After completing the Timed Training session, Elite racers face off in a race against the clock to determine who will move on to the semi-finals. In the first qualifying session of 2024, Tahnee Seagrave has shown incredible form coming out of the off-season and has taken the top spot in the Elite Women’s category. She crossed the finish line just over two seconds ahead of second place rider Nina Hoffmann, demonstrating her determination to secure another elite win at Fort William. However, Seagrave did lose her lead once during her run to Vali Höll in the second sector.
Following closely behind Seagrave is Hoffmann, who delivered a consistent performance that kept her in touch with the leader until she lost about a second in split four. Meanwhile, Anna Newkirk put on an impressive display, gaining positions in later sectors to finish her qualifying ride in third place. Höll, last year’s overall winner and current World Champion, was unable to match the top time and dropped down to fifth place in the standings. Despite briefly leading during the second sector, Höll lost significant time in split three through upper woods.
As fans eagerly await the final standings for both Elite Men and Women categories at Fort William, provisional results for Elite Women are as follows: Tahnee Seagrave took first place with a time of 4:48:043; Nina Hoffmann came in second with a time of 4:49:921 (+1:878); Anna Newkirk finished third with a time of 4:50:534 (+2:491); Camille Balanche was fourth with a time of 4:51:409 (+3:366) and Vali Höll placed fifth with a time of 4:51739 (+3696).
