Pietermaritzberg World Champs 2013

The World Champs is the big one. One 4 minute chance that every racer has to prove him/herself the fastest in the World. Add on top of this the national pride that is at stake and it makes for one very important race run. The bragging rights and prestige that the rainbow stripes bring you for the rest of your career puts you in the league of legendary cyclists across all disciplines. Manufacturers also go all out to win, expect to see prototype gear across the field and, of course, custom colour schemes!

Last year's World Champs were at Leogang in Austria. They came on the back of a season dominated by the unflappable Aaron Gwin, but it seems the American may suffer from the same curse as Steve Peat as he failed for the second year in a row to carry his form onto the biggest stage in Downhill Racing.

First he was scuppered the conditions in Champery

Then a prototype brake failure in Leogang

Didn't stop him having fun though!

Steve Peat was also in contention until he had a crash on a pro line most riders chose to avoid.

Gwin and Peaty's losses were Minnaar's gain however, as the South African stormed to victory ahead of the rest of the field.

Lightening fast in Leogang

The moment of victory!

This year, it seems that the UCI are not quite as anti-enduro as first thought, as the World Champs are heading to South Africa, more specifically Pietermaritzberg. Pietermaritzberg has been on the World Cup circuit since 2009 and has always been criticized for long pedalling sections and a lack of technicality. It does have some interesting features though including:

MASSIVE table tops

blink and you'll miss it rock gardens

and a super fast finish section which meanders from one side of a valley to another before ending in the showstopper final hip:

The Contenders

Greg Minaar: The current World Champion will be looking to dominate on his home patch this weekend. He will be hoping the extra support can push him on to the top step he has been so close to all year.

Gee Atherton: There's not much to say about Gee that's not already been said this year. His blistering and relentless consistency mean it is foolish to count him out of any race.

Stevie Smith: Stevie seems to be coming into form the more ridiculous his moustache gets. He has picked up his second World Cup win and dominated Crankworx in the past couple of weeks and this is the current state of his facial faux pas, be afraid world... very afraid.

Jared Graves: He may seem like a wild card but his enduro experience will stand him well. He will be among the fittest guys in the field and photos of him using single crown forks in practice shows that he intends to capitalise on this.

Peaty: He won his only World Champs on a Canberra track that was also criticised for being too pedally. Could this be the final jewel in the crown of a sterling career?

Podium Predictions:

1: Greg Minaar
2: Gee Atherton
3:Jared Graves
4: Stevie Smith
5: Mick Hannah

Women

 ... it'll be Rachel

Vallnord, Andorra, Round 3, 2013

Although Vallnord is a totally new track for this year, we have been here before, the last time was 2009, Steve Peat's final World Cup Victory, pushing him ahead of Nico Vouilloz in the all time rankings. He pushed out Gee Atherton by just 0.02 seconds with Minaar in third.

The Right Honourable Sir Steve of Peat!

Also of significance was Sam Hill's huck to flat/ mega bail. Not because it had any real impact on his season (he went on to take 2 second places and 2 wins) but  just because it shows how much of a wildman the Western Australian is!

Huck to Face

So this race stacks up kind of similarly to last time in an odd way. Another British rider is on the verge of breaking many, many records whilst Sam Hill is being held back from some serious good results through a combination of mechanicals and yet more pedal to the metal crashing. One thing that is strikingly different, is the track itself.

The Track

As I already said, the track is totally new for this year. The UCI have already held a test event there and it promises a startlingly different prospect to the 2 minute speed and jump fest of 2009.

The test event, won by Greg Minaar, showed us a steep, technical, off camber, multi-lined, rocky track stretching to nearly 5 minutes.

Greg sliding into the finish.

However, those who have already made the trip to Andorra may be feeling their advantage slipping away as they return this weekend. See that trail of fairy dust behind Greg's wheel? well this is Vallnord village on Sunday: 

Wetter than a cockle in Morecambe Bay!

The Contenders

Gee Atherton -  Unstoppable form from the Welsh steam train who has been recently rechristened 'Geesus'. It will be interesting to see whether the gap has been closed in the six week break the top riders have had. Gee sailed on untroubled at Llangollen and Crankworx Europe, but the big boys may just have been keeping their cards close to their chests.

Geesus, turning dust into win(e)

Greg Minaar

He's already won the test event, he knows the track and is mercilessly consistent. Can he equal the World Cup wins record where Peaty secured it just 4 years previously?

Danny Hart

 Steep?! Wet?! Bridges?! count in the Redcar Rocket!

Sam Hill

I so so so want Sam Hill to do well here, Vallnord looks right up his street. 2nd at Fort William until his chain let him down on the all important motorway, followed by an agonisingly long crash at Val di Sole means he's seemed like a non - competitor this year. I promise you a bit of luck is all he needs to get back on the top step of the podium.


Other Contenders

Brendog - described how he 'had a chubby' on the course walk, an image I'm sure we all don't fancy imagining. He came second at the BDS in Llangollen, this track suits him to a tee.

Bryceland - Was on a stormer in the test event... until he totalled himself. Not yet at his best this year but could be a wildcard on any given day.

Aaron Gwin - Riding a new customised Demo, could it be enough to turn his season around?

Podium Prediction

1st - Geesus
2nd - Hill
3rd- Hart
4th - Minaar
5th - Brendog

And just to finish off, here's Peaty again, because legends deserve 2 .gifs