Downhill
Report: Sunday Downhill
Images & Words: Joolze Dymond
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What a fantastic day a brilliant way to celebrate the 100th World Cup DH race! The sun shone again for the 3rd day in a row, banishing the traditional gloomy DH Sunday that we always seem to get at the World Cup in Fort William. The dry conditions made the going even tougher as the track got rougher and rougher and lines learned by riders previously had to be relearned as they hurtled down looking for glory in front of the thousands of spectators raising the roof in the arena.
The Fort William crowds again made the event special and this time they had sun to enjoy too!
Still we were looking for glory as GB seem to excel in front of a home crowd and for one or two riders I'm sure there were a few ghosts of recent races at the venue that needed to be put to bed.
WOMEN'S RACE: In the women's race, the qualifying run was cut short as a rider down scuppered most of the riders in the race, those in the top ten didn't have to re-run but they trudged to the top and down they came again. Tracy Moseley, one of those keen to take top spot in front of a home crowd, came down at a blistering pace in qualifying and then it was just wait and see if she could do the run again and take a well-earned win. Compatriot and rival Rachel Atherton, high from her success the previous week, had other plans, as did probably quite a few other of the girls, including world number one Frenchwomen Sabrina Jonnier.
Into the race and first rider down, Mio Suemasa, certainly made her mark taking the hot seat until unseated by the flying Atherton. But to the dismay of the crowd, Rachel wasn't there long until Jonnier nudge her off and then it was hold your breath and keep your fingers crossed as Moseley made her way down the track.
The atmosphere was electric, but the Kona rider looking calm and controlled cranked it through each section, then she cleared the Nissan jump and the crowds went wild, cheering her home. And boy did she deliver! A cracking 4secs sliced off second spot to claim her crown once more on her "home" track, the first win of a so-far disappointing season. What a way to show that you're back in business.
She's back: back to winning ways for Tracy Moseley after a quiet start to the season
As part of the celebrations of the 100th DH World Cup Tracy was presented with a ceremonial Highland Sword to go with the shield she won back in 2002 - we're not sure what she needs to complete the set but I'm sure she will. The highly competitive Rachel Atherton was disappointed to be relegated to 3rd but we're sure she'll be back fighting hard for the worlds and the next round.
Tracy sprays the bubbly as she celebrates a very popular win
Of the other Brits, Fionn Griffiths held a top 10 place coming home in 8th, while Katy Curd had a less than perfect race pitching up in 17th.
MEN'S RACE: Then after what seemed like an eternity it was the men's race and the hopes were high that GB would rule supreme, with Peaty and Gee Atherton vying for that top position. A healthy 24 GB riders took part, with 7 of those hitting the top 20, proving what a top country we are for depth of talent in this discipline.
Steve Peat - consistent and fit again in 2008
Junior Josh Bryceland was the first to make his mark as he screamed down the track to hold the hot seat for a bit and with it the junior race; he finally finished in a creditable 16th spot just ahead of rubber clad Mojo rider Chris Hutchens.
Gee Atherton - on top form at the moment
The crowds went wild as Dan Atherton took then control of the hot seat, but was soon ousted by pre-race favourite and world number one Sam Hill, only for Nathan Rennie to take over. The spectators were hoping against all hope that Peaty could pull it out the bag. He did them proud coming down the hill to take the top spot with just 2 riders left to come, Gee Atherton and Greg Minaar.
Greg Minnar - a mercurial talent with the ability to win the big ones!
Things cranked up yet another level as the increasingly confident Gee narrowly squeezed Peaty off the hot seat and then had to wait just seconds to find out if he'd got his second victory at the circuit. Alas his hopes were dashed as Greg Minaar, obviously on fire, obliterated the competition, shaving off a clear 3secs off Gee's time to take the win. Scottish rider Ben Cathro, 20, from Oban came in 8th place just seconds after the top set of riders with a crowd-pleasing time of 4:49:06. Phew!
Men's podium - it looks like being a very closely fought series this year
Post Race reaction:
Steve Peat
I'm pretty happy with that; at least it shows I'm consistent. I've not won any this year so far but yeah I'm pretty happy with that. My ankle [injured last July] is just about back where it should be it took a lot out of my winter but I came back and getting on the podium shows I'm solid. It was really tight out there today we all had good runs. I've never ridden Fort Bill in these conditions it's been hell of a day.
Josh Bryceland
Yeah I'm pretty happy with that, 16th that was awesome. The course was so dry I couldn't believe how much it had changed from my qualifying run it was completely different. I'm pleased I adapted to it how it was just stayed calm and didn't push too hard and put a good run together. I just saw where I was going was destroyed and had to pick a new line put it was good. That was a big confidence boost for me now I can't wait to get to the worlds.
Gee Atherton
That was brilliant out there today. The weather was unusually dry for Fort William, but it was typical I wouldn't have minded a bit of rain this time. It was so close out there all weekend everyone has been looking fast I was feeling confident but it wasn't to be. 1st last weekend 2nd this weekend - that's pretty good for me.
