Mountain Bike World Cup: Rachel Atherton starts title defence with win
- From the section Cycling
World champion Rachel Atherton started the defence of her Mountain Bike World Cup downhill title with an opening-round win in France on Sunday.
Atherton, who won a fourth World Cup in August, led home a British one-two-three in the elite women's event.
Tahnee Seagrave was second, with Manon Carpenter taking third in Lourdes.
"I knew I was going to have to ride as well as I could and maybe crash. It's gnarly how hard we have to push," said the 28-year-old.
"It's been one of those weekends - all or nothing."
Atherton, who also has three World Championships wins to her name, finished more than four seconds quicker than Seagrave.