Minnaar confronts Smithfield hoodoo
GREG Minnaar has done it all in the world of downhill mountain biking but there is one place he’s yet to conquer.
Smithfield has not been kind to the man recognised as the most successful downhill rider of all time, but the 36year-old hopes his 20th start will be a different story.
Not only that, Minnaar has unfinished business to address after crashing in the final round of the World Cup season in Italy.
“I haven’t really had a great success here,” he said. “I’ve been disqualified here, I’ve had a race where I felt I did really well and ended up quite for off the back, so it hasn’t been a smooth career in Cairns.
“I think I’ve had a great year, but my season didn’t end well in Italy. We had a lot of things go wrong.
“But, all in all, it’s been a great year and I think if we can keep the momentum going we’ve had all season, I think we’ll get some good results.”
Minnaar was a pioneer of the 29-inch wheel this season, compared to the more customary 27.5, and this has clearly suited his frame, leading to some of his best results in recent years, including a win at Lenzerheide, Switzerland in Round 5 in July.
“I just think being tall, 6’3, a lot of the guys are a little bit shorter so for me the bike fits well and allows me to corner a bit harder and maybe hit the rock section a bit harder,” he said. “If I was shorter I’d probably be on a 27.5.
“The 29 for me is helping me on every track go a bit quicker, and I feel more balanced, more centred on the bike, and I also feel I can push it a bit harder.
“I think there’s that pedal at the end, which a lot of guys are preparing for, but I don’t think the race is going to be won there.
“This track’s got so many turns up top, which are going to be dry, dusty and blown out, so it’s going to be a hard race before you get to the bottom and I think you’ve just got to maintain your position once you get down to the bottom.
“Last year it was a different track. It was hard-packed and fast, so the times were really close going down to that pedal, but I think now it’s going to be quite loose and dusty.
“It’s going to be easy to make a mistake and lose speed up top. So to me it’s important to make it down to that pedal.”
While he might be in the twilight of his career, Minnaar is not necessarily after a world title swan song – he won his third at home in Pietermaritzburg in 2013 – but he won’t say no to another trophy and another rainbow jersey.
“I think, for me, I’ve really had my world champs ticked off,” he said. “Whatever happens this weekend is just a bonus ... but I’ll definitely be gunning it as hard as I can.”
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