The biggest World Cup races in Lourdes

Bad weather in the lead-up to Lourdes 2016 left the track swampy during practice. Things got tougher for the finals as the ground started to dry out in places while remaining slippery and cumbersome in the sections under the forest canopy. A big result would require a masterful race – stepping into Stevie Smith and Aaron Gwin, the two kings of greasy conditions (as proven by their respective victories in 2013 and 2017 at Mont-Sainte-Anne). Gwin won the day, but Smith’s second-place finish (starts at 6:33 p.m. in player below) marked a return to form after battling injuries for several years. Tragically, this would be Smith’s last World Cup podium.

Other teams looked somewhat panicked as all three riders qualified in the top six, with Vergier taking the top spot (watch clips of their races in the video below). Luckily – for everyone – the rain fell in the final and the race was a disaster.

With the 2017 men’s race in cold rain, there was room for an outstanding result for anyone able to seize the opportunity. Much to the delight of frenzied spectators, that person would be Alexandre Fayolle, who overtook his previous best of fourth at the World Cup (Vallnord, 2016) to claim victory on home soil and start the season with a bang.

Often certain riders shine when a DH World Cup course is known for its severity. In the case of Lourdes, Rachel Atherton and Aaron Gwin have the advantage in terms of victories, with two each. Atherton took second place in 2015, but she was victorious in 2016 (video below) and ’17; Gwin won in 2015 and 2016 (in 2017 he qualified fifth but crashed out in the rainy finals). However, with Atherton recently mothered and Gwin riding a brand new Intense bike for 2022, many riders will be looking to write their name in the Lourdes winner’s book.