{"id":6862,"date":"2020-10-05T09:04:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T07:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/43ride.com\/en\/?p=6862"},"modified":"2020-10-05T09:04:46","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T07:04:46","slug":"austrians-own-dh-at-crankworx-innsbruck-and-macdonald-powers-his-way-back-on-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/43ride.com\/en\/events\/2020\/austrians-own-dh-at-crankworx-innsbruck-and-macdonald-powers-his-way-back-on-track\/","title":{"rendered":"Austrians own DH at Crankworx Innsbruck, and Macdonald powers his way back on track"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Austria couldn\u2019t have asked for a better result in the final event of Crankworx Innsbruck 2020. The top of the pro podium was shared by two Austrians: David Trummer crossed the finish line fastest for the men with a 2:49.08, while Valentina ‘Vali’ H\u00f6ll bested the pro women\u2019s field with her 3:12.13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Valentina H\u00f6ll \/ photo: Kike Abelleira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For H\u00f6ll, this is her second win in the event, though 2018\u2019s #1 came in the U19 category. Today marks the first elite DH podium she\u2019s topped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFirst proper international big race,\u201d<\/em> said the 18-year-old, who\u2019ll be 19 in December. \u201cI\u2019m pretty stoked.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charging over the final drop and across the finish line, her time pushed her into the hot seat. But with three heavy-hitters set to drop after her, including Tracey Hannah who\u2019s won the event three times, the pressure was on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tracey Hannah \/ photo: Kike Abelleira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s actually terrible. Juniors I was always the last, so I never had to wait. Now, waiting for riders and seeing how close, and actually you have no idea because I couldn\u2019t see any split times, it\u2019s totally nerve-wracking. I don\u2019t like the feeling. I hope in the qualifying I can always be first.<\/p>– Tracey Hannah<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the end, Hannah\u2019s time was +0.951 behind the Austrian, placing her in second. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been a super weird year. I\u2019ve never been in Europe in October. I\u2019m not super used to the weather\u2026 But I had a good race. It\u2019s really weird to be back racing. You\u2019re not used to the feeling of racing, so it\u2019s hard to get into that spirit and that rhythm. It\u2019s really good to have this race before World Champs next weekend, and it\u2019s been really fun to be back at Crankworx.<\/p>– Tracey Hannah<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Third went to French rider Morgane Charre, who adds to her gold medal from earlier in the week in the Dual Slalom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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David Trummer \/ photo: Kike Abelleira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following the Pro Women, a tight field of top men took to the track.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trummer\u2019s speedy run pushed the USA\u2019s Charlie Harrison out of the top spot but, like H\u00f6ll, his hold on first place was far from guaranteed with Mick Hannah, Ed Masters, Laurie Greenland and Brook Macdonald still to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But hold his time did, with the final four unable to catch him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s perfect to win here,\u201d<\/em> said the 26-year-old, who placed 14th in this race in 2018. \u201cWithout the home crowd, but still at home. It\u2019s the nicest place to win.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a feeling echoed by H\u00f6ll, who said to race at home, and be back with her peers and supporter crew, is something special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My team is finally here. I\u2019m pretty happy to see my mechanic. I haven\u2019t seen him for about a year… It\u2019s like my family is back together.<\/p>– Valentina H\u00f6ll<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Ed Masters \/ photo: Kike Abelleira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Behind Trummer, Masters clocked a 2:50.73.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was really good. We thought it was going to be quite muddy, but the track dried out perfectly. It was really fun. Stoked. I haven\u2019t raced Downhill in 13 months, because I had an injury at the end of last season, so this is good for the confidence, and I\u2019m just stoked to be back on the big bike, going fast.<\/p>– Eddie Masters<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Harrison would finish his day in third. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a huge blessing to have a solid race going on. It was an amazing weekend. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to just get back to the races and be with the team and get into the race routine again. You spend so much time at home riding your local trails, so it\u2019s nice to come and test yourself against all the fast guys. I\u2019m very excited to get a good result in. The last few bottom corners were pretty challenging after all the rain. Those were pretty key to get a solid result.<\/p>– Charlie Harrison<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Charlie Harrison \/ photo: Kike Abelleira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It dried out really well. I thought it would be way more slippery. I was super stoked. I like the track a lot, it\u2019s actually the first time I raced it \u2018cause last year I was injured.<\/p>– Valentina H\u00f6ll<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Last to drop, a rider who said he felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Brook Macdonald charged toward the finish line, +5.295 seconds behind the leader, a roar of cheers erupted, by far the loudest of the day. Considering the size of the crowd (essentially non-existent, made up of staff and athletes), the buzz communicated the excitement of the moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was pretty emotional to be honest,\u201d<\/em> said Macdonald, who hasn\u2019t stepped between the tape since August 2019 when he sustained a spinal injury in training ahead of the Mont-Sainte-Anne World Champs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Brook MacDonald \/ photo: Kike Abelleira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Having these people around me… it just shows how much support is out there. It was definitely the highlight of my weekend coming across the finish line and having so many people cheering for me. It was pretty amazing.<\/p>– Brook MacDonald<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Coming into today, the Kiwi rider was the defending champion, as well as the currently Crankworx Downhill Champion. While today\u2019s 11th place finish may not have been his hoped for result, he said given all that\u2019s happened in the past year, he\u2019s keeping in perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be racing again is a pretty massive achievement in itself.<\/p>– Brook MacDonald<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Full results – iXS Innsbruck Downhill presented by Raiffeisen Club: Pro Men<\/a> and Pro Women<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n