GREATEST DOWNHILL RACE EVER. Snowshoe World Cup DH Finals

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Was this the greatest downhill mountain bike race ever? Steve Peat thinks so, and he's seen almost every one of them! The final race of the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill season concluded in Snowshoe, West Virginia, with Danny Hart taking the race win and Loic Bruni narrowly edging out Amaury Pierron for the World Cup Overall Championship of 2019. Loic would need a third place finish to keep the overall if Amaury won the race. Amaury was leading the race with an early run that seemed unbeatable. Loic dropped in and ended up in 3rd place by 1.5 seconds at the time with only Danny Hart remaining. If Danny landed in 2nd, Amaury would win the overall. If Danny won the race or finished 4th or less, Loic would win the overall. Danny's split times were so close the entire way down his run, that until he crossed the line, no one was sure what the outcome would be. Danny eventually beat Amaury by just .656 seconds, winning the race and leaving Loic with the title.

Tracey Hannah earned the women's overall championships victory, but not after Marine Cabirou took the race win, forcing Tracey to be mistake-free within a tight threshold. If Marine won the race, Tracey would have to finish 7th or better. Tracey ended up finishing 5th with just a few seconds to spare and earned the overall victory.

***For the best viewing experience, hit "one page" mode at the top, start the audio and cruise the incredible photos by the squids!***

(If you hit the bulleted list icon in the player, you can jump to specific rider interviews)

Rider Interview Table of Contents

1:32 - Steve Peat
5:16 - Loic Bruni
11:38 - Amaury Pierron
20:30 - Eddie Masters
22:05 - Laurent Delorme, Loic's Team Manager
23:34 - Tracey Hannah
29:40 - Danny Hart
33:41 - Marine Cabirou
35:20 - Charlie Harrison
41:58 - Dakotah Norton
42:56 - Bruce Klein
45:04 - Thibaut Daprela
46:51 - Myriam Nicole
48:10 - Troy Brosnan
51:43 - Chris Kilmurry
55:05 - Veronika Widmann
56:04 - Greg Minnaar
59:52 - Loris Vergier
1:03:26 - Luke Meier-Smith
1:04:43 - Greg Williamson
1:06:20 - Thomas Estaque
1:07:14 - Dean Lucas (Nicest guy in Downhilling?)
1:10:54 - Finn Iles
1:16:11 - Kye A'hern

Vital can't thank enough, Sven, Boris, Dan and all the media squids who captured the World Cup Downhill circus this season! You make us feel like we're there. -gordo

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That was the tightest and most exciting World Cup finals in a long time. Loic looking up before crossing the finish line, trying to check the clock for his time. The only problem? There was no clock for the riders to see at this race. @maddogboris

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The double champ. Not done since Sam Hill in 2007. -Sven Martin

Loic with the hardware. Rainbow Jersey and Crystal trophy. What's next? Rampage? Wow. -Sven Martin

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Amaury Pierron laid down a run that looked pretty much unbeatable. The way he crushed the last section especially was amazing to watch. It almost was... until the last rider down. -Dan Hearn

Amaury on the final stretches. Oh so, so close to that overall. Missing the title by just one half of a second after a year of racing. Heart-breaking. -Sven Martin

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I could feel the vibration in my feet when Dany hit the berm at the end of the steep chute. @maddogboris

Danny Hart with the turbo on the final split to steal the race win from Amaury and thus gift Loic the overall title. Can't make this shit up. -Sven Martin

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One of the most tense finishes to a season in the history of downhill. Loic Bruni was reliant on Danny getting 1st place or lower than 3rd in order to take the overall title. -Dan Hearn

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A second back at split 3 and yet Danny Hart pulled back 1.6 seconds to take the win by 0.6. He must have done something exceptional in the last section of track. A long time coming, that's for sure. -Dan Hearn

Danny Hart finally getting the win he's been so close to all year long! -Sven Martin

Danny Hart will be a father by the time we return in 2020 (Daddy Hart), but we can be sure he will be hungry for another win after such a sensational World Cup finals win. -Dan Hearn

Yes Danny! What an end to a crazy year, finishing on one of the most exciting tracks yet. -Sven Martin

Loic has a lot to thank Danny for. Bliss! -Sven Martin

All eyes on Loic! @maddogboris

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Even if it's just Loic racing his bike down a hill, it's still a major team effort to become the champion. @maddogboris

