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Aaron Gwin takes 2016 World Cup #1 gold

  • Ron 

Aaron Gwin (Wildomar, Calif./The YT Mob) began the defense of his 2015 World Cup title with a win at World Cup #1 in Lourdes, France, on Sunday.

Nikolas Nestoroff (San Marcos, Calif./Intense Cycles) earned bronze in junior competition.

After qualifying 10th on Saturday, Gwin found himself in the hot seat with top qualifier and defending World Champion Loic Bruni (FRA) still to go. Bruni led by more than two seconds at the penultimate checkpoint before losing control and crashing, which clinched Gwin’s victory. Gwin’s 3:09.131 time held up, defeating Steve Smith (CAN) by 2.471 seconds and Danny Hart (GBR) by 2.686 seconds.

Luca Shaw (Hendersonville, N.C./SRAM-Troy Lee Designs) took 21st on the day in 18.493, Neko Mulally (Pisgah Forest, N.C./Gstaad-Scott) crossed in 3:25.917 for 45th, followed by Luca Cometti (San Diego, Calif./Intense Factory Racing) in 3:27.747 for 48th.

Nestoroff clocked a 3:35.449 time in the junior men’s race to claim bronze, trailing only Finnley Iles’ (CAN) 3:32.269 run and Matt Walker’s (GBR) 3:33.828 effort.

Elite men’s results
1. Aaron Gwin (Wildomar, Calif./The YT Mob) 3:09.131
2. Steve Smith (CAN) 3:11.602
3. Danny Hart (GBR) 3:11.817
21. Luca Shaw (Hendersonville, N.C./SRAM-Troy Lee Designs) 18.493
45. Neko Mulally (Pisgah Forest, N.C./Gstaad-Scott) 3:25.917
48. Luca Cometti (San Diego, Calif./Intense Factory Racing) 3:27.747

Junior men’s results
1. Finnley Iles (CAN) 3:32.269
2. Matt Walker (GBR) 3:33.828
3. Nikolas Nestoroff (San Marcos, Calif./Intense Cycles) 3:35.449

Full UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 results.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup continues with downhill and cross-country competition in Cairns, Australia, April 23-24.

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