EDITION 18 - JUNE 2008

Up for the Cup

Fort William is ready for the Mountain Bike World Cup!

In recent years, the mountain-biking world, including the highly respected International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has been falling over itself to lavish praise on Scotland's mountain-bike trails and a country now hailed as the world's number one biking destination.
 
Indeed, cynics inclined to question the sport's popularity need only try to find a bed in Fort William this weekend. 
 
They may find there's no room at the inn.
 
For on Friday, the stars of the sport will ride into town for the latest round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
 
And in addition to the 500 elite men and women from 35 countries in Scotland to contest the downhill, cross-country and 4-cross mountain-biking disciplines, organizers Rare Management anticipate 20,000 spectators will also converge on the lower slopes of Aonach Mor to watch the action unfold.
 
Among the riders will be five British medalists from last year's World Championships in Fort William, including Scotland's Ruaridh Cunningham who took junior gold in the downhill.
 
However, it will be the fast and furious 4-cross discipline that kicks off proceedings on Friday evening, a discipline where it was the American riders, Brian Lopes and Jill Kintner, who pedaled off as the respective men's and women's 2007 World Champions.
 
But in 4-cross, where only two of four riders progress through each elimination round, leading British riders Gee, Dan and Rachel Atherton are among the many elite riders who could spring a surprise.
 
If they promise to serve up a gravity-defying World Cup appetizer, Saturday's main course of the men's and women's cross-country offers the additional spice of riders from as far afield as Russia and China vying not just for World Cup glory but the opportunity to secure their nation's Olympic jersey.
 
And in a world-class field, few would bet against the in-form Frenchman, Julien Absalon.
 
For the reigning World Champion, whom also won gold at the 2004 Olympics, is the championship leader and the 27 year-old may well fancy his chances over 5 energy sapping 5 mile laps of a course that boasts a total of 277 metres of grinding ascent and technical decent.
 
In the women's cross-country race, China's Ying Liu will also hope to defy reigning World Champion Irina Kaletieva of Russia and add a 2008 World Cup win to her 2007 U-23 World Championship title.
 
But with two men's Olympic bibs up for grabs, the British riders will also be going for gold in the highlands. Liam Kelleen, 5th at the 2004 Olympics and his English compatriot, Oli Beckingsale are arguably Britain's leading riders whilst David Fletcher will also compete at the venue where he was crowned Junior bronze medallist 12 months ago.
 
Though his long-term ambitions include gold at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, 19 year-old Edinburgh based Ross Creber is another rider who'll be aiming to impress on the tortuous single-track in Leanachan Forest.
 
Indeed, Creber says he's got a point to prove.
 
"Last year I rode at the World Championships but crashed. Next week I really want to do well in front of my home crowd."
 
And as the British U-23 rider who finished 30th at the recent European Championships explained, just to gain vital UCI ranking points would be an achievement in Fort William.
 
"I'll be starting at the back of the grid so if I can work my way into the top 60 for world ranking points I will be happy." 
 
He added:
 
"It's probably one of the toughest events I've ever ridden with a really steep initial climb that takes about 11minutes! There's not much chance for recovery so it's a race where you have to start hard and just try and remain strong."
 
However, if the breathtaking endurance of the cross-country stars is enough to make mere mortals reach for the nearest oxygen bottle, it's the gladiators of Sunday's World Cup downhill spectacle who will be reminding the packed galleries just why their discipline is one that demands both great technical skill … and sheer bottle. 
 
A formidable line-up will once again be in action on a brutal single-track course that plunges 555 metres in under 2 miles and is riddled with jumps, berms and technical rock sections. 
 
Somehow, the likes of reigning World Champion and championship leader Sam Hill (Australia) and England's Steve Peat, champion in Fort William in 2005 and the holder of 15 World Cup titles, will manage to descend the course in just over 4 minutes. 
 
In the women's ranks, reigning World Champion Sabrina Jonnier of France may be favourite but breathing down her neck will be the likes of English pair Rachel Atherton, 2007 World silver medallist and Tracey Moseley, a Fort William World Cup winner in 2002, 2005 and 2006.
 
Of course, Scotland's rising stars of the downhill circuit will also be in action including Galashiels based Cunningham and Fort William's Ben Cathro who finished a very respectable 17th in the first World Cup of the season. 
 
For Cunningham, in his first season as a professional in the elite ranks, Sunday is a chance to get back into the saddle after suffering a horrendous winter crash and knee injury. 
 
After admitting he'd be happy to achieve a top 15 place, Cunningham then recalled his moment of glory at last year's World Championships, highlighting why it's so special to compete on Fort William's revered course before a huge home crowd.
 
"It's like a constant noise all the way down the track," explained the 19 year-old. It's just so motivating and if you do well you're almost worshipped, almost like being a celebrity for the day. It's pretty cool!"
 
CH
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