UCI Mountain Bike World Cup – Fort William 5/6 June 2010Downhill Rock and Roll

The world’s top mountain biking stars wowed huge crowds as they plummeted down the slopes of Aonach Mor in the thrilling downhill finals.

UK rider Gee Atherton took top podium place in the Men’s Downhill following a tremendous show of power and control down the course.

France’s Sabrina Jonnier won the Women’s race, pushing Gee’s sister Rachel into 2nd.

Starting high on the upper slopes of the mountain, riders dropped 555m down the 2.8km boulder-strewn course, cheered on by thousands of spectators, to finish at the bottom gondola station at the Nevis Range.

Gee’s win marks his first at Fort William. Celebrating, he said: “I’m the most excited I’ve ever been about winning an event. It’s been a massive goal of mine and it’s an amazing catapult into the season for me.”

Speaking after her win today, Sabrina said: “This is my second victory at Fort William. It’s awesome to win here in front of the crowds – they’re amazing.”

Rachel Atherton said she was disappointed but enjoyed the course: “I qualified fast but that meant there was lots of pressure for the final. I really enjoy racing here – the track was rad!”

Scottish rider Ben Cathro made it into the final 20, ranking 18th despite problems with his chain during the race.

More than 18,000 spectators at the World Cup basked in the sunshine over the weekend, consuming more than 1,500 litres of water and 1,500 burgers.

MEN’S DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS

1. Gee Atherton GBR (4:35.70)
2. Cameron Cole NZL (4:36.18)
3. Greg Minnaar (4:36.91)
4. Aaron Gwin USA  (4:37.71)
5. Michael Hannah (4:37.75)

WOMEN’S DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS

1. Sabrina Jonnier FRA (5:11.57)
2. Rachel Atherton GBR (5:12.68)
3. Floriane Pugin FRA (5:16.44)
4. Tracy Moseley GBR (5:16.46)
5. Emmeline Ragot FRA (5:20.65)

FORT WILLIAM UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP – GRAVES AND HORAKOVA STRIKE GOLD IN 4X FINALS

Crowds witnessed a spectacular show of speed and strength in the gladiatorial-style 4-Cross (4X) finals at the Fort William UCI Mountain Bike World Cup on Saturday 5 June.

Thousands of spectators and fellow riders watched on as Australian Jared Graves battled to the finish line to secure his World Cup title in this evening’s men’s final.

Jared said: “Things were pretty sketchy at the top. Joost and I banged elbows coming out of the gate. The best chance you get is the lead from the start and I felt wired the whole race. I’m real happy to win at Fort William.”

Hot on the heels of Graves came Joost Wichman (NED) and Michal Prokop (CZE) securing silver and bronze respectively, as they conquered the twists and turns of the famous Nevis Range course.

4-Cross MEN Results:
1. Jared Graves (AUS)
2. Joost Wichman (NED)
3. Michal Prokop (CZE)
4. Romain Saladini (FRA)
5. Kamil Tatarkovic (CZE)

The top female riders battled it out against one another in a closely contended race, with Jana Horakova (CZE) taking first place in the women’s 4-Cross final.

Jana said: “I am very happy. I did better than I expected. My first jump wasn’t good but Molcik made a mistake at the second and I went ahead. I love it at Fort William, the crowds are fantastic.’’

Coming in behind Jana Horakova was Anita Molcik (AUT), closely followed by Romana Labounkova (CZE) in third place, as the finalists braved the bends and jumps of one of the world’s toughest 4-Cross courses.

4-Cross WOMEN Results:
1. Jana Horakova (CZE)
2. Anita Molcik (AUT)
3. Romana Labounkova (CZE)
4. Anneke Beerten (NED)
5. Lucia Oetjen (SUI)

Please also keep up to date with all the latest news and information on the World Cup via our Facebook page.

Results
Men’s results
Women’s results

Start Lists
Start List 4X Men
Start List 4X Women
Start List Downhill Men

Preparations continue apace; podium tent, media and VIP marquees and the Monster Energy truck are now all in place…..

It’s a glorious crystal-clear evening as the World Cup Team rolls into Nevis Range, ready to turn the car park into a complete mini town and the global centre of mountain biking this weekend.The grandstand is installed but everything else starts arriving today. Keep up to date on the changes to the site on our Facebook page.

