Qualifying - WC#2 - Val di Sole -

downhill247com wc2 12 87 — JB you've done it again! Josh Button qualified seventeenth at his first World Cup of the year. Josh is on the comeback from a knee injury he sustained at last years World Champs. If you remember though Josh flatted here in his race run last year and still managed to come home in 33rd place! Lets see what JB can do come race day! Photo: Jacob Gibbins

Wow! Qualifying in Val di Sole has brought a few surprises, the top men and woman qualifiers both put over seven seconds into the field!

Australia’s highest placed rider was Sam Hill in sixth place but it’s Aaron Gwin in P1 that showed everyone who the man to beat on Sunday will be. Aaron stormed down the track in 3.16.69 some 7.65 seconds ahead of Greg Minnaar in second place. You do have to wonder how much was Gwin going for it and how much were the other riders holding back? We know Sam Hill did a track walk looking at lines after his qualifying run. The rest of the Aussies faired okay and were all in the top 55. Tracey Hannah qualified eighth but you just have the feeling this technical track will suit Tracey and she should improve that position come finals.

Senior Men

1. Aaron Gwin 3.16.69

2. Greg Minnaar 3.24.34 + 7.65

3. Marc Beaumont 3.24.89 + 8.19

4. Gee Atherton 3.25.88 + 9.19

5. Remi Thirion 3.26.61 + 9.92

…

6. Sam Hill 3.26.80 + 10.11

17. Josh Button 3.30.27 + 13.58

23. Mic Hannah 3.31.65 + 14.95

30. Mitch Delfs 3.33.85 +17.16

47. Connor Fearon 3.36.41 + 19.71

52. Bryn Atkinson 3.37.51 + 20.81

Senior Women

1. Emily Ragot 3.56.18

2. Racheal Atherton 4.02.80 + 6.62

3. Myriam Nicole 4.09.19 + 3.01

4. Floriane Pugin 4.12.89 + 16.71

5. Emilie Siegenthaler 4.13.37 + 17.19
…
8. Tracey Hannah 4.20.30 + 24.12

downhill247com WC2 CF1 640 — 47th in qualifying for Connor Fearon, he took it easy during his run and is looking to improve on his 27th place he got at this track last year. Photo: Jacob Gibbins

downhill247com 12 WC2 33 — Look at that rock garden! The rock gardens on this track just go on and on, add to this the gradient and no doubt it is one of the best tracks on the circuit! Photo: Jacob Gibbins

downhill247com 12 WC2 99 — There were over 200 entrants in the men

Now we wait for finals! Riders will check the track after qualifying to see how their lines have faired and they will have one more practice session to sort out any issues they have.

downhill247com wc2 12 134 — We can't wait for racing! Who is going to be on the hunt? Photo: Jacob Gibbins

Check back to downhill247.com for a full race report and photos.