UCI World Cup Fort William 7th June 2015
This was my first experience of a world cup, and I hope it is not my last. Such a fabulous day, completely awe inspiring to watch the worlds best riders flying down the hill at Fort William.
 |
| Rachael Athertonn - qualifying run |
 |
| Emmeline Ragot - qualifying run |
After soaking up the atmosphere at the bottom and watching the impressive Danny Macaskill's Drop and Roll tour, we caught the gondola to the top station to where the riders start their journey down the hill. We, along with the other three and a half thousand other spectators embarked on the wonderful walk back down by the side of the track.
From very top all the way down the track the atmosphere was buzzing, with most of the track sides covered all the way down the hill. Everyone was cheering, blowing horns and banging the inside of rims providing a wave of support for every rider, regardless of their nationality, age, sex or bike.
The women came down for their race run first. I was totally in awe of these inspirational ladies, I always have been, but to see them in action was amazing.
 | ||
| Rachael Atherton - race run |
 |
| Tracy Hannah - race run |
The woods were thick with mud and the going got a little tricky in places, but we always had the tetrus gang to keep us entertained! Everyone was smiling, whatever the age and it just goes to show how popular the sport is.
As we walked down you could occasionally hear the roar of the crowd below as the riders entered the finish arena. As we arrived at the motorway section just before the finish you could feel the energy and excitement. Cow bells, chain saws, vuvuzellas, trumpets, shouting, the atmosphere was alive!
This was the first view of the riders as they came into the finish arena. Every rider that flew into view got a huge roar of support.
Coming into the final jumps and finish arena the crowd filled the whole area and all seemed to act as one, watching the big screen then to turning to watch the riders enter the finish, all moving their heads and cheering together.
I will never forget the roar of the crowd when Greg Minar crossed the finish line in first place with a 4.47. His fifth win at Fort Willam and his 17th world cup win, to take the joint lead with Steve Peat for the most world cup wins. The whole crowd exploded, it was amazing.
Rachel Atherton took the win for the ladies with a 5.31, followed by Tahnee Seagrave, Emmeline Ragot, Manon Carpenter (despite the epic crash) and Katy Curd. Four British women in the top five.
Can't wait for next year!
