The final results are as follows:

Men’s results:

1          GWIN Aaron                          USA    4:08.634

2          MINNAAR Greg                   RSA    +00.241

3          ATHERTON Gee                   GBR    +01.921

4          BAREL Fabien                       FRA    +04.246

5          PEAT Steve                            GBR    +06.809

6          SMITH Steve                          CAN   +06.934

7          BEAUMONT Marc                GBR    +07.237

8          HILL Samuel                          AUS    +07.399

9          BEER Nick                             SUI     +07.965

10        BRYCELAND Josh               GBR    +08.281

11        ATKINSON Bryn                  AUS    +08.371

12        COLE Cameron                      NZL    +08.502

13        GRAVES Jared                      AUS    +08.549

14        RIFFLE Duncan                     USA    +09.022

15        LEHIKOINEN Matti             FIN     +09.132

16        GRACIA Cédric                    FRA    +09.809

17        COUSINIE Fabien                 FRA    +10.167

18        SCOLES Matthew                 NZL    +10.609

19        CAMELLINI Julien               FRA    +10.852

20        RUFFIN Thibaut                    FRA    +10.853

21        BLENKINSOP Samuel          NZL    +10.995

22        HART Danny                         GBR    +11.049

23        BROSNAN Troy                    AUS    +11.354

24        GIORDANENGO Aurélien   FRA    +11.376

25        PAULHAN Romain               FRA    +11.420

26        PEKOLL Markus                   AUT    +11.425

27        MACDONALD Brook          NZL    +11.806

28        LEOV Justin                           NZL    +11.943

29        MULALLY Neko                  USA    +12.232

30        POLC Filip                             SVK    +12.810

31        O’CONNOR Shaun                AUS    +12.916

32        GEORGES Pierre Charles      FRA    +13.071

33        PAYET Florent                       FRA    +13.667

34        DALE Sam                             GBR    +13.730

35        KERR Bernard                       GBR    +14.082

36        WALLNER Robin                 SWE    +14.096

37        CUNNINGHAM Ruaridh     GBR    +14.968

38        SMITH Joseph                        GBR    +15.158

39        DELFS Mitchell                     AUS    +15.377

40        PASCAL Mickael                   FRA    +15.627

41        CATHRO Ben                                    GBR    +15.696

42        SPAGNOLO Damien             FRA    +15.839

43        THOMAS Richard                 GBR    +15.982

44        THIRION Rémi                      FRA    +16.017

45        BENTLEY Timothy               RSA    +16.056

46        BUTTON Joshua                    AUS    +16.294

47        ROPELATO Mitch                USA    +16.595

48        STROBEL Luke                     USA    +16.903

49        BOND Alex                            GBR    +17.425

50        BEER Marcel                          SUI     +17.435

51        POMBO Emanuel                   POR    +17.934

52        STANBRIDGE Dan              GBR    +18.289

53        PEDEMANAUD Fabien        FRA    +18.405

54        NEETHLING Jonty               RSA    +19.692

55        POTGIETER Johann              RSA    +20.534

56        BRAITHWAITE Thomas      GBR    +20.677

57        KEENE Curtis                                    USA    +21.430

58        BROWN Hayden                   RSA    +22.359

59        THOME Patrick                      FRA    +22.654

60        NEETHLING Andrew           RSA    +22.688

61        MEARS Scott                         GBR    +23.147

62        JEANDIN Thomas                 SUI     +24.451

63        PEYER Lars                           SUI     +24.831

64        MCGLONE Fraser                 GBR    +26.043

65        POMBO Daniel                      POR    +26.995

66        PURCHASE Kelvin               RSA    +28.688

67        HUTCHENS Chris                 GBR    +28.900

68        ODENDAAL Tiaan               RSA    +29.700

69        LAMB Fergus                         GBR    +30.123

70        PETRUCCI Francesco           ITA     +30.558

71        ROSCHI Roman                    SUI     +30.867

72        HARNSTROM Oscar                        SWE    +31.068

73        PARRET Arthur                     FRA    +32.375

74        PAYET Jérôme                       FRA    +35.547

75        DI PASQUALE Charly         FRA    +40.691

76        HAAS Mathias                       AUT    +45.282

77        CRITCHLOW Daniel                        GBR    +45.525

78        BROWNING Travis               RSA    +3:06.284

Women’s Results:

