Steve Peat, Men's Downhill

One of the top three downhillers ever! Multiple winner of the World Cup series, which is the toughest and truest test of a rider's all-round ability. He has achieved a remarkable balance between being a supreme athlete and maintaining the popular risk-taking persona which makes him so popular with the magazines and marketing people: he has never let the fun and games surrounding the sport stop him from competing at the highest level during a career which has lasted well over 10 years. Still our best downhiller and arguably still the world's leading rider. Bad ankle injury at the national championships in July cast doubts over his fitness. 

 - Strengths: great natural ability and experience mean he's got every reason to be confident.
 - Weaknesses: that ankle aside, fate: he is without a doubt the best cyclist never to have won a world title.

Tracey Moseley, Women's Downhill

Smooth riding, talented, highly intelligent and analytical. She took a ground-breaking first World Cup Title by a female British mountain biker last year. Has had a quieter 2007, though still making the World Cup podiums with ease. A past winner at world cup level at Fort William, she has the ability to make the 2007 race her own.

 - Strengths: calm, confidence, mental strength, experience
 - Weaknesses: none, if she's at her best

Rachel Atherton, Women's Downhill

An amazingly deceptive rider who never seems hurried or flustered on a run, but lightening quick. Won Britain's only world downhill title in the junior category in 2005 and has won at world cup level since. As the sister of the older Gee and Dan, she's had to fight hard to keep up with two world class male riders in the same family. This has undoubtedly helped her progress. However, she is very injury prone. Only just come back from a season-wrecking wrist injury but has won the last two national series events at a canter. Can win at Fort William.

 - Strengths: no apparent fear, youthful skill and enthusiasm
 - Weaknesses: injuries and prone to the occasional bad crash

Gee Atherton, Men's Downhill & 4-Cross

Great crowd favourite and role model for many younger riders. Although only 21, he's been world class for years and was a medal winner at Junior level. Has a world cup race victory to his name in both downhill and 4-Cross and has enjoyed three consistent world cup seasons. Gee has won on the Fort Willian course at national level and is a good outside bet for a medal in both the downhill and 4-Cross. Highly skilled and marketable, he has overtaken Steve Peat as the darling of the magazines.

 - Strengths: fantastic all-round off-road bike rider
 - Weaknesses: not enough wins at the very highest level to have the real confidence a world champ needs!

Marc Beaumont, Men's Downhill

The Alain Prost of Downhill, always finishing, always in contention, never looking anything other than super-smooth. Rarely crashes and already has a World Cup win to his credit this year. Qualified fastest for the 2005 worlds and emphatically threw off the 'nearly man' tag in 2006 with wins in both the national series and national championships (he successfully defended his national title in foul conditions at Rheola in July). His consistency alone makes him a contender, and like most of the Brits he's been targeting this race all year.

 - Strengths: never seems to have an off-day
 - Weaknesses: does he lack that last couple of seconds of speed which will make him world champ?

Oli Beckingsale, Men's Cross-Country 

A tough competitor who has raised his game over the last 3 years and who can now produce genuinely world-class performances when on song. Has been in contention at the last two world championships, only to fade on the last lap - most agonisingly at Livigno 2 years ago when he was fifth going into the last lap, but dropped several places after missing a bottle at a feed zone. Was a strong silver medal winner at last year's Commonwealth Games. Hasn't had a great 2007 due to illness and injury, but has still been dominant on the domestic scene.

 - Strengths: climbing ability, all round experience and know-how
 - Weaknesses: has not had the perfect run up to the championships

Helen Gaskell, Women's Downhill

Year-in-year-out a superb performer at both national and international levels. A medal winner at Junior level and comfortably within the top ten female downhillers in the world. The only thing missing from her CV is a few more big wins and she's always found it difficult to beat the very best. The margins are tiny, just a couple of seconds here and there and therefore she remains a credible, if slightly unlikely contender for the biggest prizes in the sport. Just don't discount her, whatever you do. The suspicion is that one day she'll pull off a really big win a prove just how good she really is - wouldn't it be great if it was this year?

 - Strengths: Consistent and technically superb
 - Weaknesses: something's blocking her at the highest level - is it the other riders or something inside herself she can overcome?

Amy Hunt, Under-23 Women's Cross-Country

Made a big impact at the 2006 Commonwealth Games with fourth place, a stunning ride in hot conditions. Has matured in the last 12 months and looks unbeatable on her day at national level, though still prone to inconsistency and has yet to make a breakthrough at World Cup level. Has she got the class to compete at the top in this toughest of disciplines? Her performance in the Under-23 Women's race may give us some clues.

 - Strengths: hard worker, genes (her dad's an awesome rider in the over-50 category)
 - Weaknesses: can appear introspective and lacking in confidence - is she too hard on herself?

Scott Beaumont, 4-Cross

Arguably our best 4-Cross rider for the last two or three seasons. A real specialist in the discipline, though he's a former BMX champion and is still a classy downhiller. Has threatened to break through at world level as well in the last 12 months. Technically superb, always looks well prepared and professional in his presentation. Capable of taking a medal - which would be mega-popular with the home crowds.

 - Strengths: one of the few real 4-Cross specialists out there
 - Weaknesses: has had injury problems - does he have the sheer power needed to win at the highest level?

Ian Bibby, Under-23 Men's Cross-Country

In his third year in the category (he's got one more year as an espoir after Fort William) he has finally made the progress expected of him after some promising performances at Junior level. A new coach, a better sorted domestic situation (he's back living at home) and a bit of luck have come together in 2007 and he's started to make a real impact, winning his first senior national series event and his first national title. Reports from the Swiss Cup events he's competed in suggest he's on the threshold of making an impact internationally as well. Fort William will be a big test for his new found confidence.

 - Strengths: good athlete with all the attributes of a world-class rider
 - Weaknesses: question marks over his ability to cope with stress and unexpected adversity