In the pits and on the hill for today’s qualifying runs
No one was faster through this rock slab section today than Danny Hart. Danny’s been looks more relaxed on the bike than ever, launching sections with ease and jumping further and faster than everyone.
No one was faster through this rock slab section today than Danny Hart. Danny’s been looks more relaxed on the bike than ever, launching sections with ease and jumping further and faster than everyone. - Steve Behr
Gee Atherton’s qualifying run was only 0.176 seconds behind Danny Hart today. Gee is hungrier than ever for a win. - Steve Behr
Sam Blenkinsop of the Lapierre Gravity Republic has been looking flat out all weekend. His 3rd place in qualifying was well deserved today. - Steve Behr
Blenki’s stuck to riding without gloves, but he has made the change to riding in clips. - Steve Behr
The living legend, Steve Peat managed 21st today with what looked to be a pretty solid run. After qualifying he walked the track with his old mate and mechanic Ricky Boddy to see where he can shave off some seconds. - Steve Behr
Brendan Fairclough snuck in just behind his old mentor Steve Peat, bagging 22nd in the qualies. He’s told us there’s more in the tank for race day and is feeling comfortable on the high-speed course. - Steve Behr
It just wasn’t to be for Gwin today. We’re not sure what happened to the 2011 and 2012 World Cup overall champion, but we’re guessing he’ll come out with all guns blazing on race day. - Steve Behr
Aaron Gwin’s Specialized Demo was one of a few bikes sporting some prototype SRAM BlackBox transmission parts. Here the new BlackBox rear derailleur shifts across a smaller 7-speed cassette. Although the guys at SRAM aren’t saying much on the subject, there appear to be similarities with the company’s XX1 Straight P rear derailleur and its X-Sync jockey wheels. When paired with the X-Sync chainring up front, chain security should be better than ever - not a bad thing for a course as demanding as Fort Bill. - Steve Behr
We spoke to Ian Collins, the man behind Renthal Cycling who explained that Aaron wanted to go wider with the bar and test some different lengths. Renthal has produced a bar that measures in at 800mm but it’s easy to see Gwin’s preferred 785mm with denoted by the AG etched into the cutting marks. - Steve Behr
On top of the wider bar, Renthal is also working on changes to their Integra direct mount stem. This is a straight 45mm reach number and the riders can choose between either the 0mm or 10mm rise options. The bar clamp looks to have significantly changed, too. - Steve Behr
The Madison Saracen team bikes have been running a different linkage to provide a more linear suspension stroke and more tuning options. Whether the linkage will go into production we just don’t know. - Steve Behr
We snapped Brook MacDonald’s new Five Ten shoes while sharing a gondola ride up the mountain with him. The Bulldog managed a solid 6th place in qualifying today. - Steve Behr
The 4X Pro Tour always goes down a storm at Fort Bill and today was no different. Plenty of carnage and some close racing is always a good formula for great entertainment. - Steve Behr
Katy Curd tackles the steep rock section before going on to take her first win here at Fort Bill. - Steve Behr
It’s been another glorious day up on the slopes of Aonach Mor, where the fastest downhill racers in the world put on one hell of a show during qualifying this afternoon.
The Welsh wonder kid Taylor Vernon took top spot in the juniors aboard his new GT Fury while his teammate Rachael Atherton showed her dominance in the women’s category, smashing her closest rival Emmeline Ragot by a whopping 6.1 seconds to take top honours.
Although many had Aaron Gwin down as favourite, he could only manage 14th in qualifying today, just behind teammate Troy Brosnan.
For any that had seen Danny Hart’s speed in practice, it was no real surprise that he took the top spot in today’s proceedings, edging fellow Brit Gee Atherton out by 0.176 seconds, with Sam Blenkinsop storming into a strong 3rd place. After the speed Mick Hannah displayed in timed training yesterday it was no big shock to see the Aussie right up there in the mix in 4th spot and Devinci Global Racing’s Stevie Smith rounding out the top 5.
In the evening, the 4X Pro Tour kept spectators glued trackside to watch riders do battle.
In the end it was Tomas Slavik that came out on top in the mens, while young Brit Katy Curd made a pass higher up on the course to move into the lead and take the win.
Rob is BikeRadar and MBUK’s technical editor-in-chief. Our resident tech nerd has lived and breathed mountain bikes since the age of nine. After a couple of years ripping around his local woods, he raced cross-country through the early 90s. A shift to downhill better suited his skillset and he soon became a regular on the national circuit before having a crack at some UCI Downhill World Cups.
Rob always had an eye for tech and was keen to glean any kind of mechanical advantage possible. Whether that was through geometry changes, suspension tuning or adapting parts, he learned quickly that an open mind is key.
He began working as a freelance writer for MBUK over 20 years ago, while he finished his degree in sports technology. He landed his dream role as technical editor 15 years ago.
Rob’s passion for bikes encompasses just about anything with two wheels, including fast and efficient cross-country bikes and long-travel enduro rigs or downhill machines. He rides on the road and gravel, too.
He’s tested hundreds of bikes, piles of components and mountains of kit, so understands what does and doesn’t work.
Height: 172cm
Bike size: Medium/450-460mm reach
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