Women's Downhill #1: Maribor, Slovenia - km
Rachel Atherton returns to win Downhill World Cup #1
Rachel Atherton is back (carroux.com/Red Bull Photofiles)
By Rob Jones, Cyclingnews.com
Rachel Atherton (Commencal) proved that a year away from racing has not affected her downhill skills as she won the first round of the 2010 World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia on Sunday.
Race day saw a slight easing overnight of the rain that had turned Saturday's four-cross into a mud bath, which wasn't necessarily a positive thing, since it made the course sticky and slower.
Atherton, returning to competition after sitting out last season due to a shoulder injury and subsequent surgeries, did not have a good start to the weekend after crashing in qualifying and having to ride with a broken finger from a race a week earlier.
Her early seed meant she started fourth, but the 2008 world champion blazed the course, the fastest at every split, beating second placed Sabrina Jonnier (Rocky Mountain-Maxxis) by 10 seconds and Floriane Pugin (Scott 11) by 13 seconds.
Myriam Nicole (Commencal Superiders), who had qualified first, was on a fast run until breaking her rear derailleur and having to coast the second half of the course, still managing an impressive fourth. Canada's lone entry, Claire Buchar (Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense), finished seventh, the best North American.
"It hasn't sunk in yet, I can't believe it," said Atherton after her run. "I never thought I'd win, this being my first World Cup race back, and my [broken] finger made it hard to hang on. I came here hoping for a top five, so maybe being relaxed and having fun is the way to have a good run."
For full results, report and photos, visit Cyclingnews.com.
WOMEN'S DOWNHILL #1 RESULTS
| 1 Rachel Atherton (GBr) Commencal | 0:04:03.42.42 | |
| 2 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain | 0:00:09.73.73 | |
| 3 Floriane Pugin (Fra) Scott 11 | 0:00:12.91.91 | |
| 4 Myriam Nicole (Fra) Commencal Superiders | 0:00:15.50.50 | |
| 5 Petra Bernhard (Aut) RC Alpine Commencal Austria | 0:00:18.97.97 | |
| 6 Mio Suemasa (Jpn) FFC | 0:00:19.42.42 | |
| 7 Claire Buchar (Can) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense | 0:00:20.59.59 | |
| 8 Tracy Moseley (GBr) Trek World Racing | 0:00:20.69.69 | |
| 9 Emilie Siegenthaler (Swi) Scott 11 | 0:00:21.76.76 | |
| 10 Emmeline Ragot (Fra) Suspension Center | 0:00:23.57.57 | |
| World Cup individual standings after round 1 | ||
| 1 Rachel Atherton (GBr|Commencal) | 200 | pts |
| 2 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra|Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) | 185 | |
| 3 Floriane Pugin (Fra|Scott 11) | 180 | |
| 4 Myriam Nicole (Fra|Commencal Superiders) | 175 | |
| 5 Petra Bernhard (Aut|RC Alpine Commencal Austria) | 130 | |
| 6 Mio Suemasa (Jpn|FFC) | 111 | |
| 7 Claire Buchar (Can|Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense) | 92 | |
| 8 Tracy Moseley (GBr|Trek World Racing) | 84 | |
| 9 Céline Gros (Fra|Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie) | 80 | |
| 10 Emilie Siegenthaler (Swi|Scott 11) | 65 |
