No doubt was gunning for gold earlier on Saturday at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. He was unable to manage that, but did lock up a bronze medal for his efforts.
Instead the race belonged to Loris Vergier (2:38.661), who took his inaugural elite downhill gold a decade after winning the junior category. Another Frenchman, Benoit Coulanges (2:38.809), snuck into silver medal position less than three one-hundredths of a second quicker than Iles (2:38.830).
Jakob Jewett was unable to replicate in Pal Arinsal, Andorra and settled for 15th.
Mountain bike fans are impressed, but perhaps not surprised by triumphing at Worlds for a third consecutive year. The Austrian phenom (3:00.212) needed every bit of speed and skill to edge out runner-up Nicole Myriam (3:00.732), while Tahnee Seagrave rode to third for Great Britain (3:01.424).
Gracey Hemstreet was tantalizingly close to the podium, but fell just short in fourth (3:01.813).
for more results from Andorra.
