Britain's Steve Peat captured his first Mountain Bike World Cup downhill race of the season here Sunday while France's Anne-Caroline Chausson captured the women's crown in the 2.65 km event.
Peat, who rose to second in the season downhill standings, completed the run in 4 minutes 24.41 seconds and watched the final 12 riders fail to beat his time.
"It went pretty smooth," Peat said. "With all the pedaling, you have to dig deep. I felt some lung burning."
France's Nicolas Vouilloz, seeking his third World Cup triumph of the season, was second in 4:26.96 despite a flat rear Michelin tire. He kept the overall season lead with 1,100 points, 265 more than Peat.
"In the middle of the flat part, I was pedaling and I heard sssss," said Vouilloz.
Aussie 19-year-old redhead Nathan Rennie, the junior world champion, was a surprise third for his first World Cup podium appearance.
"I finally figured out how to ride," Rennie said. "In the straight sections, you just don't need to brake at all. The bike has so much travel, it's going to go in a straight line."
South African 19-year-old Greg Minaar was fifth, the best World Cup showing ever for an African rider.
Spain's Oscar Saiz finished seventh after being forced to re-run after Australia's Joel Panozzo crashed below him on the course.
High altitude and low oxygen slowed American world champion Myles Rockwell, who finished sixth. "I was a little dizzy, a little out of breath," he said. "There was not much air up here. I was just a little tired, a little weak."
Chausson completed the layout in 4:51.57 to defeat American runner-up Missy Giove by 8.91 seconds, the largest women's margin of victory this season.
"I knew I had to go really fast at the start," Chausson said.
The World Cup series continues next weekend at Arai Mountain, Japan, with the sixth of eight events - (AFP)
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