Brosnan ends World Cup winning drought in final race of the season

Troy Brosnan has ended his three year World Cup winning drought in dramatic fashion at the final UCI Downhill World Series race of the season in Mont Sainte Anne, Canada.

Brosnan’s only other taste of UCI World Cup victory was in 2021, followed by a string of near misses and even his participation in Quebec was doubtful due to the birth of his baby Madison just six weeks ago at the end of August.

Troy Brosnan celebrates his first World Cup victory in three years.

 The Aussie qualified fastest in Mont-Sainte-Anne, but a departing legend dominated the early proceedings. Greg Minnaar (Norco Factory Racing) enjoyed a relatively clean run in the his final UCI World Cup appearance and enjoyed a hero’s reception all the way down the course.

Last down the course - he was rapid through the first two-time checks but then drifted into red leaving a mammoth task on the final section.

Yet the Australian delivered a special finish to inch 0.062 seconds ahead of Stevens-McNab and fire himself up to second in the overall standings, a possibility Brosnan didn’t even know was possible.

 
“Just having a baby and not knowing if I’m even going to come to this race. Got the all-clear from the wife to go so I had to make it worthwhile, and this has been the best weekend of my life,” Brosnan said.
 
“Feel amazing on the bike, my mind was just so free the whole weekend and honestly, I can’t believe I put that run down in the rain. I knew it was going to be tough, but everything was just flowing. I just knew I had to ride like it was dry and I guess it worked!
 
When told he’d clinched second overall, Brosnan added: “No way, second? I didn’t even think that was possible!”

Image Credit: @Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series/Innes Graham