Events

Greg Minnaar wins his 4th World Championship title

Supplied by Red Bull Content Pool.

· By Press Office · 37 comments


South Africa’s Greg Minnaar claimed the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships title for the fourth time while Myriam Nicole produced a perfect run to win in Val di Sole.

Greg Minnaar Val di Sole 2021 World Champs.jpeg
Greg Minnaar celebrates his 4th UCI DH World Championships title in Val di Sole, Italy. Photo Credit: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Heavy rain on Saturday evening had made the Black Snake course a slippery surprise during Sunday’s practice runs. However, with a few hours to dry, the World Championships would play out on an amazing track in prime conditions.

Greg Minnaar and Myriam Nicole 2021 World Championships.jpeg
Greg Minnaar and Myriam Nicole celebrates at UCI DH World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy. Photo Credit: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

In the men’s race, the drama showed no signs of subsiding, with early casualties including Amaury Pierron with a completely smashed rim and defending champion, Reece Wilson, with a puncture off the final jump. Angel Suarez and Dakotah Norton also crashed out whilst on fastest runs.

Antoine Vidal was the man to occupy the hot seat for the longest time, starting his race almost two hours before the final run. Having qualified third, the enduro specialist backed up his performance on Friday to lay down the time to beat.

Greg Minnaar Val di Sole 2021 World Champs 2.jpeg
Greg Minnaar. Photo Credit: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Finn Iles was the first to do so with a fast top section giving him enough buffer to hold onto a green split at the finish line. Luca Shaw deployed his relaxed style to good effect to go second with ten riders to go.

Danny Hart won the World Championships in Val di Sole in 2016 and was on another typically animated run, fastest at every split and taking the lead. Remi Thirion and David Trummer – the silver and bronze medallists from Leogang last year – failed to go faster.

Benoit Coulanges then claimed the lead after nailing his run and nervously watched on as Troy Brosnan came within 0.214 seconds of his lead. Next up was Minnaar and things got tense.

Benoit Coulanges World Champs 2021.jpeg
Benoit Coulanges. Photo Credit: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

The South African was up at split one but red at two and three. Minnaar began to claw back time further down the track, soaking up the rocks and roots as he flew through the final berms to snatch the lead and send the crowd wild.

Loïc Bruni failed to threaten the leaders, as did World Cup leader Thibaut Daprela when a crash ended his chances. Loris Vergier was then fastest through the first two splits but dropped back to fourth, leading to huge celebrations as the 39-year-old Minnaar realised he had become a four-time champion.

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Troy Brosnan. Photo Credit: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

In the Elite Women’s race, the first of the big names to tackle the course was the fastest qualifier, Vali Holl. A rider with so much talent and yet little luck, the Austrian once again fell foul to race day demons with a crash ending her bid for glory.

Tahnée Seagrave has been building speed and confidence all year and was certainly one to watch. However, when she decided to sit out qualification on Friday due to her neck injury, question marks were raised. And despite putting together a smooth run, she sensed others would go faster.

Eleanora Farina, with huge home support from the Italian fans, was pushing hard and on pace but just missed out on the hot seat, finishing 0.188 down on Seagrave’s time.

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Marine Cabirou. Photo Credit: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Marine Cabirou, who took her inaugural World Cup win in Val di Sole in 2019, was 1.179 down at the first split but her trademark aggressive style saw her throw everything at the Black Snake and she crossed the line a staggering 5.454 seconds ahead of Seagrave.

Defending World Champion Camille Balanche was the penultimate rider and she showed no ill effects from the nasty crash she suffered during her practice run on Sunday morning. Despite a bruised ankle, the Swiss rider was quick all the way down and absolutely sent the final jump to finish just 1.272 seconds off the pace in second place.

Myriam Nicole World Champs 2021.jpeg
Myriam Nicole. Photo Credit: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Nicole was the final competitor to tackle the course and showed exactly why she was viewed as a potential champion. Having won her first World Cup in Val di Sole in 2011, the French rider once again crushed the Black Snake with a smooth and fierce performance.

Dropping into the final turn Nicole was absolutely flying as she crossed the line a huge 4.827 seconds ahead of Cabirou to claim the rainbow jersey.

Men’s DH result
1. Greg Minnaar RSA 3:28.963
2. Benoit Coulanges FRA +0.227
3. Troy Brosnan AUS +0.441
4. Loris Vergier FRA +1.166
5. Danny Hart GBR +1.850

Women’s DH result
1. Myriam Nicole FRA 4:06.243
2. Marine Cabirou FRA +4.827
3. Camille Balanche SUI +6.099
4. Monika Hrastnik SLO +9.085
5. Tahnee Seagrave GBR +9.781

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Comments

FondTF2

Aug 30, 2021, 4:15 AM

Absolute Legend.

Quite fitting that the two GOAT's won in both Schurter and Minnaar.

Hairy

Aug 30, 2021, 6:24 AM

MMMIIINNNNNAAARRRRRRRRR

 

Hairy

Aug 30, 2021, 6:26 AM

Both the ladies and gents DH racing is extremely entertaining every single race. 

Headshot

Aug 30, 2021, 6:47 AM

That was way more exciting than a normal WC probably because it's a winner takes all event. Needless to say one of SA's greatest sports stars performance  will be largely ignored by the mainstream media ...

WaynejG

Aug 30, 2021, 6:53 AM

I saw Minaar's race which was awesome. What happened to Pottie?

DieselnDust

Aug 30, 2021, 6:57 AM

2 hours ago, FondTF2 said:

Absolute Legend.

