Between changes to the track, massive crashes, suicide no-handers, flat tires and blown corners, there was a surplus of interesting events during the week at Fort Bill. Here is Fraser Britton's take on the week.
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Words and Photos by Fraser Britton
The Fort William World Cup is world renowned for beating both rider and bike into submission. This years track had changes made from top to bottom. Some holes were filled in, some holes were made deeper and much of the track was grated down to bedrock to make it more sustainable, as well as to mix it up a bit. These changes sped things up, and made most of the circuits mechanics endure long nights of wheel building and changing chainguides as rider after rider simply rode their bike into the ground - both literally and figuratively.
At the end of the week, it was Gee Atherton and Sabrina Jonnier who walked away victorious after a great weekend of racing.
Atherton managed to qualify first here last year, but couldnt take home the win, and as such was hungry to win in front of what is essentially his home crowd. I wouldnt want it any other way. he said on his way to the podium, To win here is incredible. This is easily the most excited I have ever been about winning a race.
Second place went to Cam Cole of New Zealand, who scored himself his best world cup finish ever after qualifying extremely well on Saturday. The top 10 qualifiers were a whos who of new school riders, prompting a few cries of faulty timing systems, especially considering the split button guy was asleep at his switch - screwing up splits all over the place. The transponder takes care of start and finish though, and Cole proved that that was working just fine. Greg Minnaar wound up third, after having some technical difficulties on track.
The story of the mens racing for the week however wasnt who won, but who didnt even start. The legendary Sam Hill crashed exceptionally hard in morning practice on Friday and had to come down in the medical truck. Jumping down a rock face in one of the new section, he got sent over the bars when he landed on a massive boulder and blew apart his rear wheel. His rear wheel and chainguide grenaded, and his front wheel bent around his fork, along with various other mechanical issues.
A shoulder injury will keep him off of his bike for the next few weeks as he heads home to get properly diagnosed and healed. Ive seen 4 different doctors and got told its 4 different things. Im going to go home and get it looked at by a shoulder specialist.
For the women, Sabrina Jonnier came out to remind everyone that she is still a force to be reckoned with on the World Cup, putting almost 2 seconds into Rachel Atherton in the lower motorway section of the track where pure determination and horsepower make the difference. Yesterday wasnt good, I was weak. This morning I felt really strong and was carrying good speed at the top. I made heaps of mistakes and in the third turn i hit me pedal on the ground and almost went over the bars. It was a bit scary. I gave everything I had in my legs in the pedaling. It was awesome.
The world cup circus now moves onto Leogang, Austria for the next round of racing in a weeks time.
