Gee Atherton of GT Factory Racing took the weekend's downhill win, made even more special with his sister Rachel taking the women's - David Rome / Future Publishing
A Polygon from the Hutchinson UR team is ready for a bath - David Rome / Future Publishing
The mud in the pits over the weekend was a real mess - David Rome / Future Publishing
Aaron Gwin sets off for his race run on a Specialized Enduro Evo with 180mm travel front and rear - David Rome / Future Publishing
The Giant Factory team were running lightweight enduro rims from DT Swiss - David Rome / Future Publishing
Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas' bike has some trick suspension modification - note the titanium spring held in by a rubber bumper/spacer and a whole lot of spring preload - David Rome / Future Publishing
Just about everyone had some form of mudguard: this crown-mounted model on Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas' bike was one of the longer ones - David Rome / Future Publishing
Mitch Ropelato was first seen riding his Enduro 29er, before making a late switch to the downhill bike as conditions on track worsened - David Rome / Future Publishing
A long travel single-crown RockShock Pike on the front - David Rome / Future Publishing
Ropelato's 29er had wide carbon rims - David Rome / Future Publishing
An Ohlins suspension shock for Ropelato's Specialized Enduro 29er had us drooling! - David Rome / Future Publishing
A new prototype frame from Polygon for the Hutchinson UR team - David Rome / Future Publishing
A new suspension layout from Polygon should save a fair chunk of weight. The team's suspension sponsor - BOS - has the team testing a new air shock - David Rome / Future Publishing
Neat brake setup on this Polygon frame - David Rome / Future Publishing
SDG designed ODI grips for the Hutchinson UR team - David Rome / Future Publishing
Troy Brosnan getting his bike ultra-slick for the final race. The spray is meant to stop the clay-like mud sticking to the frame - David Rome / Future Publishing
Troy Brosnan is one of the lighter riders and opted for the new Vivid Air shock - David Rome / Future Publishing
Specialized Factory were seen testing a variety of rubber over the weekend - David Rome / Future Publishing
Marsh Guards were everywhere! These guards are the brain child of Greg Minnaar's mechanic, Jason Marsh - David Rome / Future Publishing
Aaron Gwin's grip of choice - David Rome / Future Publishing
SRAM's new X0 DH was seen with just about all SRAM sponsored riders - David Rome / Future Publishing
Ohlins suspension is highly regarded within motorsport, so Mitch Ropelato's suspension is definately the envy of many - David Rome / Future Publishing
Troy Brosnon brings his Enduro Evo back after a run - David Rome / Future Publishing
The entire pits looked like this - nearly all the cross-country teams stayed away because of the mess! - David Rome / Future Publishing
This was some of the more practical footwear we saw, although most were going barefoot - David Rome / Future Publishing
Still clean... - David Rome / Future Publishing
Some just figured, if you're going to get muddy... - David Rome / Future Publishing
Rachel Atherton - the weekend's winner - checks whether she got the body slide in focus… - David Rome / Future Publishing
Although Stevie Smith hasn't returned to racing because of injury, the rest of the Devinci Global Racing team were there - David Rome / Future Publishing
Brendan Fairclough taking his bike to the pressure washers - David Rome / Future Publishing
Micayla Gatto and Emilie Siegenthaler hose each other off - David Rome / Future Publishing
Bryn Atkinson's prototype Norco carbon downhill - we quickly got shooed away before snapping any detail shots - David Rome / Future Publishing
Current World Champion – Greg Minnaar – has this custom WTB Silverado saddle to show off his nation's flag - David Rome / Future Publishing
Gee Atherton is arguably the hardest working rider in the game - working out before the race. Clearly it worked for him! - David Rome / Future Publishing
And once on the bike, Gee has full knowledge of his power output with this Shimano Saint SRM - David Rome / Future Publishing
These grips – as used by Giant – were likely quite tacky amidst all the mud - David Rome / Future Publishing
Giant Factory had the 'luxury' of a shipping container to hide in during the rain - David Rome / Future Publishing
Red Bull were among a select few who were able to drive into the pits without needing a tow out - David Rome / Future Publishing
Madision Saracen Factory team rider Matt Simmonds has his bike prepared - David Rome / Future Publishing
Schwalbe brought a trailer full of rubber – apparently the mud tyres were first to go - David Rome / Future Publishing
'First Ride' is Schwalbe's prototype naming. Often it's a well-known tread pattern but with a variation in compound - David Rome / Future Publishing
New Zealand's Samuel Blenkinsop (Lapierre Gravity Republic) qualified first, but couldn't back it up on race day. We quite like his integrated seatpost collar - David Rome / Future Publishing
Hutchinson UR were a crowd favourite with Cairns local Mick and Tracey Hannah on the team. This recently announced Polygon N9 enduro race bike was being used for warm ups, with the conflicting brand's rear shock labels hidden - David Rome / Future Publishing
A BOS Deville fork on the front of this team-spec Polygon N9 enduro race bike - David Rome / Future Publishing
Best known for chainguides, e*thirteen also supply the wheels to the Hutchinson UR team. These big flange carbon hubs are super light and create a stiff setup - David Rome / Future Publishing
A Commencal also testing out the new BOS air rear shock - David Rome / Future Publishing
Mick Hannah's prototype Polygon bike all ready for the pressure-filled final run - David Rome / Future Publishing
Can you name this frame? Either way… it looks evil! - David Rome / Future Publishing
Round two of the UCI mountain bike world cup was held in Tropical North Queensland of Australia. Consistent and heavy rain turned the track greasy and the pits even dirtier, which saw riders scrambling for ways to keep themselves upright and the bikes clean.
Some highlights include a Norco carbon downhill bike, suspension tuning from the Giant Factory team, a variety of non-downhill specific bikes from Specialized, prototypes from Polygon and general shenanigans caused by the mud.
Take a scroll through our gallery and see the latest gear used by the world's fastest gravity riders.
