Val di Sole World Cup DH Qualifying Results & Top Runs

The "valley of the sun" has for the first time in many racers experience seen little of the golden orb. Track conditions have been variable over the course of practice and qualifying. More rain fell when it counted and has shaken up the results. At this point, it's hard to say who had the better conditions, though it does look as though both Iles and Pierron posted the quickest times in the wet. 

Aaron Gwin took a tumble in morning practice and has hurt his slowly healing thumb – he didn't drop in for qualifying but as a protected rider, has the opportunity to try and race. 

Top 5 Elite Men Qualifiers

1. Amaury Pierron – 4:07.250
2. Finn Iles – 4:10.682
3. Hugo Frixtalon – 4:15.582
4. Danny Hart – 4:17.581
5.  Luca Shaw – 4:17.846

Elite Women

Current World Cup leader, Myriam Nicole, was forced to sit out qualifying after a crash in practice. It sounds as though she will miss the race as well, leaving the women's race wide open. Rachel Atherton qualified sixth with a crash affected run to the finish. Slovenia's Monika Hrastnik qualified first, besting the times of Tahnée Seagrave and Emilie Siegenthaler. All three top qualifiers had to battle wet conditions. 

Top 5 Elite Women Qualifiers

1. Monika Hrastnik – 5:07.552
2. Tahnée Seagrave – 5:17.281
3. Emilie Siegenthaler – 5:17.619
4. Tracey Hannah – 5:18.365
5. Mariana Salazar – 5:19.646

Junior Men

The Junior Men's race saw French junior, Thibaut Daprela take the top spot, with the current series leader, Australian, Kye A'Hern, finishing well down the sheet in 24th. 

Top 3 Junior Men

1. Thibaut Daprela –3:58.952
2. Giacomo Masiero – 3:59.514
3. Joseph Foresta – 4:02.989

Junior Women

In the junior women's race it was the unstoppable Valentina Holle making short work of the field. The juniors had better conditions – both men and women – with the top times besting their piers in the elite ranks. America's Anna Newkirk posted a second place qualifier, 14+ seconds behind Hölle. 

Top 3 Junior Women

1. Valentina Hölle –4:48.096
2. Anna Newkirk – 5:02.896
3. Mille Johnset – 5:10.374