Tahnee Seagrave finishes second and Danny Hart returns to the world cup podium in Vallnord

Tahnee Seagrave finishes second and Danny Hart returns to the world cup podium in Vallnord

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Tahnee Seagrave (Transition Bikes / FMD Factory Racing) finished on the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup podium once againin Vallnord, Andorra in the elite women's competition.

Junior rider Megan James recorded a resounding victory, topping the podium in the junior women's event, while fellows Brits Matt Wale and Kade Edwards finished second and third respectively in the junior men's competition.

In the men's competition, Danny Hart took his best world cup finish of the year, finishing third and looking like he was returning to his best after a slow start to his season.

Elite women

Following her maiden victory in the third round at Leogang, Seagrave now sits just five points behind Vallnord winner Myriam Nicole in third place in the overall series standings as the 2017 season continues to surprise, with four different winners in each of the four rounds so far.

Rachel Atherton (Trek Factory Racing DH) was cautious ahead of her return to world cup racing; her modest aim was to stay inside the top ten for the remainder of the season.

However, true to form, Atherton still put down one of the fastest times of the competition, holding off several riders who had qualified faster than her.

It was Atherton’s compatriot, Seagrave, who finally knocked her off the top spot, setting a blistering time of 4:53:98 down the dry and dusty Andorran course.

The penultimate rider, Nicole, came down with the fastest time after a superb run on her home track while series leader Tracey Hannah couldn’t respond after crashing early on on her run.

Atherton's run was good enough for fourth place, while British rider Manon Carpenter (Radon Factory Downhill Team) finished just outside the top five, in sixth place.

Elite men

Danny Hart had a superb run, as the sixth fastest qualifier, taking lines down the course that other riders had so far avoided.

His speed was enough to put him in the hot seat, from where he had to watch the five remaining competitiors make their bid for the podium.

In the end only Troy Brosnan and Greg Minnaar could go faster on the final two runs down the mountain, leaving Hart to complete the podium in third place.

Danny Hart returns to the world cup podium in Vallnord

Philip Atwill was the second highestBritish finisher, in ninth place and only seven seconds off the top spot.

The men's competition was peppered with crashes from some of the best riders in the field; emphasising the technical difficulties thrown up by the course.

Laurie Greenland suffered a crash in his run, after qualifying well and hitting the first time check in the lead.

Despite making some time up as he continued his run, the 20-year-old rider was visibly disappointed as he crossed the line, shaking his head in frustration.

Junior success

Megan James won the junior women's event, after going fastest in qualifying and finishing over 15 seconds faster than her nearest rival, French rider Melanie Chappaz.

Matt Walker (Madison Saracen Factory Team) finished just over five second off eventual winner Finnley Iles in the junior race, with compatriot Kade Edwards joining him on the podium, a further four seconds behind him.

Results

Junior women

Junior men

Elite women

Elite men