Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

French ace Sabrina Jonnier aims to dominate women's downhill at MTB World Cup

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News Cycling Pro Road & Mtb 2011

Published on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 17:02

Written by Luca Salvatelli

French downhill sensation Sabrina Jonnier, who was runner up to long rival and friend Tracy Moseley at the 2010 Downhill World Championships at Mont-Sainte-Anne in Quebec, Canada has her eyes set firmly on a podium finish at the UCI MTB World Cup at Cascades in Pietermaritzburg this weekend.

At the recent CSA National Cup at Cascades, 29 year-old Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) powered her way down the icy slopes of the World Cup course in very muddy conditions, showing good form ahead of the weekend's World Cup finishing just behind Tracy Moseley, with rival Fionn Griffiths hot on her heals.

Her 2010 season was a bit bumpy, but she still managed to win two World Cups and place a consistent second throughout the remaining series races. She claimed the overall World Cup series as well as the French National title.

Being one of the world's most accomplished female downhill racers Jonnier has one Junior World Champ title (1999) and two Elite World Champ titles (2006 and 2007) to her name and was the 2009 and 2010 World Cup Overall Champion.

During 2009 and 2010, Sabrina piloted her way to eight world cup victories, affirming her position as the most consistent female downhiller in the sport.

Jonnier has stated that her goal for 2011 is to continue to dominate the World Cups and to win the 2011 World Championships title in Champery, Italy later this year.

Jonnier grew up racing her BMX, and honed her skills on the race track at just six years of age. As with many of today’s top mountain bikers Jonnier then moved on to racing mountain bikes at the age of fourteen and decided to take riding more seriously in 1999 after winning her first Junior World title and she has not looked back since.

2010 Results:

1st Fort William World Cup

1st Leogang World Cup

1st French National DH Championships

2nd Maribor World Cup

2nd Champery World Cup

2nd Val di Sole World Cup

2nd World Mountain Bike Championships – Mont St. Anne

The UCI MTB World Cup takes place at the Cascades in Pietermaritzburg from 22 to 24 April. More information can be fou