ALL GOING DOWNHILL

Mountain Bike World Cup returns

IT’S only two weeks until the biggest sporting event in the Highlands – the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup – returns to the Nevis Range near Fort William, the Outdoor Capital of the UK.

The venue has been part of the World Cup circuit since 2002 and 15 years on, this award-winning event continues to attract world-class riders and more than 20,000 spectators over the weekend.

This year’s event, taking place between June 2-4, promises to present yet another epic spectacle. Riders will head full-pelt down a 1.7 mile long track on the slops of Aonach Mor that drops 1,800ft down the mountain.

On what is regarded by many as one of the finest and toughest downhill courses on the World Cup circuit, top professionals will be completing their runs in less than five minutes.

There’s been a lot of work on the tracks in readiness for the event and brawn, bravery, the ability to spot the best line, great equipment and a sprinkling of Highland luck are the keys to success.

The action gets under way on Friday, June 2, with downhill and 4X (four-cross) training, with the exciting BUFF 4X Pro Tour qualifiers (where four riders at a time compete against each other on a short and steep descent of banked corners, bumps, jumps and drop-offs) taking place in the evening. On the Saturday morning the Scottish Cycling youth mini downhill races take place, followed by both men’s and women’s junior and elite downhill race qualifying.

The BUFF 4X Pro Tour finals are that evening.

Sunday brings the junior, women’s and men’s World Cup downhill finals to the main track.

These are electrifying events, regardless of whether you’re a keen mountain biker or not, where the noise of the crowd and the overall atmosphere competes with any UK sporting event.

As well as the racing, there’s the bustling visitor, trade, retail and race team stands in the event village to browse and when you start to feel peckish, there are plenty of fine food and drink options available on-site.

Tickets are going fast, so if you’re planning to head to the event for a day or the full weekend, don’t wait or you could be disappointed.

Why not make a weekend of it and ride the nearby trails at Laggan Wolftrax in the Cairngorms National Park, the black-grade downhill track at Glencoe Mountain Resort, the family-friendly routes at Abriachan Forest above the shores of Loch Ness, or the Witches Trails at Nevis Range?