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Tracey Hannah was on a different line than all others girls in the Rockgarden. 5th place, hanging on by a thread into 1st place overall! Mental toughness was hers today. Congrats Tracey. @maddogboris

Marine Cabirou was the only woman to jump the triple and it paid off by gaining here two seconds on the clock and a big win! She has really stepped it up this year huge. -Sven Martin

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Marine digging deep on the final corner. -Sven Martin

The racing has been absolutely nail-biting this year. Had Tracey finished one spot lower the title would have been Marine's. -Sven Martin

The american Fans delivered an amazing atmosphere and vibe! You guys rock @maddogboris

It takes a family and team to get titles. Well done to all the hard work Polygon UR. -Sven Martin

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Signature Mick Hannah show. No jump too tough for Mick. -Sven Martin

Thibaut Daprela making up for his World Champs mechanical with a solid six-second win margin. It won't be too long until we see him pushing for an Elite podium as he moves up in 2020. -Sven Martin

Thibaut Daprela told us that he would put everything into his run, and so did he! Ready to race with the Elite Men next year, he will mixing up the results as we know them. @maddogboris

Veronika Widmann rode strong and took third place in finals. -Dan Hearn

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The moment Veronika Widmann realized she'd moved from 4th to 3rd in the overall! She's had a hell of a season. -Dan Hearn

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Anna Newkirk laying it all on the line in her race run, getting a bit looser than normal. It paid off with a 2nd place on home turf. #USDH -Sven Martin

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Sean Leader, the Snowshoe course builder and future U.S. President? -Mickey Denoncourt

Double thumbs for Thomas Estaque who took 8th, his best result of the year. -Dan Hearn

Bruce Klein stuck at it and brought the goods. A 16th place to finish off the year is a great place to be. Yeww!! #USDH -Dan Hearn

25% of the Top 20 are #USDH riders! Luca Shaw laying down some horsepower on the last few metres of track. -Dan Hearn

The fans went crazy when Charlie Harrison arrived in the finish area! Well-deserved 3rd place for him. #USDH on fire! @maddogboris

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This one will stick in the memory banks. Charlie Harrison, 3rd place on home soil. #USDH -Dan Hearn

Veronika Widmann sending it into third on the day and in the overall. Her results are starting to come along nicely now. -Sven Martin

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Crystal, chainsaws and champagne. Who would have thunk (redneck for "thought")? But in MTB it's a match made in heaven (or hell) come finals day. -Sven Martin

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Kye A'hern broke his wrist the morning of the race and did not compete. The newly crowned World Champion literally arrived at the podium straight from the hospital mid-ceremony. His fellow competitors helped dress him for the photo. You can't script this. -Sven Martin

Kye will come back strong for next season. -Sebastian "the Hoff" Schieck.

Vali Höll's last race run as a junior! She finished her second season with a second overall title and World Champs win. The future is bright and with so many Junior women moving up to Elites next season, the battles will just get closer! @maddogboris

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Green all the way for Vali Höll, who took the win and her second overall World Cup title. -Dan Hearn

Welcome to Elites, girls. -Sven Martin

'Murica. -Sven Martin

Thanks guys for battling it out for us so hard all year. The best year of racing in quite a few years. All worthy of the crystal trophies. -Sven Martin

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Is this the lowest race-run speed tuck in MTB history? Troy just missed the podium with a 6th place. Still stoked about his 3rd place overall and ready to head home for a break after 10 weeks on the road. @maddogboris

Mille Johnset on her way to third place in the race and also third place overall @maddogboris

Some of the best and most knowledgeable fans of any World Cup round this year, super friendly and super hospitable. -Sven Martin

Country roads. Take me home. All the staff and crew killed it this week and put on an epic event! It's been a pleasure West Virginia! -Dan Hearn

American Matthew Sterling ended up 4th in Snowshoe. #USDH @maddogboris

Lucas Cruz with a strong end-of-the-season finish and another podium in 3rd. -Sven Martin

Janosch Klaus staying above the holes in one of the many rock gardens on the lower reaches of the track. -Sven Martin

Connor Fearon with a top 15, he always goes well in the USA. -Sven Martin

#USDH convert? Kiwi, Matt Walker flies the flag. -Sven Martin

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Greg Williamson back up to speed after a mid-season concussion. Seventh place, less than a second off the podium. -Sven Martin

