September 3rd, 2013 11:51am
Images by Laurence Crossman-Emms/ Dirt MPORA
High speeds and big air was the call of the day on the South Aftrican Track - Remi Thirion showing just how big
these riders go. Not for the faint of heart. PHOTO CREDIT:Laurence Crossman-Emms
The 2013 World Championships held in Pietermaritzburg South Africa will surely be remembered for controversy more than the riding. Starting with a track that will be questioned for its lack of technical riding and more importantly three different wheel sizes that were ridden for the first time in a World Championship.
No matter what your position on either of the subjects, the winner of the stripes will still have to be fast, smooth and a strong pedalor on a loose dry track.
MENS UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
The world championships are full of surprises, while a rider can have a terrible season, one good run in the World Champs can make your year. With 10 bonafide buys who can win on any day and a track that favors the fittest rider, it was going to be anyones guess who would take it.
Jared Graves threw down the gauntlet by crushing the fastest time of the day when he took his run to take over the hot seat by 12 seconds riding his 26" single crown enduro bike. Next up was USA's Mitch Ropelato on his 29er enduro. Ropelato who set the second fastest time in the timed sessions, opened up the internet debate by being the only rider to ride a 29" wheel and a single crown fork. But Ropelato's run for glory was short as his steep head tube 29er would dig in and hit a rock in the first turn taking him down and ending the wheel debate for now. After Ropelato crashed, many of the remaining top riders quickly went over to the turn looking for any signs the track had changed.
As the riders came down, no one could unseat Graves with the final twenty riders to come down. With five riders to go, Mick Hannah unleashed the potential we have been waiting for to see from him in the big race. Hannah carried unbelievable speed from the get go beating his Austrailian rivals time by 2.9 seconds. Luc Bruni followed him down the hill but was out of the running immediately after a bobble in the first turn.
Sam Hill followed Bruni and had a huge crash, that he will be feeling tomorrow, near the bottom leaving 3 riders to best Mick. Hometown favorite Greg Minnaar was up next. Minnaar quickly took the lead at the first split but gave it back by the second. Down .8 of a second, Minnaar dug deep, powered by the home town's frantic cheering, to make up enough time to take the top spot by .3 of a second.
The hottest rider on the planet - Steve Smith went next. With major drama building, Smith promptly went out and lost it in the first turn eliminating his chances for his first rainbow jersey. Mr Smith will have to wait another year.
Only Gee Atherton was left to challenge Minnaar. But Atherton didn't have it, losing time from the beginning. Never once during Gee's run did he look aggressive or comfortable enough to win and in the end, it was Minnaar left to take the win on his home turf. (On a 26" bike we might add)
MENS RESULTS
1) Greg Minnaar
2) Mick Hannah
3) Jared Graves
JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPS
To kick things off under the perfect skies of Pietermaritzburg South Africa the Juniors took the course. And it was the young America Ritchie Rude (Yeti Bikes) winning by a solid margin. Rude has been competing on the senior world cup circuit for the entire year and it showed. His run was visibly faster than the other juniors. Tahee Seagraves took out the win for the Junior Women,also by a decisive margin. Like Rude, Seagraves also has been competing with the senior women on the world cup circuit.
MENS JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPION
1) Ritchie Rude
Womens JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPION
1) Tahnee Seagraves
WOMENS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
On the Womens table it was no secret Rachel Atherton was the woman to beat if you wanted to wear the stripes for 2014. Atherton set the fastest of the timed runs by 15 seconds letting everyone know she was there to continue her season domination. With Tracey Hannah getting back on the bike after several broken collar bones this season, she set the fastest time early on and had to wait and see how her time would hold up. Rider after rider she sat in the hot seat securing a podium spot with only two riders to go. And it was Emmeline Ragot from France who would move her down one spot with a fine run. The title's destiny was now squarely in control of Rachel Atherton, who would not disappoint. Keeping with her consistency and control Atherton crushed the field by 8 seconds to take her second set of World Championship Stripes.
WOMENS RESULTS
1) Rachel Atherton
2) Emmeline Ragot
3) Tracey Hannah
Location: News >> One Run For Glory - UCI Downhill World Championships
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