NEWS FOR FEBRUARY

The Scottish World Cup Chaser

Public to take on the World Cup Cross Country Course at Fort William

On 31 May and 1 June the second stage of the 2003 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series will take over Fort William in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. At least 300 of the World's elite Mountain Bikers from more than 25 countries will compete in the Downhill, 4-Cross and Cross Country events with more than 10,000 people expected to watch the thrilling action as it unfolds over the weekend.

Whilst the three World Cup events will be fought over by the world's best, the World Cup Chaser, an open mountain bike cross country race, will be fiercely contested by club and weekend riders on Sunday 1 June.

Peter Siebelt, Glasgow Mountain Bike Club, the organisers of the World Cup Chaser event said; 'With UCI World Cup Cross Country racing back in the UK we felt it would be a great opportunity for UK riders to experience what it is like to race the same course as the elite. Many UK club racers will be travelling up to Fort William to watch the cross country event on Saturday 31 June. Now they can also race the course the following day, comparing their times with the best in the world and then get free admission to the Downhill event, the climax to the World Cup weekend!'

Up to 500 of the UK's estimated 2 million plus mountain bikers are expected to take part in this open event on the new 7.5km Witches Trail Cross Country course.

The Witches Trail Cross Country course is currently being built especially for the UCI World Cup Cross Country by the Forestry Commission in the Leanachan Forest, the area of woodland below Ben Nevis, as part of its extensive network of trails throughout Scotland.

Keith Muir, Recreation Manager for the Forestry Commission in Lochaber said; 'We are thrilled that the World Cup is coming back again to our Leanachan Forest. It's a massive boost to the area and truly consolidates the Fort William area as a top destination for mountain biking. The Forestry Commission is gaining a world-wide reputation for producing first class mountain bike trails and this one will be no exception.'

The success of the 2002 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William firmly established Nevis Range, with the Off Beat Downhill Course and 4-Cross track, as a world class mountain bike destination. The 2003 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Cross Country and the World Cup Chaser events that will launch the new Leanachan Witches Trail will reinforce the area as one of the prime all-discipline mountain bike destinations in the UK.

Entry forms and further details of the World Cup Chaser Cross Country event are available from the official World Cup website:

http://www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk and Glasgow Mountain Bike Club on http://www.walkerscycling.co.uk.

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