Since 2005 ex World Champ Greg Minnaar has regularly placed in the top five but rarely at the top of the podium. On Ben Nevis Mountain in Fort William, the Santa Cruz Syndicate pilot decided that his time has gone for way too long. After the best training time and after winning the semi finals, Minnaar continued on to master the weekend like a boss. In the final he dominated Gee Atherton by just over 3 seconds. Steve Peat was the only rider to place within 4 seconds of Greg Minnaar.
Current World Champ and defending World Cup Champion Sam Hill, fifth, managed to hold on to his World Cup Leader's Jersey.
After Rachel Atherton's victory and taking the lead of the standings at the last World Cup in Vallnord, it was countrywoman Tracy Moseley who would stand at the top this time. It was class reunion for Tracy, who came home to Ben Nevis by dominating at the site of her first World Cup win in 2002.
Don't feel too bad for second place Sabrina Jonnier. Beating Rachel Atherton in Fort William meant taking back the 2008 World Cup Leader's Jersey. Like Hill, Jonnier is also the defending World Cup and World Champion.
After three stages in the downhill, the World Cup has already gone through three different winners. Same for women. This promises to be a very hot season!
FORT WILLIAM WORLD CUP DH RESULTS 1. Greg Minnaar (RSA)...Santa Cruz Synd...4.43.52 2. Gee Atherton (GBr)...Animal Commencal...0.03.18 3. Steve Peat (GBr)...Santa Cruz Synd...0.03.88 4. Nathan Rennie (Aus)...Santa Cruz Synd...0.04.68 5. Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster-IronHorse...0.05.18 6. Dan Atherton (GBr)...Animal Commencal...0.06.28 7. Justin Leov (NZl)...Yeti Fox Shox...0.08.88 8. Ben Cathro (GBr) Mojo Orange...0.08.88 9. Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl)...Yeti Fox Shox...0.09.48 10. Mickael Pascal (Fra)...MSC Bikes...0.10.38 31. Kyle Strait (USA)...Specialized...0.18.88 50. Lars Sternberg (USA)...0.26.68 WOMEN 1. Tracy Moseley (GBr)...Kona...5.20.87 2. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra)...Maxxis...+0.04.13 3. Rachel Atherton (GBr)...Animal Commencal...0.05.93 4. Mio Suemasa (Jpn)...MS-Intense...0.14.73 5. Melissa Buhl (USA)...KHS...0.24.33 6. Céline Gros (Fra)...Solid Aclass...0.24.73 7. Myriam Nicole (Fra)...0.25.23 8. Fionn Griffiths (GBr)...Norco...0.25.63 9. Anita Molcik (Aut)...4 Elements Yeti-Hotec-Rsp...0.28.23 10. Kathleen Pruitt (USA)...0.31.33
