Intro:

Aaron Gwin and Emmeline Ragot took the honours in the downhill season opener of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Lourdes, France on Sunday (12 April).

Script:

Sunday saw the first downhill final of the UCI MTP World Cup season, and the location was one of this year's two new tracks, Lourdes in south-west France.

Two-time World Cup champion Aaron Gwin crashed in Saturday's qualifying and was one of the first riders to take to the track.

However there was to be no repetition of his troubles in qualifying as he flew down the rough and rocky track.

His time of 2 minutes 58.61 seconds was impressive and proved to the only sub three-minute ride of the weekend.

Home favourite Loic Bruni began in blistering fashion but eventually lost track on Gwin and crossed the line with a time good enough for second.

Briton Michael Jones completed the top three to earn the first ever World Cup podium of his career.

The women's event proved to be more joyful for the home crowd and Emmeline Ragot clinched the season opener with a storming ride.

She went down in 3 minute 32.65 seconds, over two seconds clear of World champion Rachel Atherton.

The British rider was in fact forced to settle for second place after she damaged her rear wheel on a rock.

Third spot went to Myriam Nicole who had previously set the fastest time in qualifying.