We are pleased to announce that Dirty Modern Hero will be performing at the World Cup on Saturday after winning the Downhill Rock & Roll comp. We had an amazing response to the competition with a total of 11,280 votes cast. It was a bit of a race to the finish with only 35 votes in it. Thanks to everyone that voted.

Nevis Range are in the process of building a high ropes course that will eventually thread through the forest on the northern edge of the World Cup Village. Stage 1 will be ready for the World Cup, providing a two level course, which at 7m will give great views over the Village. The ropes course is pay to play – check out the details on arrival.

Almost 50 bands entered the Downhill Rock and Roll Live new band competition. Now it’s your turn to make like Simon and co and select the band that will perform live as part of the build-up to the 4X Finals on Saturday evening.
You can now vote online for which band you want to see rocking the stage at the world’s best mountain bike event. The final eight are:

Edinburgh electro indie band Epic 26
Aberdeen prog-rock, folk, pop and punk outfit Culann
Indie punk band 10:04s from Edinburgh
Manchester indie rock band Six10Repeater
Edinburgh two-piece The Fire and I
Ordinary Allstars – a hip hop project from Edinburgh
Soulful Edinburgh rock band Dirty Modern Hero
Jakil, also from the Scottish capital

More information on the shortlisted bands can be found by visiting www.leithrecords.com/downhill where you can vote for the band you want to see playing at the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup.

Just before Saturday’s 4X World Cup Final at Fort William there’ll be live music courtesy of the winners of the first ever World Cup New Band competition.

Organisers, Rare Management partnered with music promoters Leith Records to search for a band to rock the Fort. To be in with the chance of playing on the main stage before the 4-Cross final on Saturday night, emerging artists are being invited to submit their demos on www.leithrecords.com/downhill

Rare Management and Leith Records will select the top eight tracks based on the suitability for the event. The short-listed bands will then go head to head in an online public vote, with the winner travelling to Fort William to play a set as the tension ramps up for the evening’s 4X.

There’ll also be more musical interludes throughout the weekend – and a search for mountain biking’s Air Guitar Hero (watch this space).

The winter had delayed the start of work on the tracks; the final ski tracks on the Red Route have only just disappeared. There are now three diggers working on the downhill track, reprofiling the old route, digging for bed-rock, and building new bumps and jumps. The boardwalk on the Red Route is being covered with bunny wire in order to make it super grippy. As there is no road to access the tracks, the helicopter will arrive later this week to transport even more materials from the Nevis Range carpark onto the upper parts of both tracks.

The downhill will reopen on Sat 15 May and the Nevis Red XC on Sat 8 May, albeit with restricted access as there’s a downhill race taking place that weekend. Trails open from 10.15am – 3.45pm each day, other than some race, maintenance, and bad weather days. Final day of the season is mid September. More details on the Nevis Range website or give them a call on 01397 705825 during office hours. Day tickets allowing unlimited access for both trails are priced at £28 for adults and £19 for youths (12-17 years)

World Champion Steve Peat ‘rocked up’ to Scotland yesterday to launch the ticket sales for the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Steve and all the top riders in Downhill and 4X will return to Fort William on 5-6 June, don’t miss it..

Tickets are now on sale. Click here to buy tickets.

Fort William is the home to the Gravity Gods of the mountain bike World Cup circuit and in 2010 there’s going to be a bit of a celebration. Give in to the power of gravity. Long live downhill rock & roll!!

See some of  the images from the Press Launch below.

It’s all downhill rock n roll

Fort William is THE home to the Gravity Gods of the mountain bike World Cup circuit and in 2010 there’s going to be a bit of a celebration.

All the top riders in Downhill and 4X will be there but one guy in particular will be that little bit more pumped up, courtesy of some rainbow stripe across his jersey. He’s going to rock.

The rainbow stripes mean World Champion and at Fort William on 5-6 June, Steve Peat, the most successful downhill competitor ever will appear in front of his home crowd as reigning World Champion. And for those about to rock, we salute you.

You are cordially invited to this celebration in the Highlands when the hills will echo with the noise of battles being fought and heroes being crowned.

Give in to the power of gravity. Long live downhill rock n roll.