Training was tricky as everyone adapted to the new track and tried to balance patience in some sections with necessary attack in others. Despite the ‘first day of school’ nerves and a whole host of unpredictable elements to the day, the riders faired really well.

There were a lot of unknowns to quali and those pre-race questions hung in the air. Thankfully the team could answer – the winter’s work was showing in both the bike and the riding. Pompon, Momo, Loris and Till sailed safely through to finals. Max got his first experience of Q2 stress – which he hopes never to repeat! – but handled it with grace and grit to secure a well-deserved place in his first ever elite finals.

Finals

A young woman on a mountain bike racing through woods

Pompon kicked off with a podium and the celebrations just kept coming.

Max found his feet in finals and delivered by far his best run of the week and crossed the line P2, where he stayed until his brother’s run.

A young man riding his bike off a jump

Till had been on fire since timed training on Thursday and backed up a brilliant qualifier with the new fastest time.

A young man racing down a track on his mountain bike

Seeing the twins together on the hot seats in their debut elite race was something special.

3 young men sitting in the hotseats on a race podium

Quietly and consistently quick all week, Loris executed a great race run which put him in second place as he crossed the line and a hot seat view of drama about to unfold for Amaury.

A man on a race track riding off a jump
Loris on track during the World Cup in South Korea

As the penultimate man down the mountain, and having sent the first three splits green, Momo crashed. It felt like game over, but he was back on the bike before we could draw breath and in an insane feat of bike racing, crossed the finish line in P2.

A man rides his bike down the race track
Amaury Pierron rides off a jump during the 1st World Cup

As the penultimate man down the mountain, and having sent the first three splits green, Momo crashed. It felt like game over, but he was back on the bike before we could draw breath and in an insane feat of bike racing, crossed the finish line in P2.

Results

Myriam – P3
Amaury – P3
Loris – P4
Till – P6
Max – P9

Three young men pictured on the winners podium

Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction  @commencal_mucoff

Amaury Pierron  @amaurypierron4  Myriam Nicole  @myriam_nicole  Loris Vergier  @lorisvergier

Max Alran  @max_alran_5  Till Alran  @alran_till_mtb

Photos: Kéno Derleyn  @kenoderleyn  Sven Martin  @svenmartinphoto