Greg Minnaar 1st | Gee Atherton 2nd | Steve Peat 3rd (gallery | credit: Kathy Sessler)

Kathy Sessler sent over her update from Ft. William on the Santa Cruz Syndicate team. The race was very eventful with lots of drama as riders got injured during the weekend and Josh Bryceland returned to ride the bone dry track. Greg Minnaar taking 1st place got some payback from last year’s World Championships where he crashed and came in 4th.

Ft. William, Scotland - June 8, 2008

Wow, what a day for the Santa Cruz Syndicate with Greg Minnaar taking the win at the 100th UCI World Cup Downhill in Ft. William, Scotland, and Steve Peat and Nathan Rennie joining him on the podium! It was especially sweet for Minnaar today as he conquered the track after last year’s let down of crashing at World Championships, breaking his scapula and dislocating his shoulder and placing fourth. “Revenge is sweet!” exclaimed Minnaar. Equally exciting was the return of Rennie back where he belongs on the podium.

Greg Minnaar - 1st - more photos in the gallery | credit: Kathy Sessler (click to enlarge)

It was a shocker for Ft. William to be bone dry and dusty after five weeks with no rain. Walking down the course in the spongy, squeaky peat bog scattered with bits of lamb’s wool tucked into the scrubby brush, racers ride past with the energy transmitting through the ground to your feet. Even with a few course changes from years past, you couldn’t even compare times to last years track as the conditions made it completely different. The demanding track did claim a few victims during practice with young Steve Smith hyper-extending his knee that took him out of the race. Matti Lehikonen suffered a get-off and gouged his knee on a metal grate as his kneepad shifted.

Good news for the Syndicate, Josh Bryceland returned to competition at Ft. Bill after suffering a massive crash and leg injury in Maribor. Bryceland started practice cautiously and his knee was playing on his mind a bit. Steve Peat had him follow him down to check it out, but the second day of practice Bryceland just forgot about it and rode well.

Josh Bryceland - 16th - more photos in the gallery | credit: Kathy Sessler (click to enlarge)

Nathan Rennie was focused and determined to have some revenge in the race to redeem himself since crashing on this track last year at World Championships. Greg Minnaar thought the difficult week he had in Andorra was behind him, but it wasn’t, and again his mechanical problems plagued him all week. Practice went fine for Peat and he was glad to be in the rare Scottish sunshine amidst the large, enthusiastic crowds that flock to Ft. Bill to see the race.

QUALIFER:

With the slightest drizzle before practice the track improved slightly then the day stayed dry. Greg Minnaar set the pace in the qualifier with a solid run winning it. Peat finished 4th and Rennie puts himself back in the game with an 8th place finish. Bryceland rode without expectations and after doing a one-foot table, he took it easy and just carried on riding steady in his run for 29th.

Greg Minnaar - 1st - more photos in the gallery | credit: Kathy Sessler (click to enlarge)

Minnaar said, “Everyone is going for points and I’m happy to get top points by winning the qualifier. Hopefully I can max out points in the final, as well. My run was sweet, but I drank a bit of energy drink on an empty stomach and it had me buzzing. I won’t do that again.” Peat was fast on most of the track, but messed up on a few parts where he needed to carry speed. “I’m glad to finish up with the big boys,” said Peat. Rennie was pleased with his efforts saying, “I just relaxed in my run and just went nice and steady. It feels good to be back in the top ten. I needed that to get out of the rut I’ve been in. I’m back where I’m suppose to be and I have plenty of fuel in the tank for the final.”

DOWNHILL FINAL:

The excitement was building as thousands of spectators watched the big screen and lined the course with the tunes blaring, announcers pumping up the crowd and Josh Bryceland back in action taking the hot seat with a 4:57.13. His stint in the hot seat barely started when Marc Beaumont bumped him out. Twenty riders later Rennie was on track and the leader board showed he was 3 seconds faster on the split time than the leader and he moved into the hot seat with a 4:48.19. The crowd went mental when Peat came on the big screen. Peat bumped Rennie from the hot seat and they made the exchange joyfully. Minnaar was the last man down the hill and his split time showed he was on target for the win. He did not disappoint as he blasted across the finish line winning by 3.17 seconds amidst thousands of cheers, especially mine!!!!

Minnaar’s winning run