oh, what could've been

notable incidents that denied riders the win

WINDHAM, USA, 2012 In an attempt to end the dominance of Rachel Atherton, Emmeline Ragot – who was up at the last split – decided to send the finish jump, even though it had been causing problems for a lot of riders. She cased it, bike and body flying in different directions, but still got up to cross the line in third place. At the same race, Frenchman Damien Spagnolo was looking like the only racer capable of challenging Aaron Gwin. He was on a charge and in the lead, only to have his tyre split and dash his chances.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA, 2014 The Australian jungle was a mudbath in 2014, but it didn’t faze American Neko Mullaly, who took to the soaking wet track at a blistering pace. Heartbreakingly, he lost a wheel on the slick roots, but still managed to take third.

LEOGANG, AUSTRIA, 2014

On the hunt for his first World Cup win, Loïc Bruni was charging hard. Up at the splits and fighting to beat Josh Bryceland, the Frenchman pushed too hard and crashed in the last right-hander after the famous waterfall section – a corner that’s caught out many riders and always leaves the commentators with bated breath.

2014 WORLD CHAMPS, HAFJELL, NORWAY This was the site of Bryceland’s infamous overjump that cost him the rainbow stripes and left him with a broken foot. The race was a heart-breaker for Sam Hill too, who looked set to claim his fourth World Champs win until a scorpion over the bars in the final rocks stopped him in his tracks.

LO INJ, CROATIA, 2018 Brook Macdonald had won qualifying and was riding with a style all of his own. Up in finals, he lost his front wheel off a drop and broke his collarbone, but still somehow finished his run!