5 Americans in the top 16. Impressive stuff. Bruce Klein realizing his potential. #USDH -Sven Martin

Greg Minnaar with yet another podium among a sea of younger riders. 2.3 seconds off the win but back in 5th place in what may be the most competitive World Cup DH environment of all time. -Sven Martin

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Dakotah Norton with the panshot on his way to 9th place. He finished the season with a 15th overall. #USDH @maddogboris

Hells Yeah! Thanks America. -Sven Martin

Dean Lucas with a solid 10th place in America and also a 10th place overall. He may also have the coolest hair while being the nicest guy on circuit. @maddogboris

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Off season begins...now! -Sven Martin

Good to see we have some fast 1st-year juniors to keep the pace high with the likes of Seth Sherlock and second-place finisher here, Luke Meier-Smith. -Sven Martin

Junior, Luke Meier-Smith ready for more in 2020. @maddogboris

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Tahnee waiting for the clock to let her go. -Sven Martin

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Joey Foresta , 7th place and second-fastest #USDH shredder! -Sven Martin

Up Pompon goes to cheer for Amaury mid-course after her 2nd-place run. -Sven Martin

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Tahnee doing her best Danny Mac impression off the final Red Bull drop into fourth. -Sven Martin

Greg didn't manage to stop in time on the short finish area and slammed into the signs, but it was worth it for the podium. -Sven Martin

While the flower ceremony happens, Loic gets all the attention. A race within the race this weekend. -Sven Martin

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Photographer Keith "Phunkt" Valentine retired today after 17 years of MTB race photography. He is an icon of the sport, doing things his way. Have a scope of his amazing Flickr library and buy him a cigar, whiskey or cider if you see him out there in the pastures. At 53 years young he has done a huge service to the sport. -Sven Martin

Peaty congratulating the 2019 overall winner. If Peaty thinks this was the greatest race ever, it is. Fact. @maddogboris

Each team has their own way to enjoy america! @maddogboris

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Thank you guys for such an incredible season! @maddogboris

Thanks Zach "MTBJesus" Falkner for the good times in Snowshoe. @maddogboris

That´s your new TV Host, Ed Masters, with support of his mechanic Kurt McDonald. @maddogboris

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Myriam Nicole starting the day with a smile and finished it with a second place. @maddogboris

Unexpected present from Vali Höll while waiting for the Podium. @maddogboris

Aaron Gwin finished his season with a 13th place in Snowshoe. He will be back stronger next season! #USDH @maddogboris

Time to change the paint job. Winning is here! -Sven Martin

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Early morning stretch for Pompon before it all begins. -Sven Martin

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PomPon was looking the fastest in that rockgarden! Second Place for her. @maddogboris

Contrasting fortunes. -Dan Hearn

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The G.O.A.T. reckoned this was one of the best finals he's ever witnessed. Such high emotions really made it a special one. -Dan Hearn

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After a disappointing time at Worlds, Thibaut Daprela is over the moon to take the win at his last World Cup as a junior. He already had the overall secured, but this one still meant a lot. -Dan Hearn

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Loris hasn't made a fuss about his wrist injury but it has been a constant nag for the last few races. His determination pulled him through and allowed him to keep 5th place in the overall. -Dan Hearn

The last person to take the World Champs title and the World Cup overall in the same year was Sam Hill. Not a bad name to join in the history books. -Dan Hearn

Two World Cup overalls go alongside two junior World Championships wins. Domination. We can't wait to see how Vali Höll settles into the elite field next year. -Dan Hearn

The last Elite Women World Cup Podium of the 2019 Season. @maddogboris

This one meant a lot to Tracey Hannah. She didn't leave much margin when she crossed the line in 5th - one spot lower and the overall would have been a different story. -Dan Hearn

We are so stoked for you Loic. @maddogboris

These two. True role models for the sport and still such good friends even after arguably the most tense and emotional finals we've ever witnessed. -Dan Hearn

Cheers America @maddogboris

And with that, the 2019 World Cup DH season is over. Thank you. Good night. @maddogboris

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Thank you to Sven, Boris, Dan and all the media that make these slideshows possible. Not only are you the biggest fans, you're the best at what you do!!! We're honored here at Vital to work with you! -Jack Rice

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Peace out from us and thanks for checking out our slideshows, interviews and tech bits all year! We're stoked to be part of such a rad sport filled with some of the best and nicest sportsmen on the planet. -Dan Hearn

2019 World Cup DH Finals and Overall Results

Thibaut Daprela