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Defending UCI Downhill World Cup champion Sabrina Jonnier, of Hyéres, France, finishes fourth in the opening round of the 2011 UCI Downhill World Cup series at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa at the weekend. 

 

On the long downhill course at Pietermaritzburg, Jonnier's time of 4:58.339 was bettered by winner Tracy Moseley (4:56.166), of Great Britain, with Fionn Griffiths (4:56.454), also of Great Britain, second and fellow Frenchwoman, Emmeline Ragot in third on a time of 4:57.750.

"I thought the winning time would be five minutes, and that is what I was aiming to do," admits Jonnier.

 

 

But it was not to happen on the course in Pietermaritzburg.

 

"I don't know why, but I could not get the speed I wanted in the upper section and I lost some time there. I felt okay through the pedally middle section and then was happy with my fitness in the last section," offers Jonnier, who has not had much time on the bike leading up to the first World Cup after dislocating her sacrum and coccyx in a training crash.

 

Jonnier rode with a Maxxis semi-slick on her rear wheel, as she said the course was not technical at all and quite different to the other courses on the UCI World Cup circuit. 

 

"The only part that felt like a World Cup for me was the fact I did not do so well – I always mess up the first World Cup race of the season," she laughs. 

 

Jonnier was not surprised to see Griffiths notch up such a good result. 

 

"She is fast and has been fast for a very long time, but she has had ups and downs throughout her career and for the last few years she has had downs," she offers.

 

"It is good to see her back up there."

Seeing the current Downhill World Champion, Moseley, rise to the occasion in South Africa was no surprise to Jonnier either.

 

"This is her track," smiles Jonnier.

 

"Last time we were here she won by a much bigger margin, so I knew she would be the rider to beat."

 

The middle section of the Pietermaritzburg course features a series of large tabletop jumps and neither Moseley or Jonnier chose to clear them, but young Frenchwoman Floriane Pugin floated effortlessly across them.

 

"She focused on the jumps all week and was determined to clear them," shares Jonnier.

 

"And she did make it look smooth."

 

Jonnier was pleased to see Pugin and fellow Frenchwoman Emmeline Ragot join her on the podium with the two British riders.

 

"We outnumbered them up there – there were three of us and two of them," she jokes, fueling the French vs British stranglehold on the coveted women's downhill series. 

 

Conspicuous in her absence in South Africa was British rider and Jonnier's long-time rival, Rachel Atherton, sidelined from the opening round with injury. 

 

"I expect she will be back for Fort William and she will be strong again," considers Jonnier.

 

Despite admitting to never truly being happy in any position other than first, Jonnier takes a lot of positives away from the opening round of her title defence for 2011.

 

"I am happy to feel comfortable on the bike again and to see that I have good endurance for this longer course. I have been off the bike in the lead up to the season as a result of an injury to my lower back. But today I felt my body was healed and ready to race, despite a few crashes during the week."

 

With a six-week break before the UCI World Cup resumes at Fort William, Scotland, Jonnier has plenty of time to prepare.

 

"It is important for me now to rest my body and make sure it is well healed and then to ride my bike a lot," she laughs.

 

"I feel strong enough, fit enough and I have shown that my endurance is there so I just need some time on the bike before Fort William."

 

Jonnier will resume defence of her UCI World Cup title at Fort William, Scotland, June 4-5.