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West Virginia is known as the mountain state, which makes it the perfect place to race bikes down hill.
The final men’s World Cup downhill race of the season took place under ideal conditions Saturday, and as usual, the competition was intense.
The top half of the course was fast and furious.Wide-open jumps gave racers a chance to wow the crowd.American Dakotah Norton gets horizontal during his last training run. He likely didn’t repeat this move in the final where speed wins over style.Neko Mulally’s bike toolbox.Atherton bikes, ready for racing.Trek Factory rider Reece Wilson dials in the top half of the course.Loic Bruni takes a training run. Bruni went on to win the men’s final.Loris Vergier had a great season, though he was likely disappointed with his finish on Saturday.Troy Brosnan finished second on the day.Despite a bit of rain the day before, the course was dusty in places for the last weekend of the summer.The lower half of the course featured plenty of rock.It’s all in the hips.Racers had to thread the needle many times throughout the course.Germany’s Max Hartenstern negotiates a particularly tight switchback.Matteo Iniguez launches off a rock drop.Athletes scoped the lines one last time before the final. Left: Finn Iles takes another run at a rock garden. Right: David Trummer surveys the drop. American Neko Mulally comes as close as anyone to being a local, which made him a crowd favorite along the course. Steep slopes didn’t stop costumed fans from setting up in the woods to cheer on the riders.Ronan Dunne tests his grip.Florent Payet dabs the corner to stay on the bike.Brook Macdonald was likely disappointed with his finish at Snowshoe.Danny Hart proved he belongs in the top 10 this season.
Bernard Kerr remounts after coming off his bike in the corner. He was able to make up a bit of time but ultimately finished toward the back of the pack.
Reece Wilson is pinned through the berms, and took seventh place.
Laurie Greenland navigates a steep boulder field.
For some riders, the faster line runs below the berm instead of on it.Amaury Pierron take the middle line and secures fourth place on the day.
Luca Shaw of the Santa Cruz Syndicate leans into a turn mid-way down the course.
Matt Walker leading with his hips.These guys heckled the crowd all day long.
Loris Vergier drops in.
Troy Brosnan started third to last, and crossed the line with a second place finish.Angel Suarez proves to be too fast for the camera.
Finn Iles gaps the trees.
Specialized-sponsored athlete Loic Bruni took first place in the final World Cup DH race of the season.
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