World Mountain Bike Championships Day 4

 

MTB Worlds Spectator Diary - Friday 7th Sept

- Link: Fort William Reports, Images, Results

- Link: Eddie's diary Part 1

Sponsors Nissan have put a lot into the event - in every way!

www.everydaycycling.com editor Eddie Allen made the mad dash up to Fort William on Friday morning to spend the weekend working on the British Cycling stand and reporting for us on the event. This is the second of his blog-diaries from Scotland.

After a 1:30am finish, blogging and downloading pictures, I was up again at 7:00am and back up the road to the event village, once again using the special cycleway. A lot less hairy than the ride down in pitch dark last night.

Mesmerising skill in the trials

When we got there, the trials semi finals was well underway. Dotted around the arena and into the woods, there were rock, wood, riverbed, construction site and natural sections, plus one section with a Nissan pickup and a phone box. British riders figured strongly in the semis and the crowds followed the Brit pack around from section to section. In tandem, the women's senior XC was in full swing. Course designers had placed the trials areas close to the XC course, so in the same shot you had cross country whippets and back wheel hopping trialsters rubbing shoulders.

Next I was off to the Everyday Cycling event truck, where British Cycling's MC Andy Gilliott was interviewing the Junior Downhill GB Team, who when asked, were mostly 'stoked to be here.'

Catering tent - and Hog Roast

Then came lunch and some serious decision making in the catering tent, which was filled with BBQ smoke and chatter. After the culinary delights of yesterday's venison casserole in a bun, I decided to branch out and go for the Hog in the Bun from Highland Hog Roast.

 

Time for a recipie, me thinks: Publicly spit roast and carve hog; stuff liberal portion of said hog into large bap - et voila - hog in bun, with crackling of course! Serves one (hungry) adult. Cooking time - 1-2 minutes. Prep time - zero!

 

Must try the porridge stall tomorrow! I'm running the full gauntlet of Scottish cuisine, though trying to stay away from the organic beer and whisky stand, at least until after I've finished a day's work. Unbenown to me, I was also on the menu. The highland midges were at work in the woods around the natural trials area and had a damn good feast on any exposed bit of flesh.

Nick Craig (left) and Liam Killeen show contrasting facial expressions as their race approaches

Lunch over, I was off to watch the Senior Men's XC. In the starting compound there were lots of anxious looks, last minute coaching pep talks, turbo warmups, and the odd rider looking relaxed and ready for the race. If yesterday's Under-23s were awe inspiring, then the Seniors were utterly jaw dropping - the combination of athletic prowess and techincal skill was stunning.

 

I watch the riders on the Berminator on the final lap - Sven Nys' audacious manouver on the final berm - going through on the inside in the rubble was a killer and drew roars from the crowd. Looking down on the event village and the finishing straight, every time a GB rider came through, the roars and the banging on the boards was deafening.

Paul Oldham (left) is swept along on a wave of cheering, whilst Sven Nys - better known as a 'Cross rider - impressed Eddie with his skill

All too soon, the day's superb action was over. Highlights? Watching the world's top XC riders power up a sandy climb like it was tarmac. A 9 foot tall bagpiper with panto dog. The focus and skill of the trials riders, not necessarily in that order. Freebie of the day? MBR bottle opener key ring, because you never know.

The Scottish diet breeds them big!

Looking forward to tomorrow and the Downhill, and more adventures in Scottish catering. Hope the midges stay at home though?