick | SUI19870917 | SWITZERLAND | +04.041 |
| 7 | ATHERTON Gee | GBR19850226 | GREAT BRITAIN | +04.303 |
| 8 | GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS Marcelo | COL19900509 | COLOMBIA | +04.423 |
| 9 | FISCHBACH Johannes | GER19880304 | GERMANY | +04.759 |
| 10 | BROSNAN Troy | AUS19930713 | AUSTRALIA | +06.582 |
| 11 | BRUNI Loic | FRA19940513 | FRANCE | +06.922 |
| 12 | PEKOLL Markus | AUT19871013 | AUSTRIA | +07.019 |
| 13 | BRANNIGAN George | NZL19920409 | NEW-ZEALAND | +07.927 |
| 14 | MULALLY Neko | USA19930219 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | +08.878 |
| 15 | PEAT Steve | GBR19740617 | GREAT BRITAIN | +09.204 |
| 16 | NEETHLING Andrew | RSA19840805 | SOUTH AFRICA | +09.709 |
| 17 | MASTERS Wyn | NZL19870418 | NEW-ZEALAND | +11.317 |
| 18 | PAYET Florent | FRA19861121 | FRANCE | +12.766 |
| 19 | BRYCELAND Josh | GBR19900323 | GREAT BRITAIN | +13.042 |
| 20 | THOME Patrick | FRA19911020 | FRANCE | +13.181 |
