The second race of the double World Cup in Maribor promises better conditions and therefore even more exciting competitions. And that's exactly what happened. After her victory in the first race, it is France's Marine Cabirou who also sets a serious time in the second race. Nina Hoffmann, who started after her, was also behind Cabirou in the first half, but then the tide turned and the German champion snatched the best time, just under two seconds ahead of the Frenchwoman.

Another best time by the following riders is to be expected. The Italian Eleonora Farina is slower on all sections and so the small gaps add up to four seconds. Great Britain's Tahnee Seagrave also has good hopes of a top result, but these dissolve in the first open meadow bend. Seagrave crashes, but then makes up some ground, which is "only" enough for eighth place, one place behind world champion Camille Balanche.

Qualification winner Myriam Nicole is now making the leader really nervous. The Frenchwoman took a clear lead at the first split time, lost some ground but was still ahead at the second. But at the third intermediate time Nicole flashes into second place, which means nothing yet, especially as she was the fastest in the lower part of the qualification. However, this strength changes into riding mistakes, the second of which leads to a crash. She fought on and managed to finish fourth. Victory goes to Nina Hoffmann for the first time.

Vergier in top form

The men are also on top form when it comes to excitement. Austrian Andreas Kolb, riding for the Swiss Gamux Factory Team, took the hot seat with a time that initially beat several well-known riders. But then his time was gradually beaten by Greg Minnaar (RSA), Luca Shaw (USA) and Aaron Gwin (USA).

Gwin's time seems to be an announcement again until the Canadian Finn Iles pushes ahead, albeit narrowly. And his time won't last long either. Briton Matt Walker snatches the top position from Iles again, but immediately loses it to Loris Vergier.

Now the Frenchman is trembling. Neither Australian Troy Brosnan (fifth place) nor 19-year-old Thibaut Daprela (FRA - 10th) can match Vergier's time. Only qualifying winner Loic Bruni is still at the top, and he seems to be putting paid to his compatriot's lead, he is first in front, falls back a little and rides faster again in the lowest section - plus 5.7 hundredths of a second on the clock - it's not enough to snatch victory from Vergier - whose third overall.

Results WC2 DH Maribor