Britain s Rachel Atherton was crowned world champion after pipping her title rival Emmeline Ragot in season ending UCI RockyRoads Mountain Bike World Cup downhill in Hafjell Norway on Saturday 15th September. SCRIPTING INFORMATION The final round of the UCI RockyRoads Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill series took place in Hafjell in Norway on Saturday. The women s title was still up for grabs - with Emmeline Ragot hoping to usurp Rachel Atherton at the top of the standings. Frenchwoman Ragot gave it her all down a challenging course with big jumps at the top leading onto some steep wooded sections before a high speed finish on grass. Ragot clocked a time of 4 minutes 3.828 seconds - good but not good enough to wrestle the crown from her British rival. Atherton blazed down the course in a time of 4 minutes 1.545 seconds - giving her an emphatic margin of victory and the World Cup crown. It was a timely return to form for the 24-year old who had finished a distant fifth at the recent World Championships after struggling with a back injury. France s Morgane Charre took third spot on the podium. In the men s event it was Canada s Steve Smith who took the honours winning a World Cup event for the first time. Smith tackled the course in a time of 3 minute 31.764 seconds - four tenths of a second quicker than George Branningan of New Zealand. New world champion Greg Minaar had to settle for third - with Aaron Gwin stepping up to receive the World Cup trophy for the second year in a row. The American already had an insurmountable lead heading into the event - thanks to his four wins in the seven round competition. SHOTLIST Hajfell Norway - 15th September 2012 1. 0000 - Various of Emmeline Ragot s run 2. 0026 - Rachel Atherton wins downhill 3. 0054 - Atherton on podium with World Cup downhill trophy 4. 0101 - Steve Smith wins men s downhill 5. 0127 - Aaron Gwin on top of podium with World Cup downhill trophy SOURCE UCI

• published: 31 Oct 2013
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