Rainy weather on Saturday made for slippery conditions and Minnaar qualified second fastest, two-tenths of a second behind New Zealand’s Sam Blenkinsop (Pierre International), with American Aaron Gwin (Yeti Fox Shox) third and round two winner, Great Britain’s, Gee Atherton (Commencal) fifth.

But in Sunday’s final the conditions worsened with more rain and no one could match the top qualifying times. Minnaar managed to complete his run seven-tenths of a second faster than Atherton, with Gwin taking third and Blenkinsop fourth.  With two wins and a third place in the three World Cup rounds, Minnaar extended his lead over Atherton to 73 points, while Gwin moved into third, 250 points behind Minnaar.

"It was crazy out there," commented Minnaar.  "I was just all over the place, trying to stay on the bike.  It really was tough."

In the women’s category, Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) secured her second World Cup round victory, extending her lead in the 2010 series. Rachel Atherton (Commencal) won the qualifying run, six-tenths of a second ahead of World Champion Emmeline Ragot (Suspension Center).  Jonnier finished a distant fourth, seven and a half seconds behind Atherton.

However, in the final Jonnier stepped up her game, with a time nearly half a second faster than Atherton's qualifying time. Atherton was the last rider to race, and the only one who could possibly beat the French rider, but the 2008 World Cup winner crashed on her run and did not finish.  Ragot took second and Tracy Moseley (Trek World Team) third.  Jonnier now holds a significant 140 point lead over Floriane Pugin (Scott 11), with Atherton third, 190 points behind. The next round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will take place in Champéry (SUI) on July 24 and 25.

 

Sabrina Jonnier charges through the mud to claim her second World Cup win of 2010

 

 

Men

Leading results:

1 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate 4:05.65              

2 Gee Atherton (GBR) Commencal 4:06.39

3 Aaron Gwin (USA) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 4:10.09

4 Samuel Blenkinsop (NZL) Lapierre International 4:11.17

5 Cameron Cole (NZL) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 4:11.77

6 Steve Peat (GBR) Santa Cruz Syndicate 4:11.82

7 Brendan Fairclough (GBR) Monster/Specialized/Mad Catz 4:12.61

8 Justin Leov (NZL) Trek World Racing 4:12.93

9 Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 4:13.25

10 Matthew Simmonds (GBR) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 4:13.82

24 Andrew Neethling (RSA) Trek World Racing 4:19.41

 

Women

Leading results

1 Sabrina Jonnier (FRA) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 4:52.70

2 Emmeline Ragot (FRA) Suspension Center 4:56.24

3 Floriane Pugin (FRA) Scott 11 4:58.05

4 Tracy Moseley (GBR) Trek World Racing 5:02.39

5 Myriam Nicole (FRA) Commencal Superiders 5:05.48

6 Céline Gros (FRA) Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie 5:10.91

7 Claire Buchar (CAN) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 5:12.72

8 Manon Carpenter (GBR) 5:13.20

9 Petra Bernhard (AUT) RC Alpine Commencal Austria 5:13.62

10 Micayla Gatto (CAN) Commencal Marzocchi Young Guns 5:28.69

13 Joanna Petterson (RSA) 5:37.26

 

For full results, visit www.uci.ch

 

Source: UCI media service