Atherton crowned women's downhill queen as Bruni takes men's honours at UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships

Britain's Rachel Atherton claimed the women's downhill title on the final day of the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships ©Getty Images

World number one Rachel Atherton of Britain surged to her third International Cycling Union (UCI) Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships elite women’s downhill title with another stunning performance on the final day of this year’s event in Vallnord, Andorra.

The 27-year-old came into the competition off the back of a superb World Cup season, where she was crowned overall champion, and justified her position as the best women’s downhill rider in the world by clocking 5min 08.48sec.

Atherton led home a British one-two as compatriot and defending champion Manon Carpenter took silver, just over three seconds adrift of the winning time, with Tracey Hannah of Australia coming through to take third.

“I knew it was going to be hard today and the track is crazy, so dry now compared to earlier in the week,” Atherton said.

"It's fast and you have to hang on.

“That's what I wanted this year, both titles back, and I'm pretty stoked.

“Last year it was Brits 1-2-3 at the World Champs and this year 1-2 - we are definitely holding our own."

In what was an entertaining event, Australian Hannah put herself in the box seat with four riders to go as she was the first to go underneath the 5:20 mark.

The final three riders were all British but Tahnee Seagrave fell victim to the tough conditions as she crashed and could only manage fifth, before Carpenter took to the course and gave herself a decent chance of defending her title.

But team mate Atherton knocked three seconds off Carpenter’s time to ensure she topped the podium, which has been a familiar feeling for her throughout the season.

Frenchman Loic Bruni captured his first elite title with victory in the men's downhill event ©Getty Images

The elite men’s downhill crown went to French youngster Loïc Bruni as he secured his maiden senior title thanks to a time of 4:19.585.

South Africa’s Greg Minnaar did enough to clinch silver while Josh Bryceland maintained Britain’s fruitful day by sealing bronze.

Bruni, junior men’s world champion in 2012, had guaranteed himself a medal with his performance but there were still two riders who could deny him his first elite career gold.

Australian Troy Brosnan was second behind the Frenchman on the intermediate split before he lost time at the end of the course, while World Cup champion Aaron Gwin of United States looked in good form but crashed out, handing Bruni a deserved triumph.

“I didn't believe it could be possible," he said.

"I wasn't even thinking about the win and I had a good run.

“At the bottom were all the people and fans, so I went off the brakes and went really loose, and I held it to the bottom and it's amazing."