At the start of the race, the Swiss are unable to have a say for the time being. The debacle from the short track still seems to be having an effect. It is Pierre de Froidmont (BEL) who sets the pace ahead of Luca Schwarzbauer. Czech rider Ondrej Cink is also gradually getting into the mix, while Mathias Flückiger and Lars Forster are also in the leading group.

On lap four, the group is reduced to five riders, including Schwarzbauer, Flückiger and Cink - Forster is slightly behind. Flückiger then set the pace before running out of steam. A puncture throws him back, while Jordan Sarrou and Lars Forster chase the two front runners at a slight distance. The latter reaches the leading group on lap five, while Alan Hatherly moves up to fourth place and Mathias Flückiger overtakes Sarrou, who has fallen back.

The last lap begins and Forster increases the pace. Cink and Schwarbauer suddenly drop off. The Swiss rider makes up around 20 seconds, then tackles the final descent with confidence and concentration and rides to his second World Cup victory after his premiere in 2019. Behind him, Luca Schwarzbauer takes second place, which is his best result. Ondrej Cink comes third, Mathias Flückiger finishes in fifth place.

"I had a slow start but stayed calm because I felt good. I then made steady progress and thought maybe a top five result was possible. In the end, I realized that I was the strongest and attacked from the lowest point on the final lap. I rode out a nice lead and was then able to really enjoy the finish," says a visibly relieved Lars Forster.

Results

Pieterse for the second time

In the women's race, Alessandra Keller is the first to come back from the starting lap. In the first big lap, however, Dutchwoman Puck Pieterse immediately takes the lead and then a little later breaks away. Her compatriot Anne Terpstra starts the chase over 30 seconds behind, Keller falls well behind.

Pieterse seems to be uncatchable, even though the Austrian Mona Mitterwallner rides the fastest time on the last two laps. Driven by the home crowd, her compatriot Laura Stigger also rides past Jenny Rissveds on the final lap. After her opening victory in Nove Mesto, Puck Pieterse wins a World Cup for the second time, with the two Austrians in second and third place.

Sina Frei is the best Swiss rider in sixth place, while Jolanda Neff rides to tenth place

Results

Austrian double victory at the Downhill World Cup in Leogang

The night-time rain can hardly dampen the dust on the course and even less the mood of the spectators. They have come in droves to see local heroes Vali Höll (RockShox Trek Race Team) and Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton). And they are amply rewarded for their support as the world champion from neighboring Saalbach takes first place in qualifying, first place in the semi-finals and sets the clock to green at every split on the way to her historic victory in front of her friends and family.

Camille Balanche (Dorval AM Commencal) finishes second, while Rachel Atherton (Continental Atherton) repeats her victory in Lenzerheide on the third step of the podium.

Results

The anticipation among the Austrian spectators is also great when Kolb puts in a hot run and is rewarded with the Hot Seat. As world champion Loic Bruni (Specialized Gravity) crossed the finish line, the crowd erupted in cheers as it became clear that Kolb had done it and would take the win on home soil. Reigning UCI World Champion Loic Bruni (Specialized) finished second, while Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) was third.

This means that after two rounds, Camille Balanche leads the overall standings ahead of Rachel Atherton in second place and Vali Holl in third. In the men's race, Loic Bruni leads ahead of Finn Iles in second place and Loris Vergier (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) in third place.

Results