1          MOSELEY Tracy                   GBR    4:56.166

2          GRIFFITHS Fionn                 GBR    +00.288

3          RAGOT Emmeline                 FRA    +01.584

4          JONNIER Sabrina                  FRA    +02.173

5          PUGIN Floriane                     FRA    +02.268

6          GROS Céline                          FRA    +04.248

7          SIEGENTHALER Emilie      SUI     +06.344

8          CARPENTER Manon            GBR    +15.617

9          SUEMASA Mio                     JPN     +16.238

10        BERNHARD Petra                AUT    +16.415

11        RUCHTI Miriam                    SUI     +22.211

12        HARMONY Jacqueline         USA    +26.370

13        AGER-WICK Anita               NOR   +26.737

14        LOMBARD Fanny                 FRA    +42.927

15        MUOSER Joanne                   SUI     +48.469

16        OLIVIER Rika                       RSA    +53.732

Tracy Moseley & Aaron Gwin securing TWR a historic double DH win.

We have to of course congratulate our local boys for representing the host nation and slogging it out with the world’s elite riders. Tim Bentley, Tiaan Odendaal, Kelvin Purchase, Andrew Neethling, Jonty Neethling, Hayden Brown, Johann Potgieter, Travis Browning and Greg Minnaar, were the local stars representing our country.

]]> http://www.nsrmtb.co.za/2011-downhill-world-cup1-results/feed/ 0 http://www.nsrmtb.co.za/2011-uci-world-cup-pietermaritzburg-4x-finals-results/ http://www.nsrmtb.co.za/2011-uci-world-cup-pietermaritzburg-4x-finals-results/#comments Sun, 24 Apr 2011 10:37:35 +0000 Francois http://www.nsrmtb.co.za/?p=4918 The UCI World Cup weekend in Pietermaritzburg is by far one of the highlights on the South African cycling calendar and with top names like Jared Graves and Michal Prokop taking victory in the men’s 4X race it is surely the place to be…With the world’s top riders descending on the otherwise quiet city of Pietermaritzburg the atmosphere is electrifying with cheers and the sound of vuvuzelas filling the hillside at the cascades mountainbike track. Jared Graves continues with his winning streak and laments his name as one of the all time best 4X riders by once again taking the number one spot at this weekend’s UCI World Cup 4X race.

Overall positions are as follows:

Dirty Race – Clean Victory Matt Smith Wins National Number 1:The famous Mountain biking area of Cascades would be the kick off for the National Points Series in 2011…

The area can boast to have hosted the opening round of the World Cup just two years ago in 2009 and would again have that honor this year.

The National round would be riding the very same track that will be raced by the worlds best in just 1 weeks time as a way of testing and running in the track. Local knowledge of the track would be of paramount importance and being able to handle the pressure of such a big track with a dry race winning time scheduled to be in the 4 minute 30 second area.

Matt Smith had not done well here last year and would need to overcome the obstacles of last season to cope.

“When I raced this track last year at round two of the series I wasn’t in the best place. I’d thrown away a win at round one in Gauteng with a crash when I know I could have taken it. Then I over-trained and between rounds and tore cracked my chest plate, an old injury that flared up at just the wrong time. I was unable to train and be in the form I wanted to and then the track just messed with my head and I couldn’t get through it. I promised myself that will never happen again and have my head screwed on super tight for this season. I know I’m in the best shape of my life and can win every race I enter, no matter how big.”

Matt would need all his preparation and confidence to tackle what Martizburg was about to throw at them. The area had been hit by constant rain in the week building up to the event and the track would be a test of wet weather skills, bike set-up and a strong mind.

The weather held off for most of Friday practice where all the riders were just learning the track and trying to find their feet but with the promise of rain later in the afternoon and more rain throughout the weekend. Tyre choice was the buzz of the pits in the early running with most riders waiting to see what condition the first few riders down looked like and based their decisions on that.

“I’d spoken the Conrad at Maverick Cycles down here to find out what conditions were like and he’d said it was going to be a mudfest. There would be maybe one or two dry or dry-ish runs here and there but for the most part it was going to be slime surfing and spikes were required. Thankfully I’m stocked up on my wet weather gear and am pretty handy in the mud from riding and racing over in the UK and Europe back in the day. I’ve always done will in mud and wet races and feel practiced up nicely after winning the Regional just two weeks ago in the rain. I’ve always said mud riding and certainly raining is a case of rolling through, not locking up, looking far ahead and not panicking and allowing the bike to kind of do it’s own thing. Stick to this and you’re golden. Sure it’s hard and even I get freaked sometimes when it’s just sliding all over the place but it’s just wet dirt right? .”

