MTB cycling: The 2017 downhill season is picking up speed! After the UCI MTB Downhill World Cup in Lourdes started the new season on the penultimate weekend, the first points of the iXS European Downhill Cup 2017 were awarded yesterday in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. The winners in the elite classes were Eleonora Farina and Jure Zabjek.
The slope in Kranjska Gora is known to many riders - for the third time the iXS European Downhill Cup stopped in the Oberkrainer municipality last weekend. In addition, hardly any changes were made to the route compared to the previous year. If you want to be fast on the slope covered with roots, you need three things: powerful skills, a good chassis and the best possible weather! The last point can be directly confirmed: Petrus had an understanding and gave the riders dry weather and thus perfect racing conditions.
The placements of the final on Sunday for the elite women were particularly interesting: The first eight riders actually repeated the placements of the qualification held the day before. The fastest rider was the Italian Eleonora Farina (GB Rifar Mondraker), who was able to assert herself just ahead of the Slovenian Monika Hrastnik (Blackthorn). The podium was completed by the Italian Veronika Widmann (FS Patrol Funn). As the best German starter, Sara Böhm (Cube Bikes) finished fifth, Sandra Rübesam (Nukeproof Factory) was sixth.
In addition to Monika Hrastnik, Jure Zabjek (Unior Tools Team) also played at home in Kranjska Gora. An advantage that he used both in qualifying and in the super final by setting the best time. With a lead of 2,1 seconds, the Slovenian clearly relegated Poland's Slawomir Lukasik (NS Bikes Factory Racing) to second place. Third was Matthew Walker (CUBE Global Squad) from New Zealand, just a tenth of a second behind. Joshua Barth (Solid Reverse Factory Racing) was the only German to hold his own in the top 10 of the Men Elite in ninth place.
iXS European Downhill Cup #1 – Kranjska Gora: Podium Women Elite
- FARINA Eleonora (GB Rifar Mondraker), ITA, 2:50.626
- HRASTNIK Monika (Blackthorn), SLO, 2:50.724
- WIDMANN Veronika (FS Patrol Funn), ITA, 2:54.471
iXS European Downhill Cup #1 – Kranjska Gora: Podium Men Elite
- ZABJEK Jure (Unior Tools Team), SLO, 2:23.203
- LUKASIK Slawomir (NS Bikes Factory Racing), POL, 2:25.305
- WALKER Matthew (CUBE Global Squad), NZL, 2:25.413