Some race weekends are just simply better than others, and this last one in Mont-Sainte-Anne will not be remembered in the best way…
This difficult week began on Friday, when Camille Balanche broke her collarbone, crashing during practice. It was a bad crash for Cami who was dominating the 2022 World Cup overall series. She still has the hope of being able to compete in the 8th and last round in 4 weeks’ time in Val di Sole. She said,“I am already so proud of what I've been able to achieve so far this season, I was so close to achieving my dream, but that's part racing. I don't know if I will be able to participate in the last round, but I will do everything to try!”Despite this non-scoring rounds, she still left Mont-Sainte-Anne as the World Cup overall leader with a 119-point lead over second place.

With Cami out, it was all to play for in the final for Myriam Nicole. The COMMENCAL Muc-Off Team rider was clearly one of the fastest at the first splits but a puncture through the fastest part of the track dashed all her hopes. Even if she managed to finish her run, she ended her weekend in 13thplace. Afterwards she said,“Sometimes things don't go as planned, especially in DH. But I felt really good on the bike, I have a lot of confidence from all that. There is still so much to do this season, we will fight for it!”After this round, she moves down to 3rd in the overall and will have to achieve an incredible performance in Val di Sole to hope to win.

There are still positives to take away from this Elite Women’s final. Monika Hrastnik once again climbed onto the podium after finishing 5th! Behind her, a great performance from Mille Johnset (8th) who was not even sure she would take part because of a shoulder injury. It was also a great result for Siel Van Der Velden in 11th.

It was a difficult final for our Elite Men as well. Amaury Pierron was so close to sealing a second World Cup series win after 2018, but a crash took him out of contention, for now… Fortunately, he didn’t suffer any injuries and jumped straight back on the bike, but he lost too many seconds. He finished 26th on the day, but even if he still has a 249-point lead in the overall, everything will be decided once and for all, at the final round in Italy. Amaury said,“I was hopeful of winning this round and I rode for that. It didn’t work out. I'm sorry for playing it like that, it would have been easier to be sure. But no regrets, fighting for the win is the reason I ride competitively!”Behind Amaury, it was a good race for Thibaut Daprela who put down a solid run. It was also a superb final for Antoine Vidal in 17th, who found himself on the limit several times throughout his run. Austin Dooley riding for our COMMENCAL North America structure, has certainly been very consistent towards the end of this season. He finished 23rd. He was followed by Thomas Estaque (24th), Pau Menoyo (29th), Angel Suarez (31st) and Baptiste Pierron (32nd). After a big straight-line-exit from the track Benoit Coulanges did not finish his race but fit and ready for World Champs.

In the Junior Men, Hugo Marini was 15thand Jack Piercy 21st.

The COMMENCAL Muc-Off Team retains their leading position in the team overall series!

See you early September in Val Di Sole for the final round of this 2022 World Cup season, but before that a stop in Les Gets from August 24 - 28 for the World Championships!

Photos : Keno Derleyn / Ross Bell / Jey Crunch