DH World Cup Finals in Meribel - Photo Recap

Meribel World Cup brought to a close one of the most exciting seasons we’ve seen for a while [contains spoilers – duh!]

Saturday morning dawned with the top of the hill in thick (and quite chilly) cloud – Juniors and Women were out on track at 8am ripping the dusty corners despite the fact it was clearly before breakfast time!

Neil Stewart had clearly been checking out the decor of the course, and chose a pimp new Fox kit to coordinate with both the padding and the sponsors’ banners. He was just outside the top ten come finals time – 11th for him and 7th in the overall. More to come from this young Brit!

Jacob Dickson was rocking a green prototype Orange DH bike – 18th for him.

Luca Shaw was off the pace today, but hung on to second in the overall.

Thomas Estaque keeping her upright and into 7th.

After massive back surgery last year, it’s great to see Atherton Racing’s Taylor Vernon back on a bike and on the pace – 3rd for him today, and 3rd in the overall.

Laurie Greenland smashing the bottom turn to pieces on his way to second, and just off the podium in the overall – 6th.

The noise as Loris Vergier came into sight was unbelievable (as it was for any French rider), but somehow got even louder when he crossed the line nearly 4 seconds up!

Junior Men’s podium – Loris Vergier 1st, Laurie Greenland 2nd, Taylor Vernon 3rd.

And the Junior Men’s overall, Loris Vergier 1st, Luca Shaw 2nd, Taylor Vernon 3rd.

As soon as I snapped this picture I knew I wanted to make a pun in the caption about reflecting on the season or something. Sadly I was beaten to it on a popular bike web site. I guess I’ll have to mirror his caption another time.

Sarah Atkin on the charge.

4X star Katy Curd ripping the track to pieces in early morning practice and hucking into the finish for 14th.

Alanna Columb looking electric and on the charge.

Jill Kitner put in a solid ride for 10th.

GBR’s Fionn Griffiths was just off the podium today in 6th.

Casey Brown focused and into 9th.

Tahnee Seagrave came down and put a massive margin into the field. She ended up 5th, but proving she was rolling with the top of the box, 12 seconds faster than 6th! We can’t wait to see more of this young super-star! 5th in the overall as well.

Tracey Hannah made it to 4th, and through the season unscathed. 4th in the overall for her as well.

Emmeline Ragot drifting through the media circus of the bottom turns to take the hot seat, and second at the end of the day.

As Manon launched into the finish area all eyes were on the clock….. red, 3rd. No Fairy-tale ending but enough to take the overall series win at the end of a stunning season for the young lady from Wales.

Rachel Atherton is back on form, putting over 3 seconds into the rest of the field and finishing first. Not the season she would have wanted but a great end to the series.

“Not gonna sing bro?” – Rachel Atherton giving us a blast of the national anthem.

Womens’s Overall Podium – Manon Carpenter 1st, Rachel Atherton 2nd, Emmeline Ragot 3rd, Tracey Hannah 4th, Tahnee Seagrave 5th.

After a great quali for our rider Emyr Davies (32nd) it didn’t quite come together – a smashed pedal in finals.

There were certainly plenty of rowdy fans on the course,

Two wild riders – Brook Macdonald and Danny Hart get loose in morning practice.

Brendan Fairclough – 16th today and 17th overall in a season that just never really got going for him.

Bulls On Parade – WynTV keeping pinned inbetween interviews.

Fresh from his Crankworx win, Marcello Guiterraz will have been looking for more.

Jack Moir is (not very) quietly making a name for himself this year – 24th and a good few seconds ahead of team mate Edward Masters.

Nick Beer doing it for Devinci in the absence of Stevie Smith.

Sam Dale running the #13 and enjoying the practice session hitting megatrains with Ratty and Steve Peat.

Duncan Philpott gets all up close and personal for the shot.

Not how Minnar would have wanted to end the season – binning it into the barriers after crossing the line. With his neck covered in medial tape he’s sure to be taking it easy before defending his rainbow stripes in Norway.

Robin Walner charging for Sweden.

Mark Beaumont hitting warp speed – just inside the top 20 and taking 15th overall.

Adam Brayton – foot out, flat out!

Pierre Charles Georges getting some foot-roost.

Greg Williamson nipping inside the top ten today.

Phil Atwill on an absolute stormer of a run – 14th!

As the finals went on, more and more spectators made it down from higher on the course, whether a gang of rowdy blokes from Morzine or a couple of French lads banging mother’s saucepan, they made one hell of a noise!

Markus Pekoll on a great run – 8th for the Austrian national champ.

Sam Blenkinsop into 17th, and into gloves?!

Steve Peat doing what Steve Peat does…

Connor Fearon taking his Kona to 13th

Mike Jones of CRC hucking into the finish area.

His team mate Joe Smith winning the drifting party at the bottom corner.

While pretty much every other rider elected to squash this jump Danny Hart hauled himself into the stratosphere off it…

…but sadly to no avail, 7th for Danny, and 8th for the season. He’ll be hungry for more.

Troy Brosnan just didn’t seem to pull it together today, 2oth and slipping to 3rd in the overall.

Francisco Pardal surprised a lot of people with his 8th place qualifier. 21st in finals, and by far the biggest jump off the last kicker!

Gee Atherton kept it neat and tidy, and took the hot seat for a while, before being bumped down to 5th.

Aaron Gwin – Fluro for practice, ‘Merica for Finals. 6th for Gwin today, and sneaking into 2nd in the overall.

A race on home soil is always going to be loud. Loic Bruni brings it in for 4th and sneaks into 10th in the overall.

Sam Hill was back at the first two splits but put it together through the flat dusty corners to take, and hold the hot-seat. Sam Hill is back and hungry!

With Troy coming down much earlier after a flat in qualifiying, Ratboy came down, went into second and sealed the overall with only Matt Simmonds to follow.

The noise as Matt came down was immense, up at the first two splits, it looked like he might just do it. Sadly as he crossed the line he was back, second is still a stunning performance from the tall guy from Shropshire. He’ll be hungry for more at world champs.