The Downhill World Championships turn into a minor disaster due to the bad weather. The new forest sections are already soggy, rutted and greasy before the race, but become increasingly rideable for the qualifying races, but are still difficult enough to complete.

On race day, the rain turns the track into a complete slide, often an unrideable one. Many riders even push their bikes down and into the traverses. The tires are so clogged that normal progress is barely possible, let alone controlled downhill riding. The track designers probably meant too well, but probably ignored the higher risk of bad weather in the fall - this is not representative of any sport.

While there was hardly a competitor in the women's race who didn't crash or have a stopper. Defending champion Myriam Nicole is the first rider to have the least trouble - she leads the title race by over 16 seconds ahead of Monika Hrastnik from Slovenia, who follows. Then the only Swiss rider, Camille Balanche, starts the race - Emilie Siegenthaler is not in the race due to injury.Balanche rides well but is not outstanding in the upper section. In the decisive forest section, she simply made the fewest mistakes and completed her run without crashing, more than three seconds ahead of Nicole.
It will be a medal for Switzerland, but which one? France's Marine Cabirou is in the lead, but then falls briefly, catches up again and is only just behind the Swiss skier. But she crashes again, leaving her chances of winning the first Swiss elite women's downhill world title open.

The last possible threat to Balanche's success is Australian Tracey Hannah. But she makes too many mistakes and ends up in a thankless fourth place - Balanche is world champion.
"I crashed in almost every training session, which is why my goal was to put down a "safe" run and neither push myself nor let myself get stressed. Staying calm here was also my key to gold. I still don't really realize that I won. Becoming world champion is every competitor's greatest wish and having achieved that will stay with you forever," says Camille Balanche after her greatest success.

Results Downhill World Championship Elite Women
1st Camille Balanche (SUI)
2nd Myriam Nicole (FRA)
3rd Monika Hrastnik (SLO)
4th Tracey Hannah (AUS)
5th Mikayla Parton (GBR)

Wilson dethrones Bruni - Niederberger 25th

The men's race is characterized by the great "dying of the favorites". Britain's Reece Wilson sets the fastest time in the middle of the race and keeps the hot seat warm from then on. None of the faster riders came really close. The Austrian, who had been in second place until then, was also a good three seconds behind. Third-placed Remi Thirion (FRA) is just under six seconds behind.

The big favorites crashed one after the other or became entangled in big stoppers. Troy Brosnan, who was in the lead at the intermediate time, also crashes after entering the difficult forest section.
Now all eyes are on defending champion Loic Bruni. The Frenchman gives it his all, but is still behind. A crash then ruins his chances and Wilson is the new world champion.
But there is also huge joy on the Austrian side, as David Trummer wins silver. Thirion comes third.

On the Swiss side, Noel Niederberger had a good race and finished as the best Swiss in 25th place. Basil Weber finished outside his capabilities in 47th place, Jerome Caroli was 60th.

Results Downhill World Championship Elite Men
1st Reece Wilson (GBR)
2. David Trummer (AUT)
3rd Remi Thirion (FRA)
4th Marc Wallace (CAN)
5th Bernard Kerr (GBR)
25th Noel Niederberger (SUI)
47th Basil Weber (SUI)
60th Jerome Caroli (SUI)
69th Lutz Weber (SUI)

Gold to Ireland and France

France's Lauryne Chappaz takes the world championship title in the junior category. Silver went to Austria's Sophie Gutohrle and bronze to Chappaz's compatriot Leona Pierrini. Switzerland was unable to select a junior.

In the junior world championship race, Ireland's Oisin O'Callaghan breaks the French winning streak in the morning. He wins the title in the downhill race a good two seconds ahead of Daniel Slack and James Elliot from Great Britain. Switzerland's Joshua Koradi had to settle for 49th place.

Results Downhill World Championship Juniors
1st Oisin O Callaghan (IRL)
2nd Daniel Slack (GBR)
3rd James Elliot (GBR)
49th Joshua Koradi (SUI)

Results Downhill World Junior Championships
1st Lauryne Chappaz (FRA)
2nd Sophie Gutohrle (AUT)
3rd Leona Pierrini (FRA)