On day two of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, it was all about the Junior Downhill Finals, followed by the Elite Downhill Qualifications.
First-year junior Asa Vermette (Durango, Colo.; Frameworks Racing) won three out of five Junior Men’s World Cups this year and is currently leading the overall standings. He came into the World Championships with the pressure on and finished first in qualifications yesterday, proving his speed. Bode Burke (Rhododendron, Ore.; Outlaw Bike Team) was also on pace, finishing with the third-fastest time yesterday.
As racing kicked off, Vermette’s splits were down at the start, but he was able to find his speed to keep getting faster as the race went on. By the third split, he was sitting second to France’s Max Alran, but was not far off. At the finish line, Vermette was able to make up 1.516 seconds on Alran winning the Junior Men’s World Championships. Burke had the fastest split at the top of the track, proving he was on pace with yesterday’s run. He finished third behind Alran, only 2.514 seconds off Vermette’s time. Gavin Tomlinson (Burbank, Calif.; Gravity Collective) rode to a career best 12th place in his last year racing in the junior category.
It’s been over a decade since an American has been on the Junior Men's Downhill podium, and the first time ever that there have been two Americans sharing that podium. Richie Rude was the last rider from the U.S. to win the event in 2013 at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Results:
1. Asa Vermette (USA) 2:39.185
2. Max Alran (FRA) +1.516
3. Bode Burke (USA) +2.514
12. Gavin Tomlinson (USA) +6.305
21. Lucas DeDora (USA) +7.792
58. Ryder Lawrence (USA) +32.538
On the women’s side, Kale Cushman (Old Town, Maine) rode to her career best international result taking sixth place, finishing in a time of 3:18.577. Julia Lofqvist Traum (Issaquah, Wash.) was the next American in line finishing in the top 10 at her first World Championship.
Results:
1. Erice Van Leuven (NZL) 2:59.891
2. Ella Svegby (SWE) +6.357
3. Sacha Earnest (NZL) +12.180
6. Kale Cushman (USA) +18.686
10. Julia Lofqvist Traum (USA) +25.322
The American men showed their speed today in the Elite Men’s Downhill Qualifications. Ryan Pinkerton (Alisa Viejo, Calif.; Mondraker Factory Racing) was the fastest American, finishing second with a time of 2:41.839, just behind France’s Loic Bruni. Austin Dooley (Yucaipa, Calif.; Commencal Schwalbe) was not far off sliding into the top 10 only 3.693 seconds back from the leader. Luca Shaw (Pisgah Forest, N.C.; Canyon Collective) was next finishing in 13th and Dylan Maples (Orangevale, Calif.; Commencal Muc-Off) earned 15th.
The Elite Women were the first to drop for their qualifying runs. Anna Newkirk (Riehen, Switzerland; Beyond Racing MTB) was the one to watch this week after landing on the World Cup podium earlier this season. After a crash earlier in the week, she was able to get back into her rhythm for qualifiers. At the first split, she was fourth fastest and finished eighth on the day.
All the Americans in both classes will transfer onto Finals. The Elite riders have one more day of practice before they race against the clock again on Saturday.
Elite Men’s Results:
1. Loic Bruni (FRA) 2:39.700
2. Ryan Pinkerton (USA) +2.139
3. Danny Hart (GBR) +2.374
10. Austin Dooley (USA) +3.693
13. Luca Shaw (USA) +4.597
17. Dylan Maples (USA) +5.412
44. Dante Silva (USA) +10.454
72. Dakotah Norton (USA) +17.972
Elite Women’s Results:
1. Myriam Nicole (FRA) 3:03.286
2. Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) +3.189
3. Valentina Höll (AUS) +5.465
8. Anna Newkirk (USA) +8.042
33. Abby Ronca (USA) +29.974
39. Abby Hogie (USA) +41.755
Tomorrow racing moves to the other side of the mountain in Pal Arinsal for the cross-country races. The Junior Women’s XCO will kick off the day, then the Junior Men will be competing. Short track racing will kick off for the U23s and Elites later in the afternoon. This year marks the first-ever U23 XCC.
