The 2025 downhill World Cup season is here, and a pair of Sea to Sky riders likely hope to build upon their middling results in the first event.
Gracey Hemstreet placed eighth among elite women, but was unable to challenge the victorious Tahnée Seagrave who clocked in at three minutes and 34.340 seconds. Anna Newkirk of the United States found herself second (3:36.051) and Nina Hoffman finished third for Germany (3:39.075).
In the elite men's race, Finn Iles managed 12th. Perennial French contender Loic Bruni took gold (3:04.867) just ahead of Irish silver medallist Oisin O'Callaghan (3:05.023), while Bruni's compatriot Amaury Pierron grabbed bronze (3:05.675).
Snowy weather greeted the athletes last weekend in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, but Seagrave wasn't daunted. The British speedster hit the first three time checks faster than any other woman, and recovered from a near over-the-handlebars crash to top the podium.
"Because of the conditions, my brakes weren’t working very well so I think that helped,” Seagrave said in a press release. "You’ve just got to make the best of it. I kept pumping the brake to make it work. I had a little sketchy moment at the end because I forgot to do that, but glad I managed to put it together. I don’t think it’s too early [to think about overall], I feel the healthiest I have been and I’m back from a series of horrible injuries. I’ve had a couple of years to get back into it and I’m ready to give it my all again."
Bruni conquered the blizzard as well, narrowly fending off a worthy challenge from O'Callaghan. Less than two-tenths of a second separated them in the ranking.
"Last season was a bit stinky with finishing so close to the win," Bruni said. “I didn’t think I had it in me with the offseason a bit complicated and the weather being so far from my favourite conditions, but I just kept on riding.’ To me it was not so perfect, it was really rough, and I was getting caught off guard with the braking. I just had to give everything."
For more results from Bielsko-Biala, click here.
