Pinkbike Primer: Everything You Need to Know Ahead of the 2021 DH World Championships

Riding for the Rainbow Stripes

Who can battle the Black Snake?

Cross country racers have had their moment in the sun with the Olympics, but now it's time for the downhillers to have their most prestigious race. World Champs is finally here. It's the race where riders make it or break it, where they put it all on the line to battle for a title that's decided in just one race that rewards risk-taking over consistency. It's the race for the coveted rainbow jersey, and this year it'll be decided on arguably the best downhill track in existence.

Leading up to this point, we've seen some fresh faces on both the men's and women's elite podiums, but both the men's and women's reigning World Champions, Reece Wilson and Camille Balanche, will be back to defend their titles and have been putting in solid results this season. On this historic track, there will also be many returning winners - the last to win here are Laurie Greenland and Marine Cabirou, and both are about due for another. Danny Hart, Myriam Nicole, and Tahnee Seagrave have all also charmed the Snake, and Amaury Pierron announced today that he plans to at least try to race for the first time after being airlifted from the French Cup DH race.

The brutal course has delivered some astounding race runs, from the very beginning when Sam Hill lost it all in the last corner up through the years until now. Val di Sole has also given us a handful of first-time winners, including the winners of all four categories in 2019. We know from experience that we can expect a good one this year. Let's take a look at what else we anticipate.

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The Track

The Val di Sole track is one of the most challenging on the circuit no matter the conditions, and no matter how many times the racers test themselves on it, it just doesn't ever get easy. Successful riders in previous years have been strong enough to not only hold on but push aggressively over the rough stuff. And with Val di Sole's many line choices that can make or break any race run, the course is as mentally challenging as it is physically.

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Previous Winners

Note, * denotes a World Championship race.

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Previous World Champions

ELITE MEN
2020 // Leogang, Austria // Reece WILSON // GBR
2019 // Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada // Loic BRUNI // FRA
2018 // Lenzerheide, Switzerland // Loic BRUNI // FRA
2017 // Cairns, Australia // Loic BRUNI // FRA
2016 // Val di Sole, Italy // Danny HART // GBR
2015 // Vallnord, Andorra // Loic BRUNI // FRA
2014 // Hafjell, Norway // Gee ATHERTON // GBR
2013 // Pietermaritzburg, South Africa // Greg MINNAAR // RSA
2012 // Leogang, Austria // Greg MINNAAR // RSA
2011 // Champery, Switzerland // Danny HART // GBR
2010 // Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada // Sam HILL // AUS
2009 // Canberra, Australia // Steve PEAT // GBR
2008 // Val di Sole, Italy // Gee ATHERTON // GBR
2007 // Fort William, United Kingdom // Sam HILL // AUS
2006 // Rotorua, New Zealand // Sam HILL // AUS
2005 // Livigno, Italy // Fabien BAREL // FRA
2004 // Les Gets, France // Fabien BAREL // FRA
2003 // Lugano, Switzerland // Greg MINNAAR // RSA
2002 // Kaprun, Austria // Nicolas VOUILLOZ // FRA
2001 // Vail, USA // Nicolas VOUILLOZ // FRA
2000 /// Sierra Nevada, Spain // Myles ROCKWELL // USA
1999 // Are, Sweden // Nicolas VOUILLOZ // FRA
1998 // Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada // Nicolas VOUILLOZ // FRA
1997 // Chateau-d’OEx, Switzerland // Nicolas VOUILLOZ // FRA
1996 // Cairns, Australia // Nicolas VOUILLOZ // FRA
1995 // Kirchzarten, Germany // Nicolas VOUILLOZ // FRA
1994 // Vail, USA // Francois GACHET // FRA
1993 // Metabief, France // Mike KING // USA
1992 // Bromont, Canada // Dave CULLINAN // USA
1991 // Ciocco, Italy // Albert ITEN // SUI
1990 // Durango, USA // Greg HERBOLD // USA


ELITE WOMEN
2020 // Leogang, Austria // Camille BALANCHE // SUI
2019 // Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada // Myriam NICOLE // FRA
2018 // Lenzerheide, Switzerland // Rachel ATHERTON // GBR
2017 // Cairns, Australia // Miranda MILLER // CAN
2016 // Val di Sole, Italy // Rachel ATHERTON // GBR
2015 // Vallnord, Andorra // Rachel ATHERTON // GBR
2014 // Hafjell, Norway // Manon CARPENTER // GBR
2013 // Pietermaritzburg, South Africa // Rachel ATHERTON // GBR
2012 // Leogang, Austria // Morgane CHARRE // FRA
2011 // Champery, Switzerland // Emmeline RAGOT // FRA
2010 // Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada // Tracy MOSELEY // GBR
2009 // Canberra, Australia // Emmeline RAGOT // FRA
2008 // Val di Sole, Italy // Rachel ATHERTON // GBR
2007 // Fort William, United Kingdom // Sabrina JONNIER // FRA
2006 // Rotorua, New Zealand // Sabrina JONNIER // FRA
2005 // Livigno, Italy // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
2004 // Les Gets, France // Vanessa QUIN // NZL
2003 // Lugano, Switzerland // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
2002 // Kaprun, Austria // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
2001 // Vail, USA // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
2000 /// Sierra Nevada, Spain // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
1999 // Are, Sweden // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
1998 // Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
1997 // Chateau-d’OEx, Switzerland // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
1996 // Cairns, Australia // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
1995 // Kirchzarten, Germany // Leigh DONOVAN // USA
1994 // Vail, USA // Missy GIOVE // USA
1993 // Metabief, France // Giovanna BONAZZI // ITA
1992 // Bromont, Canada // Juli FURTADO // USA
1991 // Ciocco, Italy // Giovanna BONAZZI // ITA
1990 // Durango, USA // Cindy DEVINE // CAN

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What Happened in 2019?

