Tues 2nd June 2009
South African Greg Minnaar the 3 time Downhill World Cup Champion was crowned the inaugural Xdream Indoor Mountain Bike World Champion at Bike Radar live on Sat Evening at Donnington Park. Minnaar beat off stiff competition from some of the world's finest riders including Steve Peat, Gee Atherton and former 1 hr endurance world record holder Graham Obree. The Event sponsored by Trixter, Race Face, Mountain Bike World and Bike Radar live will be televised on Sky sports next month and was hosted and commentated on by 2 time world BMX champion Scott Beaumont.
The 1541 meter Xdream Parklands course had a gradual 54 meter accent with a fast downhill section to finish. The riders set qualifying times during the day with Red Bull Rider Gee Atherton setting the quickest time of 2 minutes 47 seconds. The races consisted of 3 riders on identical bikes racing head to head on the virtual parkland course with winner automatically progressing to the next stage.
Semi final 1 featured Graham Obree World record Road Racer vs Liam Phillips Olympic BMXer vs Marc Beaumont World Cup Downhiller. Philips as expected with his explosive start got off to an early lead although he was chased down quickly by the Flying Scotsman Obree. Obree's unparalleled pedal power saw him take a mid race lead but carried too much speed into the tricky bridge section and clipped the fence and crashed out spectacularly losing around 10 seconds. The fall gave both Beaumont and Phillips the opportunity to get past and the racing was neck and neck until the final downhill section. Beaumont took the lead at the top of the hill and his silky downhill skills ensured he was the first passed the post with an impressive time of 2:44.
Semi final 2 was just as exciting featuring Downhiller Greg Minnaar vs 4 X specialist Romain Saladini vs World Cup legend Steve Peat. Peat racing with an injured hand was off the early pace but Saladini got off to a flyer from the start and took the early initiative. Saladini remained in front till the mid section when Minnaar's superior leg power was too much for the young French rider. Greg took the win with a time of 2:45secs to claim the last place in the final alongside fastest qualifier Gee Atherton.
The Final saw the quickest time of the day and was exclusively made up by the super fast downhillers. Gee Atherton on Xdream 1, Greg Minnaar on Xdream 2 along with Marc Beaumont on Xdream 3. Crowd favorite Atherton along with Minnaar made slow starts in comparison to Beaumont who burst out of the starting gate and into a couple of bike lengths lead. His lead however was short lived as a small mistake on the very tight first bridge saw Beaumont launched into the ravine and lose over 10 secs. From then on in the race was between the undisputed 2 best riders of the competition. Atherton and Minnaar head to head on the uphill section swapping the lead giving the large crowd plenty to cheer about. At the top of the hill Atherton was half a bike length behind but Minnaar's downhill section was spectacular and by far the best of the day. Minnar seemed to find an extra gear from somewhere and rode the perfect finishing section to extend his winning margin to nearly 2 seconds setting the fastest time of the weekend with a 2:35.
Minnaar said "I knew Gee and Marc would be tough competition but I knew if I could get to the top of the hill in the lead I could close it out. It was just great fun and such a great buzz with the crowd so close to the action"
Atherton who had the least amount of practice and course time said "It was great fun and really enjoyable. I'm looking forward to getting my revenge on Greg"
Beaumont said "I knew the 2 boys were going to be quick on this course and I took a risk that just didn't pay off. Had I made the bridge I would have been in with a great shout at the finish line"
The Event will run again next year at Bike Radar live but until then members of the public can try the bikes at Virgin Active gyms or Harrods
Gee Atherton, Marc Beaumont, Graham Obree racingNotes on the riders
Greg Minnaar has been crowned Downhill World Cup champion three times (2001, 2005, and the recently concluded 2008 series) for winning the Mountain Bike World Cup points series. He was also crowned Downhill World Champion in 2003 for winning the season ending event. He has also done well in the Four Cross event, with one win in the 2003 World Cup points series, in Fort William, Scotland, and a fourth place finish at the 2005 World Championships. In the 2008 World Cup, Minnaar podiumed at every one of the seven events in the series, taking the win at Fort William, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Canberra. This gave him a comfortable lead going into the finals at Schladming, Austria, where he placed fifth and clenched his overall lead to take the, well deserved, title. Minnaar has twice (2003, 2004) been crowned the champion of the NORBA points series.
Gee Atherton (born 26 February, near Salisbury) is a professional racing cyclist specialising in downhill and four cross mountain bike racing , and is a multiple national champion, multiple World Cup winner, and 2008 downhill World Champion. Last year Gee also famously beat Top Gear's James May in a car vs biker race in Lisbon.
Steve Peat (born 17 June in Chapeltown, South Yorkshire), nickname "Sheffield Steel", is a professional downhill mountain biker , He's the most successful downhill mountain bike racer ever by number of wins. He's the current world Cup points leader and ranked no.1 in the world. He's been the main rider for the for the Santa Cruz Syndicate team since 2006 season, which saw him finish 1st overall, and has continued with them since. Other recent successes include placing second in the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002 and again in 2008 and becoming World Cup champion in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He has also won the Lisboa Downhill, held in Lisbon, Portugal, eight times.
Graeme Obree (born 11 September 1965) is a Scottish racing cyclist who twice broke the world hour record, in July 1993 and April 1994, and was the individual pursuit world champion in 1993 and 1995. He was known for his unusual riding positions and for a bicycle he built which included parts from a washing machine. He joined a professional team in France but was fired before his first race. He has suffered from clinical depression and twice attempted suicide. His life and exploits have been dramatised in a film, The Flying Scotsman.
Liam Phillips (born 11 March 1989 in Taunton) is a BMX racing cyclist. 10 Consecutive British Championship titles, European Champion. In 2008 he was selected for the Great Britain team at the 2008 Summer Olympics. 2 time World Champion & European Champion silver medallist & has won European bronze on 3 occasions.
Romain Saladini Ex Junior Downhill World Champion and current French National Champion. Romain Saladini is very young, and on the rise. Silver medal behind Lopes at the World Championship, World Cup win at Maribor.
Marc Beaumont Marc "Slugger" Beaumont, the wily downhill ace out of Craven Arms, England, is one of the most consistent and respected World Cup racers on the circuit. The 24 year-old Beaumont has proven his consistency over the last few seasons making him a front runner to be on any World Cup podium. Another factor in Marc's success is that he is a protégé to another UK DHer and former GT superstar, Steve Peat.
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