Greg Minnaar
I'm just over the moon, it was so good to get revenge after the World Championships. After recovering from a few broken bones I'm back at the top of my game. The weather here is beautiful but the course is by far the hardest. The crowd has been amazing and it's so nice to have so many followers from home behind me.
Tracy Moseley
I'm over the moon with that, I've not had the best start to the year and I knew I had to pull something out of the bag today and I knew this was as good a place as any to do it. To get the chance to win in front of the home crowd again is just amazing. Someone said yesterday do your ride from last year, you deserve it!. To be honest I hadn't really thought about it, until after it and I was "why couldn't this have been last September?" The conditions were incredibly dry and that made it even tougher, it certainly was a hard race. This track certainly seems to suit my riding style so we'll have to see what happens now at the World Champs, it's a different track and different country so we'll see. Hopefully that'll be good too.
Sabrina Jonnier
I feel good about coming in second place. I really scared myself at the start as I went too fast. I tried to slow down but the conditions were really dry.
Results
Women
1. MOSELEY Tracy GBR KONA 5:20.87
2. JONNIER Sabrina FRA TEAM MAXXIS +4.14
3. ATHERTON Rachel GBR ANIMAL COMMENCAL +5.89
4. SUEMASA Mio JPN MS-INTENSE FACTORY-RACING + 14.77
5. BUHL Melissa USA + 24.32
6. GROS Cé©ne FRA SOLID ACLASS FACTORY TEAM + 24.70
7. NICOLE Myriam ? FRA + 25.27
8. GRIFFITHS Fionn GBR NORCO WORLD TEAM + 25.60
9. MOLCIK Anita AUT 4 ELEMENTS YET + 28.18
10. PRUITT Kathleen USA + 31.37
11. BUCHAR Claire CAN + 31.51
12. SIEGENTHALER Emilie SUI SUSPENSION CENTER + 34.76
13. RUCHTI Miriam SUI SPORT PROMOTION + 35.32
14. PETTERSON Joanna RSA + 40.85
15. GATTO Micayla CAN + 41.27
16. MARGGRAFF Diana ECU + 43.64
17. CURD Katy GBR + 45.14
18. FRUHWIRTH Helene Valer AUT + 47.27
19. RAGOT Emmeline FRA SUSPENSION CENTER + 50.26
20. CANEPA Elisa ITA PLAYBIKER - IRON HORSE + 53.67
21. PUGIN Floriane FRA PLAYBIKER - IRON HORSE +1:07.31
Men
1. MINNAAR Greg RSA SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE 4:43.52
2. ATHERTON Gee GBR ANIMAL COMMENCAL +3.17
3. PEAT Steve GBR SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE +3.90
4. RENNIE Nathan AUS SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE +4.67
5. HILL Samuel AUS MONSTER ENERGY +5.18
6. ATHERTON Dan GBR ANIMAL COMMENCAL +6.24
7. LEOV Justin NZL YETI FOX SHOX FACTORY RAC +8.86
8. CATHRO Ben GBR MOJO ORANGE +8.88
9. BLENKINSOP Samuel NZL YETI FOX SHOX FACTORY RAC+9.45
10. PASCAL Mickael FRA MSC BIKES + 10.35
11. PAYET Florent FRA SUBARU MOUNTAIN BIKE PRO + 11.63
12. CAMELLINI Julien FRA CHAIN REACTION CYCLE + 11.88
13. KOVARIK Chris AUS CHAIN REACTION CYCLE + 12.13
14. BEAUMONT Marc GBR TEAM BIKE RADAR + 12.71
15. GRACIA C餲ic FRA COMMENCAL - FURIOUS - OAK + 12.77
16. BRYCELAND Josh ? GBR SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE + 13.61
17. HUTCHENS Chris GBR MOJO ORANGE + 13.66
18. CANALS FLIX Pasqual ESP MASSI + 13.70
19. GUARDIA PASCUAL Bernat ESP MSC BIKES + 14.12
20. OULEGO MORENO Ivan ESP MASSI + 14.54
Other GB
23. FAIRCLOUGH Brendan GBR MONSTER ENERGY + 15.37
25. DONOGHUE Neil GBR TEAM BIKE RADAR + 16.76
29. DALE Sam GBR CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING + 18.30
33. SIMMONDS Matthew GBR CHAIN REACTION CYCLE + 19.68
34. STANBRIDGE Dan GBR MOJO ORANGE + 20.03
35. HART Danny GBR LAPIERRE DH POWERED BY SA + 20.33
43. CRITCHLOW Daniel GBR CHAIN REACTION CYCLE + 24.69
47. SMITH Joseph ? GBR TOMAC FACTORY RACING + 25.57
52. CUNNINGHAM Ruaridh GBR CHAIN REACTION CYCLE + 27.20
55. DEACON Tom GBR + 27.55
55. GEOGHEGAN Jack GBR + 27.55
60. INESON Ben GBR REVERSE COMPONENTS + 28.58
64. MEARS Scott GBR + 30.13
66. JENKINSON Stuart GBR PRINTEXPRESS UK MTB TEAM + 31.40
68. BARNES Joe GBR + 34.90
74. SORRELL Rowan GBR +1:34.22
78. ASHBRIDGE Philip GBR +5:34.95