Cycling News  

Plaudits for Ruaridh ahead of World Cup

As the holder of 15 World Cup tites including a 2005 downhill title from Fort William, 33 year-old Steve Peat (Sheffield) and currently ranked 4th in the world, knows more than most what it takes to succeed in the gladiatorial world of downhill mountain-biking. 
 
And speaking ahead of this year's Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William (6th-8th June), Peat confided he believes Scotland's Ruaridh Cunningham has what it takes to reach the top.
 
"He is a future champion. I can definitely see him go on to achieve much bigger and better things," said Peat of the 19-year-old Scot who was crowned Junior World Downhill Champion at the World Championships in Lochaber last year.
 
However, Peat, arguably Britain's most successful male downhill rider to date will be gunning for his own title success when the downhill riders explode into action in Fort William this Sunday. 
 
Certainly, he has a great deal of respect for a downhill course that descends over 555 metres in less than 2 miles.
 
"It's one of the hardest (on the circuit). Maybe only the Mont-Saint-Anne track in Canada compares. Fort William is really physical on the upper body and on the lungs. It's high speed and one of the toughest but best (tracks) out there."