Taylor and Gee podium too!
In a dramatic finale
to the 2014 season, three of the four GT Factory Racing riders podiumed today,
while Marc Beaumont experienced a close encounter with a tree in the middle
section, losing valuable time and finishing in 27th.
In the Overall Series Rankings, Rachel was 2nd
to Manon Carpenter; Taylor 3rd to Loris Vergier and Luca Shaw;
whilst Gee came in 5th place and Marc in 15th.
First up at Meribel were the Juniors.
Taylor had qualified in 3rd place and
was lying 3rd in the overall rankings behind Luca Shaw and Loris
Vergier. The track at Meribel is steep, technical and slippery – exactly the
kind of challenge the riders have been begging for. What would young Taylor,
buoyed with the confidence of his first World Cup win at last round Windham,
bring today?
Ferran Jorba Pratts was in the hotseat as
Taylor came out of the start gate. He made a mistake at the top, leaving him in
8th place for that sector, but by split 2 he had moved up to 2nd
and crossed the line fastest by 0.5 seconds to take the hotseat! However, he
was deposed on the next run by fellow Brit Laurie Greenland, and then Loris
Vergier finished almost 4 seconds faster than Greenland - an outstanding
performance which allowed him to overtake Luca Shaw (in 5th today)
and take the Overall title. Taylor finished third in the Overall rankings – a
truly remarkable result from a young rider who broke his back less than 60 weeks
ago.
Taylor said: “I can’t believe the season is
over so quickly – I’ve come a long way this year, thanks to Atherton
Racing, GT Bicycles, Harris & Ross, my family, and everyone else who has
helped me so much. Mistakes at the top cost me today but I know that number one
spot is in reach!”
In the Women’s race, Tracey Hannah was in the
hotseat when Emmeline Ragot delighted the home crowd by positively flying down
the mountain. Emmeline was 4 seconds up at split 1, 10 seconds faster at split
2, and crossed the line in 3:46.524 - an astounding 8.743 seconds up on Hannah. But
Manon and Rachel were still on the hill. Manon was fastest through the speed
trap but couldn’t catch Ragot; she crossed the line in second place, enough to
clinch her the Overall Series title.
Rachel had qualified first with a time of
3:52.116. As soon as she left the start gate it was clear that she was on a
flier. Fast and precise through the top-section she was up at split one,
fastest through the speed trap and fastest at split 2, crossing the line a
convincing 3.4 seconds up on Ragot to take the win. The 250 points for 1st
places in qualifying and finals was also enough for Rachel to overtake Ragot in
the Overall rankings, Rachel moved to 2nd, 50 points short of fellow
Brit Manon Carpenter and just 10 points ahead of Ragot - not a bad result
considering the difficult start to Rachel’s 2014 season when she had to
overcome a debilitating infection and a DSQ (with zero points for the round),
after a bystander rushed to help her with a puncture at Fort William. Today’s
win is Rachel’s 21st World Cup Trophy and saw her back on top form.
After the race Rachel said: “That was so
nerve racking! Meribel is a proper ‘legit’ track and I knew that I’d make
mistakes. I was trying to hold it back a bit at the top and save a bit of
energy for the bottom section – I’m so stoked!”
In the Men’s race Marc had qualified 13th
and Gee in 9th. Marc showed total commitment from the go, but as he
came into the rock garden he lost his balance and hit a tree. The tree was
wrapped so he was unhurt, but he lost momentum and vital seconds. He rode
strongly through the rest of the course to cross the line in 15th but
the damage was done. His eventual place today would be 27th - enough
for 15th in the Overall. Marc said: “Well I’m gutted by that mistake
– I was feeling strong and feeling good on the bike, but it wasn’t to be.”
Marcus Pekoll was in the hotseat when Gee came on
course. Gee was fast. He rode effortlessly through the rock garden,
carrying unbelievable speed to go up at split 1, then was up by -2.71 at split
2, crossing the line 2.77 ahead of Pekoll. Aaron Gwin and Remi Thirion couldn’t
match Gee, but Sam Hill demonstrated his incredible speed to knock 1.1 second
off Gee's time. Loic Bruni slotted into 2nd, then
Josh Bryceland took 2nd from him and Matt Simmonds took 2nd
from Josh - the top 5 riders within 1.1. of Sam Hill!
Gee
said: “That was tight! But great fun on an awesome course. Congrats to Sam, and
of course to Ratboy for the overall!”
Photo
Credit: Sven Martin
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