DYLAN MAPLES, AUSTIN DOOLEY, AND ANNA NEWKIRK EARN CAREER-BEST DOWNHILL RESULTS AT THE 2024 MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Young American riders shine with Top-15 finishes at Andorra Worlds.
News report from USA Cycling:
PAL ARINSAL, Andorra – August 31, 2024 – On the penultimate day of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, the Elite Men and Women dropped from the top of Pal Arinsal for Downhill Finals. The race unfolded under dry and dusty conditions, with fans packed into every corner of the track, making it an electrifying atmosphere.
Elite Men’s Downhill Finals
The men’s race was exhilarating from the start, with each lap getting faster, and crashes toward the end made for an unpredictable finish. Dakotah Norton (Clinton, Tenn.; Mondraker Factory Racing) didn’t have the best run in qualifying, but he knew he had the speed and was eager for more. As the third-to-last rider to drop, the pressure was on. Norton had a smooth, fast start, showing all green splits after Loris Vergier (FRA) set the fastest time of the day. He kept gaining time, nearly delivering a mistake-free run, but just before the final exit out of the woods, he went off the track and crashed. It was a heartbreaking day for Norton.
Luca Shaw (Pisgah Forest, N.C.; Canyon Collective) also showed green splits as one of the final riders to drop, but his pace slowed as he progressed down the track, ultimately finishing 17th. The top Americans on the day were young superstars Dylan Maples (Orangevale, Calif.; Commencal Muc-Off) and Austin Dooley (Yucaipa, Calif.; Commencal Schwalbe), both of whom had career-best race runs, finishing in the top 15.
[Editor’s note: America’s Asa Vermette, who scored the win in the Junior Men’s Downhill Finals on Thursday would have placed sixth among the Elite Men with his finishing time.]
Elite Women’s Downhill Finals
The women kicked off the day in Andorra with a thrilling final as the anticipation built for the last riders to drop. National Champion Anna Newkirk (Riehen, Switzerland; Beyond Racing MTB) was the fastest American of the day, improving on all of her splits from Thursday. She set a blistering pace, finishing sixth in the world, marking her best result at an Elite World Championship. First-year elite Abby Ronca (Bethlehem, Pa.; Evolve Racing) rode to a solid 31st place, with Abby Hogie (Heidelberg, Germany; Beyond Racing MTB) close behind in 35th.
Up Next
On the final day of the World Championships, the U23 and Elite Cross-Country riders will battle for the rainbow stripes. Watch all the action live on FloSports.
ABOUT USA CYCLING (usacycling.org)
USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling and oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, gravel, BMX, and esports. USA Cycling’s mission is to grow participation and engagement with the sport of bicycle racing and achieve sustained international success across all cycling disciplines. USA Cycling supports cyclists of all levels and abilities, from those just beginning in the sport to international caliber athletes. The organization identifies, develops, and selects cyclists to represent the United States in international competition through the support of youth and interscholastic programs, amateur and grassroots bike racing events, athlete development programs, and operational support for cycling clubs, racing teams, and event organizers. USA Cycling has a membership of 80,000, sanctions over 2,500 events annually, and is a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