Throughout practice on Friday the track got better then worse as the course was churned up by riders. Saturday morning and there were rumblings in the pits about a change to the track due to conditions. Probably the hardest section of the track (cloud nine) was eroding badly and becoming extremely dangerous in the worsening conditions which by Saturday were so that most people including Matt only managed one practice run before packing up. By Saturday evening it was decided to shorten to track by almost a half and start just above the gully giving riders a run-in to the long, mud-filled, energy sapping pedal section.

“I totally understand the decision to cut out the section but I’m still disappointed. I wasn’t really having a problem there and could make it through, it wasn’t fast or pretty but I made it through. The only problem with cutting out the top is that it just now becomes a fitness race. Once through the gully and over the table tops it just cranking through slime that holds onto your tyres and won’t let go. I’m fit but I wont be able to attack the whole straight and it’ll be who can then maintain through the four cross track to the finish. I’m still confident that I can pull a result but it won’t be much fun I can tell you.”

To fall in with UCI rules the event was run in a qualifying run in the morning and race run in the afternoon format. Riders were sent down in category order. Matt Smith was lined up in the Sub Veteran class and would be a hot favorite. The track was actually looking like it was drying up which was a blessing and curse at the same time, meaning that the mud was now thicker and therefore slower.

“It was a funny situation to be in for this race where we have to qualify before the main event. Luckily Francoius at GAS up in Gauteng has been getting us all ready by running our regionals in this format. Points are scored for qualifying too so they’re still super important. With this in mind I decided to attack the track and see what I could pull. I knew I was good up top and after the bomb hole so would just have to see what I had for the middle crank section.

I started good and nailed it down the gully as fast as I could but still keeping something back with conditions in mind. I very nearly threw it away on the second table top as I got pitched sideways with a gust of wind but managed to ride it out. Cranked to the first triple and felt like I almost stopped when I landed. The mud was so think it felt like I had flat tyres front and back. It was a real slog to keep rolling but I managed to pick a couple of lines that helped and turned easier gear to get hrough. Once I was at the bomb hole I was so happy to just be back up to speed that I attacked hard into the fourcross track.

I became aware that I was catching the rider in front which is always fun to do, means you’ve closed down a minute. This inspired me and as I caught Conrad I was on rails and flew past him as he graciously moved off-line to allow me past. The rest of the track was truly survival mode and I just wanted to be done now. I crossed the line and could just about taste blood I’d breathed and pushed so hard. The mud was just insane!!!”

Matt had lived up to his promise of taming the mud and out qualified his rivals by a healthy margin. Then the heavens opened. On arguably the most physically demanding track on the circuit the big rains had arrived just in time for the finals. It looked to ease off as the riders headed up for their finals. The track would now be even wetter than before, more slippery, more dangerous and definitely slower.

With almost all the riders at the top ready to take on the elements and the track the event was stopped due to safety reasons.

“What an anticlimax! I was all ready to race and they pulled it about four riders in front of me. I wanted to race, I was ready to race and I think I could have gone harder in the pedal section. It’s just disappointing. You practice all weekend and it kind of feels for nothing. Yeah I get the win for being fastest in qualifying but it’s a slightly hollow victory.

That’s also my first ever National win. Wanted it to be a little more clean cut than that, but a win is a win I guess

Points are points though and I’ll take it. That means I’m leading going into round two in George just a few weeks away. That should be just about enough time to wash my bike and kit and get all the repairs done. Man mud is expensive stuff!!”

Matt Smith now sits in First place in the National Downhill Championship Series for Sub-Veterans points.

Thanks also to the Phillips family for putting us up and looking after us in the terrible conditions.

Matt Smith Racing would like to thank all the Sponsors for a sweet 2011 Season so far

Mongoose Bikes, Omnico, Ryder, Match Insurance, KTM, Thor MX, Von Zipper, Liqui Moly, Mikes Bikes in Greenside, Frerichs Customs, Cyles Africa/RaceFace, DC Shoes, Titanium, Leatt braces and Christo and the crew at Dirt Style Honeydew for pimping my new KTM MX training bike.

Matt’s next race will Round 2 of the MTN National Downhill Series to be held in PE on Sunday 8^th May 2011

Today was the finals for the UCI BMX Supercross in PMB…

I ran into Skizo and manager Mark Squire who said he will be back in the gym training in 2 months. Mark is pretty much the only local journalist giving BMX racing any media coverage at the moment.

The Dutch were everywhere! Every single rider from the Nederlands killed it today. Ivo Van Putten runs the permanent number of 666 and chose a Slayer song for his timed run.

Nederlands only entry in the ladies class was Merle Van Benthem who hauls the mail but had a few bad motos.

The standard start straight for a BMX Supercross. Olympian, Emilio Fala from Equador told me the G force is so strong when you hit the dirt you can’t pedal.

