The first World Cup of the 2012 season has already taken place at Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, where local hero (and 5 times Fort William winner) Greg Minnaar sent the home crowd wild, with a blistering “last down the mountain” run that squeezed out 2012 World Cup overall Champion Aaron Gwinn (USA). Gee Atherton was first male Brit in 4th place with Steve Peat 15th. Reigning World Champion Danny Hart had a fall and came in 41st.
The women’s race was won by Tracey Hannah (AUS), whose brother Mick was 3rd in the men’s competition, with Junior World Champion Manon Carpenter top GBR rider in 2nd place and 4X World Champion silver medallist Fionn Griffiths in 12th.
There’s one more downhill World Cup in Val di Sole (2-3 June) before the teams head north for the Fort William showdown (I am so excited to be racing that course, whoop whoop, Fort William here I come).
