Perfect run by Myriam Nicole - successful comeback by Rachel Atherton

The new downhill course in Lenzerheide presented the women's elite with some new challenges and guaranteed a thrilling race for the ecstatic crowd at the edge of the course and at the finish. After many lead changes at the start of the competition, the moment that every downhill fan had been eagerly awaiting came after more than 1100 days: Rachel Atherton (GBR) made her race comeback, setting a new best time straight away and returning to the hot seat after more than three years - albeit only for a few moments.

After a crash between the first and second split, Valentina Höll (AUT), who started directly after Rachel, had to take high risks and stay on the gas, which she did particularly well in the lower high-speed section of the course. With a lead of almost five seconds over the Grande Dame of the downhill, the young Austrian took the lead, but was also beaten shortly afterwards by Eleonora Farina (ITA). The Italian, who is regarded as one of the fittest riders in the World Cup, scored points with her ultra-hard suspension, especially in the top section, and made good progress through the forest, so that despite losses further down it was enough for first place in the meantime. European champion Monika Hrastnik (SLO) lined up behind her.

Now it was time for the reigning world champion: Myriam Nicole attacked right from the start and showed probably the most aggressive run of the day. Full risk at the top allowed her to take completely new lines in the forest and further down, on which she extended her already large lead further and further and finally crossed the finish line with a cushion of eight seconds.

For the last skier of the day, overall World Cup leader and local hero Camille Balanche (SUI), the direction was clear. However, the Swiss skier was unable to match Nicole's aggression on the course despite her fast pace and lost a few seconds to the Frenchwoman in the upper section. A missed braking point in the forest then brought the final decision. Instead of the long-awaited first victory at the home World Cup, it was only enough for a second place, albeit a safe one.

German hope Nina Hoffmann was once again dogged by bad luck: With a flat tire right at the start, the Fort William winner had to settle for last place.

"I really needed the win here in Lenzerheide. I was a bit afraid that Max would have a new favorite in Camille because she always wins (laughs). There was a lot of pressure and it wasn't easy. I needed this win. I had to do it." - Myriam Nicole

"I made a few mistakes at the beginning. Then I tried to push and it went quite well until the mistakes became too much at one point. I wanted to give it my all and ride fast. I'm happy with my time. It's still faster than yesterday. That's always good. Finishing on the podium is not a given. I'm super happy." - Camille Balanche

"I had a good run. It's great to be back here in Lenzerheide. It's a fantastic place. The last time we were here, I won the World Championships. Perfect for my first race after the birth of our baby. An enthusiastic crowd, a great location and a good course: Lenzerheide has it all." - Rachel Atherton

DHI Women's Elite Results - Top 5

1. Myriam Nicole (FRA) 3:11.751
2nd Camille Balanche (SUI) 3:16.170
3rd Eleonora Farina (ITA) 3:20.184
4th Monika Hrastnik (SLO) 3:21.979
5th Valentina Höll (AUT) 3:22.963

Strong Pierron destroys Iles' dream of a first World Cup win - The GOAT with a strong third place

On the downhill course, which became drier and more challenging as the day progressed, there were initially no frequent lead changes. After Tuto-Ariki Pene (NZL) led for a long time, Aaron Gwin (USA) took the hot seat until just into the last twenty riders, until Finn Iles (CAN), the seventeenth-last starter, replaced the American at the top - and how!

The Canadian got off to a perfect start on his bike prototype through the new section of the course. With a flat body position, he rode dynamically through the forest before Iles took the lead in the key section with a completely new line choice and crossed the finish line with a cushion of 2.5 seconds. Greg Minnaar (RSA), who followed directly behind, was on a hot-seat course for a while despite some minor mistakes in the upper section, but ultimately had to finish just behind Iles.

The happy ending for Finn Iles was not to be. Amaury Pierron underlined once again that he is currently in a league of his own. After a fast start, the overall World Cup leader took a lead into the steep section despite a few minor mistakes, where he pulled away even further with a completely new line. With his usual aggressive riding, he left nothing to chance in the lower part of the course, which had become dusty and slippery, and ultimately secured his third World Cup victory of the current season with a lead of 1.3 seconds.
Austrian Andreas Kolb not only improved his own best performance with a final fourth place, but also set a new World Cup record for the Austrian downhill men. The best Swiss rider was Lutz Weber in 27th place; the best German was Johannes Fischbach in 46th place.

"I feel really good. The track changes have been causing me problems all weekend. I made mistakes that I don't normally make. Then today I had this moment when I thought: just ride. And that's exactly what I did. I'm super happy with the result. Second place is an excellent result." - Finn Iles
"My run wasn't actually that good, I have to say. I made a lot of mistakes, one of which was huge and I was really annoyed about it. But I think when you make mistakes, you know you're pushing. A back-to-back podium is of course the next level of awesome. I don't know how to put it. It couldn't be more awesome. Well, but winning is probably even more awesome." - Andreas Kolb

DHI Men's Elite Results - Top 5

1. Amaury Pierron (FRA) 2:47.555
2nd Finn Iles (CAN) 2:48.858
3rd Greg Minnaar (RSA) 2:48.685
4th Andreas Kolb (AUT) 2:48.865
5th Benoit Coulanges (FRA) 2:49.907