Thibaut Dapréla and Nina Hoffmann have won the Pal Arinsal World Cup downhill held today between Pic del Cubil and Fontanals. Weather put a strain on riders and organization throughout the day. Yesterday evening, given the weather forecast, decision was made change program and format as is: one final race only and first start at 9 a.m.. However, early in the morning, rain started to fall and wind picked up. Consequence: training postponed to 2:30 p.m. Eventually, Elite races went on almost as normal and, despite the intermittent rain during the two runs, spectators filled Fontanals and set a great atmosphere.

French rider from Commençal team, Thibault Dapréla, has crossed the line with a tenth of a second lead over the indestructible Greg Minaar. Intermittent rain has favored some riders and bothered others. Examples with the fastest rider of qualifiying run yesterday, the andorran resident Loïc Bruni (22nd), or the winner of last year’s downhill of Pal Arinsal, Loris Vergier (46th) just like the overall leader until yesterday, Jackson Goldstone (57th). Dapréla completed his ride in 2’46”455, a time that leaves Minaar only 121 thousandths behind. “I’m very happy and it’s a pleasure to win again and score important points overall,” said the Frenchman. Canadian Finn Iles climbed to the third step of the podium. By doing that, he took the the lead in the provisional classification, followed by Goldstone, second and Dapréla, third.

As for the Elite women, German Nina Hoffmann took her first victory of the season ahead of the new world champion and leader of the general classification, Valentina Höll. Hoffmann made the perfect run (3’09”755) beating Höll by almost three seconds. “I’m happy to have produced such a good ride”, declared the German after her triumph in the Principality, before assuring that “I really like Andorra, there is always a very good atmosphere here”. Britain’s Tahnee Seagrave completes the women downhill podium 4”1 behind Hoffmann. The latter remains third in the provisional classification in which Höll has increases her lead due to the absence in Andorra of her pursuer, Camille Balanche.

Sunday program

The 2023 Pal Arinsal Mountain Bike World Cup will conclude tomorrow with Elite and U23 Olympic Cross Country (XCO) races. Action is set to start at 9am with the U23 women race, followed by the men’s race (11am). Later, the most important events of this Pal Arinsal World Cup will be held: at 1 p.m. Elite women final and at 3.30 p.m. Elite men race. Among the cross-country riders to follow, we can mention Luca Schwarzbauer, Nino Schurter, Tom Pidcock, David Valero for men, and for women, Alessandra Keller, Puck Pieterse, Pauline Ferrand Prévost or Loana Lecomte. As for the Andorran contingent, it will be made up of Jèssica Cruz, Jan Missé Xandri, Xavi Jové and Kilian Folguera in Elite, and Nuno Gomes in the under 23 category.

The organization would like to remind spectators who wish to follow the races on site to use public transport to facilitate circulation in the parish. They can also find out about mobility through official channels, such as social networks and the website