It was a big day for the downhill racers at 2024 world championships with juniors racing finals and elites putting in qualifying runs in Andorra. Geza Rodgers, newly minted junior women’s champion, led the Canadian junior women with Jack Macleod leding the junior men.
In the elite races, Gracey Hemstreet was the top Canadian qualifier in the women’s race while Finn Iles was the top Canuck in the men’s. Both ranked inside the top 10, setting them up for a solid showing on Saturday in finals. Junior men’s and women’s downhill finals
In the junior men’s race, several of Canada’s pre-race favourites were taken out by injury before finals. This included both Pivot Factory Racing juniors, Dane Jewett and Ryan Griffith. That opened the door for Jack Macleod to step up, taking a 13th place in Andorra. New national champion Jon Mozell followed in 20th, Griffin Tulk in 35th, Dylan Marino in 38th, and Michael Delasalle in 49th.
There was no stopping U.S. junior phenom Asa Vermette, though. The Frameworks racer stormed to his first world championship title in his first year of junior racing. He was joined on the podium by another U.S. junior, Bode Burke, with France’s Max Alran splitting the American’s in second place.
On the junior women’s side, Erice van Leuven stormed to a commanding win, defending her title from 2023. The New Zealand racer won by a solid 6.357-second margin. Ella Svegby of Sweden takes second, breaking up the New Zealand racers on the podium as Sacha […]
Continue reading the original article at: cyclingmagazine.ca