World Champions on top at Cairns World Cup

The world of downhill mountain bike racing has been changing. Race times are getting tighter, and while courses are getting faster, riders are getting far fitter as well. The pressure to perform for an elite athlete is often strongest from within themselves, but you cannot ignore the pressure that is put on a World Cup rider by their sponsors and fans. Here in Cairns, the majority of riders are here at great expense. And while the Downhill World Cup already started in Lourdes, the pressure is on every round. And the heat and humidity of Cairns has kept the pressure on the world’s best to perform.

In stark contrast to 2014, race day for the 2016 round in Smithfield Mountain Bike park was near on perfect. With slightly cooler temperatures to Friday for practice, and a track that is pretty much dry again, it would be easy to say that the conditions were perfect. Mud tyres have had their tread cut down, and the mechanics were pretty busy in the pits all morning with final changes to riders bikes.

Juniors joy at the Cairns World Cup

With 11 Australian riders in the Junior DH after Baxter Maiwald was withdrawn with a concussion and broken wrist. Australian coach Evan James was hopeful for the prospects, and the mood in the Aussie camp was high.

While it was fast racing for all, Matt Walker from the UK took the top step ahead of the Gold Coast’s super pinner Remy Morton. Harry Bush rounded out the Junior Men’s podium. Evan James commented that two out of three wasn’t bad…

In Junior women Sian O’Hern took the top step, ahead of Rona Strivens from Great Britain. It was a small field, and looking at the racing the gaps in women’s downhill are really big. Perhaps it’s just as much a sign of the investment in the sport. When only the very top women in elite are full time, and perhaps only the best can afford a coach for the year – there’s little chance the depth is going to increase.

Junior Men’s results in full are here.

Atherton claims the Cairns World Cup round

Yet again Rachel Atherton has shown she is head, shoulders and a bit more above the rest. Winning her 28th World Cup, Atherton has shown that she’s made a smooth transition to racing on her Trek Session with the Trek Factory DH Team. While Atherton mentioned she would prefer a damper track, she clearly handled the drying conditions with aplomb. With a perfect race run, the Briton finished in 3:48.566, over 7 seconds ahead of local Tracey Hannah.

Manon Carpenter rounded out the podium for Great Britain, a little over 2 seconds back from Tracey Hannah.

Complete Elite Women’s results, including Juniors, are here.

Rainbow bands on top in Elite men

As the sun bore down onto Smithfield, eyes turned to the finish line. Spectators flowed down the hill out of the jungle, and moved to the grass below the big screen, or along the fence in the finish chute. As much as it’s exciting to watch the racing – it’s really exciting to see the finishes and who comes out on top.

Time to watch it all on the big screen.

Early on we had Australians moving into the hot seat, and soon enough wild card entry Josh Button set the fastest time. Button had come in really wanting a top 20, and while Graeme Mudd ended up joining him inside the top 3, as more and more of the world’s best came down the hill.

Button sets a scorching time.

Button stayed on top as more of the riders came down. Josh Bryceland couldn’t shake him off. Greg Minaar couldn’t shake him off. Wyn Masters did sustain an injury, but couldn’t shake him either. As riders continued to finish their race runs, Button stayed on top.

Bryceland didn’t set a super time – but he made sure he spent plenty of time with his fans.

Sam Hill came down, but after battling a head cold all week, he couldn’t put in the performance he wanted. Loris Vergier was posting a great time through the splits, but couldn’t hold it and still finished slower than the Coffs Harbour local Josh Button.

Hill must have sensed his time was off the pace.

Soon enough all the talent was coming down the hill. World Champion Loic Bruni was up – well up – on Button’s splits, and took the hot seat from Button. Round one winner Aaron Gwin was a hot favourite, but just couldn’t keep it stuck in the same way Specialized rider Bruni could.

Mick Hannah messed up one of the first corners, and although he still did a super fast time, he didn’t threaten Bruni’s throne.

Last rider down was Troy Brosnan. After posting the fastest time in qualifying, all eyes were on the speedy South Australian. With plenty of time up on Tropical North Queensland trails, he had the course dialled, but just seemed to lack the strength and leg speed through the long final straight.

“That last pedal really hurt, its a long sprint, when you start it you can’t see the end of the forest. It is a big slog, gave it everything I had,” said Brosnan.

So wearing the rainbow bands, Loic Bruni won his first World Cup round. Brosnan took second while local hero Mick Hannah was 3rd. Gwin settled in 4th and Josh Button represented the Australian National Team in 5th – an outstanding ride for a wild card entry.

“It was crazy I didn’t expect that I knew it was going to be hard to do well because the track is very tough and conditions were changing so I’m just stoked about it,” said Bruni.

Hannah was stoked with his result, placing on the podium in front of a home crowd.

“My goal today was tenth, so anything above that was a bonus, so it’s quite a big bonus,” said Hannah.

“Started getting a bit excited when I was going fast, was trying to settle myself down the rest of the way. It was a good run, no major mistakes.”

Complete results for Elite Men are online.

Looking to the World Championships

Looking down the results sheet it’s clear that the cream does rise to the top. But it’s also obvious that time on local trails here in Cairns, or in similar places, helps. Brosnan was up previously and clearly had the feel of the Cairns dirt. Josh Button lives in Coffs Harbour, where the riding isn’t that dissimilar. Mick Hannah is a local, so knows the track like the back of his hand.

So why didn’t we see other elite racers performing like we might otherwise? Sure, Sam Hill was sick. But Bryceland, or Gee Atherton, or Minaar? All guys who can destroy other tracks, just didn’t seem to piece it together.

I spoke to Troy Brosnan, as to whether that extra time he had spent here a few months back helped him prepare for the World Cup.

“I think so, I came into the first practice day really pinned, even though it was a little bit wet. It definitely helped me out a little bit. Any practice is good practice.”

Quizzed as to whether he thinks this is something other riders, or other teams, may do, he was aware of the obvious limitations.

“It will be interesting to see, it’s a long way for other people to come, so I think the Australians would be stupid to not to come.”

With far more importance on this race next year when it’s the World Championships, maybe we’ll see some riders arriving earlier, getting used to the climate, the trails, and getting comfortable racing here. At the same time, we hope to see some better spectator access on the course too. Although a few points were great to get to, moving on the course was hard. There has been some great coverage, but hopefully in 2017 it’s easier for those who have come to the race to see the riders out on course.