He got up after this digger.

Jordi O’Keeffe was the top South African qualifier on the Friday running 30 seconds in his first timed run then cutting it down to a 29 in the second. Rider interference in one moto and unclipping in another hindered his day but came out swinging in his 3rd semi until a small mistake. Jordi’s younger sister Teagan also raced today and did well for her first ever Supercross on a track that has been called the most technical ever.

Other South African Jonnathan Chislett gave it 100% every single moto. Every time I saw the guy on the track he was going for broke.

Mike Day is an animal. If someone passed him he did not care and would hunt them down before the finish. A brilliant racer.

Sam Willoughby blew my mind at how fast and precise he is on a 20inch. Sam took the win and I think he probably won every single moto he entered.

Sarah Walker (with suspected broken hand) leads Gabriela Diaz in the final. Sarah has 2 world number 1 plates from this year, is from New Zealand and smiles constantly. Nicest athlete ever.

More Sam Willoughby because he is just so badass. Sam leads W1 rider from America Donny Robinson in the final. Mark Squire also manages Sam as well as Sifiso.

With the World Cup kicking off this weekend after a 4 week break we thought we would finally post the edit from the PMB leg. Brad Illingworth spent 3 long days filming this for us and due to all kinds of things I just never got around to finishing it off until today. Anyway, its finally done and we hope you guys enjoy it!

While we were checking out Filip Polc’s Evil 4x machine (you can see that HERE) we also got to check out Steve Smith’s new Evil Revolt DH rig.

We have compiled some of the World Cup footage that was broadcast on Freecaster.tv for you to check out.

Top 5 men DH.

Top 5 women DH.

4X competition men.

4X competition women.

For more videos and interviews with the riders check out www.freecaster.tv

On the morning of the finals we managed to get some shots of the new Kenda / Morewood team bikes. It is really awesome to see the local company competing on the world cup circuit this year, and the team riders Makulu’s look amazing.

Reigning World Cup champion Greg Minnaar has won the first round of the 2009 series in front of his home crowd…

New Zealand’s Cameron Cole sat in the hot seat for most of the day as none of the riders outside the top 10 seemed to be able to knock him off. Things got exciting when Sam Hill stormed down the mountain and went 2 seconds under the Kiwis time. With Sam’s time much better then his qualifying one the crowd was on its feet and applauding. When the commentator asked Sam if he had done enough for the win he replied that he thought it was a long way off a first place spot, but hoped it was enough to get him a place on the podium.

Shortly after that Peaty came stampeding down the course to take the hot seat away from Hill. The crowd erupted as the “people’s champion” crossed the line and went into the first spot. It’s clear that Peaty is one of a kind when it comes to downhill racing. He will always be a crowd favorite and his engaging comments with the crowd really got them cheering and on his feet. After the cheers died down he got on the mic and said “now don’t forget to cheer like that for Greg” to which the crowd went crazy. Steve Peat… a living legend!

As soon as Greg Minnaar took to the track the atmosphere was electric. You could hear the cheers and vuvuzelas blowing all the way down the hill. When he crossed the last split with his time 5 seconds up the crowds went absolutely nuts. With only the 4X track to go it would have taken a serious mistake to stop Greg from taking a convincing lead, and take a convincing lead is exactly what he did. Even though there was still Mick Hannah at the top of the mountain the people went crazy as he crossed the line 5 seconds up on Peaty. It was a truly awesome sight to see Greg put in such a performance in his home town.

As the last man took to the hill there was a deathly silence as Mick headed toward the last split going into the 4X track. His time looked good, but you couldn’t be sure exactly how good it was. As Mick crossed the split a +2 flashed on the big screen and the crowd went wild. With 800 meters of 4X track to go it would be almost impossible for him to beat Minnaar now. Mick put on an awesome performance but only just managed to push Peaty into third and secured himself the 2nd place spot.

Minnaar had done it. He had wont the first round of the 2009 world cup, and he had done it in his home town. The fans were absolutely beside themselves and some guy grabbed the mic from the MC and started singing at the top of his voice Minnaar, Minnaar, Minnaar, Minnaar, Minnaar….

It was a great days racing and we can’t wait to see what happens in round 2.

Mens Final:
1. Minnaar 3:43.44
2. Hannah 3:45.69
3. Peat 3:49.25
4. Hill 3:50.18
5. Atherton 3:52.01

Womans Final:
1 Tracy Moseley 4:20.15
2 Emmeline Ragot 4:26.53
3 Sabrina Jonnier 4:28.61

Winning Team:
Treak World Racing