Quite fitting that the two GOAT's won in both Schurter and Minnaar.

Indeed and provides the platform for their continued competitor status for another year. Greg will be our own Alejandro Valverde, the Super Vet

Robbie Stewart

Aug 30, 2021, 7:09 AM

Well done to the men who made SA proud yesterday. Greg got a standing ovation from me in my living room. Even the missus who normally gives everything mtb related a cold shoulder came and sat down to enjoy the moment of absolute brilliance. My nerves were shattered when Greg took the provisional lead with 3 more riders to come.

Theo and Pottie also flew the flag high and made us all proud again. SA does not stand back against the best in the world. Thanks to Greg, now we ARE the best ???? ???? ????.

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Thomo

Aug 30, 2021, 7:11 AM

10 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Indeed and provides the platform for their continued competitor status for another year. Greg will be our own Alejandro Valverde, the Super Vet

After a year of representing/defending this title, wouldn't he be just about the right age to transition to road and sign for Qhubeka NextHash.? ????‍♂️????

Hairy

Aug 30, 2021, 7:16 AM

5 minutes ago, Thomo said:

After a year of representing/defending this title, wouldn't he be just about the right age to transition to road and sign for Qhubeka NextHash.? ????‍♂️????

I think if he retires me may just go do #Enduro

Headshot

Aug 30, 2021, 7:21 AM

Watching the YouTube build up to the WC made me itch to ride my #Enduro bike. So I headed off to Tokai to do my own version down the snakes and DH track. So glad I did, I have been spending far too much time on my HT trying to get fit.  The tracks are running superbly after the hail and rain...

Robbie Stewart

Aug 30, 2021, 7:38 AM

Awesome take on a legend.

And then he pulled of this win in a pair of cracking white shoes. Legend status through the roof.

eddy

Aug 30, 2021, 8:12 AM

I had to miss it, will watch it all on GCN+ tonight !

rorydewet

Aug 30, 2021, 10:58 AM

This guy is one of the unsung heroes of sport in RSA.

To still be performing at his age.

And he seems like such a cool nice guy to boot.

Long may he ride.

 

Robbie Stewart

Aug 30, 2021, 12:00 PM

You know from time to time there is this interview question that gets asked:

"if you could have dinner with any person on the planet, who would you invite?"

 

Greg.

We'd have a braai, enjoy some beers and chat about any nonsense we want to.

Stockman

Aug 30, 2021, 12:06 PM

5 hours ago, WaynejG said:

I saw Minaar's race which was awesome. What happened to Pottie?

61st, roughly 27 sec behind Greg.

 

WaynejG

Aug 30, 2021, 12:16 PM

10 minutes ago, Stockman said:

61st, roughly 27 sec behind Greg.

 

Did he fall or have a mechanical problem?

Stockman

Aug 30, 2021, 12:29 PM

12 minutes ago, WaynejG said:

Did he fall or have a mechanical problem?

Don't think so, the top guys are just way ahead.

 

Robbie Stewart

Aug 30, 2021, 12:38 PM

8 minutes ago, Stockman said:

Don't think so, the top guys are just way ahead.

 

What sucks for him is that he can't use age as an excuse any longer ????

Headshot

Aug 30, 2021, 12:40 PM

9 minutes ago, Stockman said:

Don't think so, the top guys are just way ahead.

 

They are indeed, but that said, Theo Erlangsen from Cape Town was 36th, only 13 secs behind Greg. 

Stockman

Aug 30, 2021, 12:42 PM

1 minute ago, Headshot said:

They are indeed, but that said, Theo Erlangsen from Cape Town was 36th, only 13 secs behind Greg. 

Bordering on a top guy then! ????

Robbie Stewart

Aug 30, 2021, 12:54 PM

Sheez, after Theo absolutely pinning Darkfest and Redbull Hardline I'd hardly call him borderline top...

I am pretty sure the group of fella's that attempt those lines are in the absolute elite... They are the top 1% of the top 1%.

Next Saffa to keep an eye on would be Ike Claasen. Big things coming from him lately.

WaynejG

Aug 30, 2021, 1:02 PM

32 minutes ago, Stockman said:

Don't think so, the top guys are just way ahead.

 

At 27 seconds behind Minnaar still makes him a lot faster than me ????

DonatelloOnPinarello

Aug 30, 2021, 1:50 PM

What an absolute champ. And a nicer humble more deserving champ there couldn't be. 

How many times is he going to have us ask ourselves how many good seasons he has left... I hope a good few still.

 

It's crazy though. I remembering my ballies 40th, and thinking the old man is getting on in years now. He was a proper topie by that age though, now I'm only a handful of birthdays away from the big 40, and I feel old when I go out riding the trails. Amazing how Greg just keeps on keeping up in a sport meant for young guns.

stefmeister

Aug 30, 2021, 1:50 PM

42 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Sheez, after Theo absolutely pinning Darkfest and Redbull Hardline I'd hardly call him borderline top...

I am pretty sure the group of fella's that attempt those lines are in the absolute elite... They are the top 1% of the top 1%.

Next Saffa to keep an eye on would be Ike Claasen. Big things coming from him lately.

While hardline is gnarly af, I struggle to take it very serious as a competition. A guy like Bernard Kerr's (with 3 or 4 hardline wins) best result at a WC is 5th.

Racing at the very top end is a different game. Some just have, other's get a brief taste of it, and most will never know.

 

Anyway, I haven't been this happy about someone winning something in a long time. 

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