Rachel Atherton began her season in impressive fashion in Lourdes ©Getty Images

Rachel Atherton achieved her 14th consecutive International Cycling Union (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup victory by winning the season opening event in Lourdes.

The Briton last missed the top of the podium back in the French venue in 2015 and was the clear favourite heading into this weekend's racing, following her unbeaten season last year.

Atherton was forced to settle for second place in yesterday's qualification, behind her team-mate Tahnee Seagrave.

But the 29-year-old would pick up where she left off last season by completing the course in a time of 3min 21.430sec to claim the victory.

Australia's Tracey Hannah would end as the runner-up after finishing 2.579 seconds off the Britain's pace.

The podium was completed by Seagrave, who ended the race in 3:24.165.

"I absolutely cannot believe it, it's been such a mad weekend," said Atherton.

"The track is so rough.

"Tahnee - I follow her on Instagram and know she has been training hard - she beat me in qualifying fair and square.

"I just thought 'this is it' and I've just got to out and do what I normally do.

"It's been two years of intense pressure but at the end of the day I love racing, it's such a buzz."

Alexandre Fayolle was the victor in the men's event ©Getty Images
Alexandre Fayolle was the victor in the men's event ©Getty Images

The early riders in the men's event benefited from favourable conditions, which deteriorated heavily as the event drew to a close.

France's Alexandre Fayolle sealed victory by finishing in a time of 2:52.758, with Canada's Mark Wallace ending as the runner-up by ending 3.326 behind.

The podium was completed by Colombia's Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas, who finished 3.441 seconds adrift of the winner's time.

The worsening conditions were reflected by the top five qualifiers, who were the last to take to the start ramp, missing out on the top 10 altogether.

Scotland will host the second World Cup event in Fort William with action taking place from June 3 to 4.

Leogang in Austria welcomes riders the following weekend.

Vallnord in Andorra will stage the fourth event from July 1 to 2, with Lenzerheide in Switzerland hosting from July 8 to 9.

The penultimate World Cup will be held in Mont-Sainte-Anne from August 5 to 6, with the event in Canada then followed by competition in Val di Sole, Italy, between August 26 and 27.