Canadians head for the Highlands: Fort William World Cup Downhill

World Cup downhill racing returns to the legendary Fort William track in Scotland this weekend for the second round of the 2018 series. Missing from the start list will be pre-race favourite Greg Minnaar, who broke his arm in practice while testing out the Syndicate’s new prototype Santa Cruz V10 race bike. The South African has been dominant on the Fort William track, winning seven World Cup rounds there including the last three consecutive visits to the notoriously rocky course. Minaar’s absence leaves an opening for a new rider to claim the top spot at storied Scottish Highlands track this weekend.

Canadian’s to watch at 2018 UCI Downhill World Cup #2 – Fort William, Scotland

There’s a strong crew of Canadians headed to the Highlands for this weekends World Cup round, including reigning world champion Miranda Miller (Specialized Factory Racing) and her teammate Finn Iles, and Mark Wallace (Canyon Factory Racing). First year junior Lucas Cruz (Trek) will be looking to repeat his podium performance from his World Cup debut in Lošinj, Croatia where the young B.C. BMX racer turned downhill phenom placed fourth.

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Miller will be hoping the rainbow stripes bring her a bit of luck this weekend, as the track has not been kind to her historically. Squamish’s world champ broke both arms there in 2014, and that’s only the worst on a list of injuries the Fort William track has left her with. While it may not be her favourite track, what better year to turn around her luck than when wearing the rainbow jersey, right?

Mark Wallace was 12th in Fort William during his breakout 2017 season, and will definitely be looking for a return to that top-15 range after finishing 23rd in rocky season opener in Croatia. After a highly decorated junior racing career, Lošinj wasn’t the shining start to elite racing Finn Iles was looking for. The young Canadian has had success in Scotland in the past, though, winning his junior race in 2016 and placing second behind GB’s Matt Walker in 2017, one of Iles few loses on his way to winning the World Cup series overall. Vancouver Island’s Magnus Manson (Fox/Canyon) had a much better time in Croatia, placing a career best 30th on the rocky island course.

Hugo Langevin (Devinci) heads to Scotland after leading a Devinci sweep of the season’s first Canada Cup DH at Mont Tremblant last weekend. Henrey Fitzgerald (Norco Factory Racing), 47th at the Croatia World Cup, Samuel Thibault, 4th at Mont Tremblant, Forrest Riesco, and first year elite racer Anthony Poulson (Kona Facotry Team) round out the Canadian contingent in Scotland.

After landing on the podium at his first World Cup in Croatia, Lucas Cruz of Pemberton, B.C. lead the Canadian junior’s into the Fort William World Cup weekend. Cruz will be joined by Canadian junior national champion Kendall McLean (Kovarik Racing), Ben Wallace (Kovarik Racing), who won the opening round of Pro GRT junior racing in Windrock, Tenn., and Ian Milley.

Elite Men preview – 2018 UCI Downhill World Cup #2 – Fort William, Scotland

The absence of Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate), who has said he’ll make the most of his time on the sidelines to enjoy the famous Fort William crowds, leaves the throne for the Kind of Ft. Bill open. After winning Round #1 in Croatia, Aaron Gwin (YT Mob) has to be the next name on the list of pre-race favourites. The American won the World Cup overall last season and was third in Scotland behind Minnaar and Jack Moir (Intense Factory Racing), who will also be absent this weekend. Gwin hasn’t had the best luck in Scotland, though, and his only victory on the track came way back in 2012. Twice second to Minnaar at Fort William, this could be his year to return to the top step.

Danny Hart (Madison Saracen) will be looking to seize his opportunity to finally find his way to Fort William’s top step. The Red Car Rocket puts a huge emphasis on the U.K. round every season but, while he’s qualified first in the past, can never quite find enough speed there to win World Cup final. He did storm to his way to a win in the HSBC UK national downhill series earlier in May, by a sizeable time gap too, so Hart’s should have the form still this weekend.

Elite Women preview – 2018 UCI Downhill World Cup #2 – Fort William, Scotland

Fort William is the track where Rachel Atherton (Trek Factory Racing) ended her multi-year World Cup winning streak when she dislocated a shoulder during practice. Her injury opened the door for Tracy Hannah (Polygon UR Racing) to claim victory, which she did by a huge 10-second margin. Atherton is back, though, and will be looking for redemption on home turf.

While it’s not historically a track where she sees her best results, last year’s World Cup overall winner Myriam Nicole (Commencal Vallnord) started off her 2018 season by with a win in Lošinj. Nicole beat Atherton on the Croatian island after Atherton qualified first, so she has speed and confidence this season. Also looking to shine on home soil will be Tahnée Seagrave (Transition Muc-Off). The young rider finished second at the British downhill series round there two weeks ago and will be carrying momentum from winning three World Cup rounds in 2017.

Finals for the UCI Downhill World Cup in Fort William will be live streamed on Red Bull TV on Sunday,