The 2019 Val di Sole downhill World Cup race was an exciting one that saw four brand new winners in each of the categories. Laurie Greenland put down a stellar run to take the win over Loic Bruni and Loris Vergier, preventing the French from sweeping the podium.

In the women's race, it was Marine Cabirou who took the win by nearly 12 seconds over Tracey Hannah, who wasn't quite at her best for the race but who still managed to secure a second place. Camille Balance slotted into third, perhaps a hint of what was to come for her in the next few years.

The juniors categories saw Millie Johnset and Tuhoto-Ariki Pene also take their first World Cup wins on the gnarly track.

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What Happened at the Last World Cup Round?

After crashing in the first two rounds of the season, it was finally Myriam Nicole's turn to take the top podium step in the elite women's field, committing fully all the way down the track and slotting in ahead of Eleonora Farina and Camille Balanche. Farina, for her part, earned a career-best second place, and Balanche continued to show up strong, having not finished a single World Cup outside of the top three this season.

In the men's race, Loris Vergier was the last man down the mountain and bested Thibaut Daprela's heater of a run with some flawless riding through the woods. The race was truly thrilling to watch, with all of the top riders showing up in their best form and giving the dusty, blown-out course their all. Vergier is only the sixth rider in history to take three elite wins at a single venue.

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Season Standings After World Cup Round 3

Thibaut Daprela has continued his strong performances despite breaking his nose and badly lacerating his tongue just a week before taking his first elite World Cup win at Les Gets. He has a strong lead for the overall, followed by Troy Brosnan, who took the win in Leogang, and Greg Minnaar, who is hot on Brosnan's heels.

In the women's field, Myriam Nicole won the last round and has moved up the rankings to tie with Camille Balanche, who now has a win and two third place finishes so far this year and has shown that she's right up there with the best of them, especially in the gnarly woodsy sections. Vali Holl follows in third, and she's clearly a threat for the top step once she finds a bit more consistency.

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Weather Forecast

The track changes quickly, with riders in years past having faced tumultuous shifts, from dry and loose to waterlogged and slick and back again. This year, the weather looks clear and friendly until Saturday, when there's rain in the forecast, though Sunday is forecasted to be pleasant. In case we didn't know it already, we learned last year at the absolutely batshit insane World Champs race that wild weather can turn our expectations upside-down and it's the scrappiest riders who will survive and even thrive.

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The Schedule

Wednesday, August 25
• 12:00-15:00 // On Foot Downhill Course Inspection - Riders and Teams

Thursday, August 26
• 08:30-12:30 // Official Downhill Training - Group B
• 12:45-16:45 // Official Downhill Training - Group A

Friday, August 27
• 08:00-09:00 // Official Downhill Training - Group B
• 09:00-10:00 // Official Downhill Training - Group A
• 10:30-11:30 // Qualifying - Juniors
• 11:45-13:30 // Qualifying - Elites

Saturday, August 28
• 08:30-11:30 // Official Downhill Training - Group B
• 11:45-14:45 // Official Downhill Training - Group A
• Followed by 30 min On Foot Course Inspection

Sunday, August 29
• 09:25 // Final - Junior Women
• After // Final - Junior Men
• Followed by Awards Ceremony for Junior categories
• 11:10-11:25 // Official Downhill Training - Women Elite qualified for the final
• 11:25-12:25 // Official Downhill Training - Men Elite qualified for the final
• 12:50 // Final - Elite Women
• 14:10 // Final - Elite Men
• Awards to follow

Note: All times are local and subject to change by the event organizer.

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How to Watch

Pinkbike will be providing you with the best daily coverage from Val di Sole this week. Tune in to Pinkbike to catch photo epics, videos, and results from Timed Training, Practice, Qualifying, and Finals, as well as tech bits and news.

And if you live in one of the lucky countries, you can also watch World Champs live on redbull.tv. The live DH broadcast starts on Saturday, July 3 at 12:30pm CEST. More information on that here.

Schedule: Downhill World Championships live on Red Bull TV:

Sunday, August 29th - 12.30 CEST: Downhill Elite Women
Sunday, August 29th - 14.30 CEST: Downhill Elite Men

(All times CEST, replay available immediately following the races. Times subject to change at organizers' and Red Bull's discretion.)

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Fantasy League

Don't forget to complete your DH Fantasy team before Friday! Participating is way more fun than watching from the sidelines.

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Racing and Events DH Racing Pinkbike Primer Val Di Sole Dh World Champs 2021