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Gold was within her grasp, but downhill rider Valentina Höll’s dream of a medal at the home mountain biking world championships in Leogang a few hours before the elite women’s race was shattered by a training crash. Saalbacher, 18, was injured yesterday morning when he jumped too short and tore his ligaments and a broken bone in his ankle.
Sophie Gutöhrle, 16, from Thalheim and David Trummer from Styria, jumped into the gap for them on the final day of the title fights in a true mud battle. Gutöhrle led to silver in junior relegation, Trummer accomplished the same in men.
Gutöhrle had to experience for himself how risky discipline is on Saturday. He also spent little time in the hospital because he injured his finger while exercising. “But then the doctors said that everything would fit with the ligaments, and then I knew that the World Cup could continue for me.” Not even a fall at the top of the route could stop Gutöhrle, who grew up as a multi-sports athlete and also succeeded in the Wels rowing club state championships. “A friend took me downhill and then the cycling worm caught me. Going home with a medal in my luggage for the premiere is sensational.” Ampflwanger Noah Hoffmann finished 24th in the youth ranks.
Downhill victories in the elite class went to Reece Wilson (Gb) and Camille Balanche (Sz). On Saturday, French mountain bikers dominated the Olympic cross-country competitions. Ladies’ favorite Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Jordan Sarrou took the gold. For Prevot it was the third World Cup success after 2015 and 2019. The SUV won gold at the World Cup in 2014 and in that season Prevot also won the cross-country title.
Sarrou then won his first individual medal in light rain. Eight-time world champion Nino Schurter (Sz) disappointed with ninth place.
Article of
Dominik Feischl
