Timed runs present a puzzle for elite riders
MOUNTAIN BIKE WOMEN’S downhill world champion Rachel Atherton expects her rivals to keep their cards close to their chest when timed sessions take place today.
Riders do not have the lure of points as they would in a normal World Cup round but the session will determine the starting order for the finals on Sunday.
Atherton said while on one hand some riders would “take it easy” it would be valuable to see just what the bike did at close to full attack on the unpredictable track.
“It’s so dusty and coming over from Europe, this dust is crazy, it’s so hard to get used to riding it,” she said,
“It’s like mud, not much traction at all, your bike’s kind of wandering around and I think for the first day it’s really about getting used to the conditions and getting the layout of the track and slowly piecing it all together and trying to get that race speed on the last day.
“I won last year by seven seconds. I don’t think that’s going to happen this year, so I’d expect the times to be a lot tighter, even everyone on the same second or two, which will be really interesting and it just makes that line choice even more important.”
Atherton, who is still managing a shoulder injury suffered in Scotland in June, said it was “strange” returning to the site of her two World Cup triumphs at less than 100 per cent and expected it be tough to add another world title to her honour board.
The 29-year-old said her nerves were eased because of the past success sparking a connection with the locals, even though they are right behind hometown hero Tracey Hannah. But they’re not alone. “I’m here to win, everyone is, but I think obviously it would be amazing if Tracey Hannah won her home race in world champs,” Atherton said. IN ACTION: Cairns’s Tracey Hannah spots her landing on Ronning’s Ramp during downhill practice at the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
“It would be so awesome to see that happen, but everyone will give it their best shot on the day and whoever wins, wins.”
New Zealand elite men’s rider Brook Macdonald said the track was a “nightmare” near the top, but expected it to change come race day on Sunday.
Despite the “blown out” conditions, he expected even faster times in today’s timed downhill session and felt he was in the best shape possible to mount a solid challenge.
“For sure it’s easy to make a mistake if you’re pushing because it’s so slippery, so you’ve got to kind of be patient in areas, but I think the times will probably be pretty close,” Macdonald said.
“We’ve just come off a full World Cup season, so everyone is probably fighting fit and pretty healthy and strong.
“The bottom section is definitely going to be important.”