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Fort William World Cup 2011 Downhill Qualifying

by Ian Hylands
Jun 4, 2011 at 9:12

Photos and captions: Fraser Britton, Duncan Philpott and Phunkt

#1 qualifier Aaron Gwin on an early morning run. Can Gwin go 4 for 4 this year? We'll know soon enough, but Trek may have a couple of #1 plates on their bikes quite a ways into this season. Gwin for the Win?
#1 qualifier Aaron Gwin on an early morning run. Can Gwin go 4 for 4 this year? We'll know soon enough, but Trek may have a couple of #1 plates on their bikes quite a ways into this season. Gwin for the Win?

Steve Peat is a local hero and can never be counted out, 15th in qualifying...
Steve Peat is a local hero and can never be counted out, 15th in qualifying...

Greg Minaar has won a lot of World Cups over the years, and more than a few overall titles.
Greg Minaar has won a lot of World Cups over the years, and more than a few overall titles.

Matti Lehikoinen was no exception and was getting as flat as anyone else, Matti qualified in 11th and is in a good position to advance on that tomorrow.
Matti Lehikoinen was no exception and was getting as flat as anyone else, Matti qualified in 11th and is in a good position to advance on that tomorrow.

The top section is all about rocks and the riders love it. Fabien Cousinie
The top section is all about rocks and the riders love it. Fabien Cousinie

Another pan and not the sharpest from the day however the colours were just leaping out and as a photographer i had to include it.
Another pan and not the sharpest from the day however the colours were just leaping out and as a photographer i had to include it.

Manon Carpenter qualified in fifth and looked pinned all day, not bad for one of the youngest female racers on the circuit.
Manon Carpenter qualified in fifth and looked pinned all day, not bad for one of the youngest female racers on the circuit.

Danny Hart, qualifying in third against the best in the world and showing style like this in that qualifying run. Best of luck to Danny tomorrow, could it be his first world cup win?
Danny Hart, qualifying in third against the best in the world and showing style like this in that qualifying run. Best of luck to Danny tomorrow, could it be his first world cup win?

The track may be beat, the bugs may take chunks of you with them and it's probably soaking wet and freezing cold, but there is always a great view in Fort William, even when the sun isn't shining.
The track may be beat, the bugs may take chunks of you with them and it's probably soaking wet and freezing cold, but there is always a great view in Fort William, even when the sun isn't shining.

Like I said, always a great view in Ft Bill. DH finals coming fast tomorrow! Gwin, Smith, Hill, Brosnan, Peat, Barel, Minnaar - or someone else? Stay tuned.
Like I said, always a great view in Ft Bill. DH finals coming fast tomorrow! Gwin, Smith, Hill, Brosnan, Peat, Barel, Minnaar - or someone else? Stay tuned.

Traveling for weeks at a time can run a person down. Thankfully, we now have technology to keep us amused. Blackbox Technician John Cancellier and SRAM's caffeine addict Evan Warner go to town with their iPhones over breakfast. Mad Skills MX anyone?
Traveling for weeks at a time can run a person down. Thankfully, we now have technology to keep us amused. Blackbox Technician John Cancellier and SRAM's caffeine addict Evan Warner go to town with their iPhones over breakfast. Mad Skills MX anyone?

Only in the UK. This chocolate bar ain't no egg and spoon race. Boys only!
Only in the UK. This chocolate bar ain't no egg and spoon race. Boys only!

Troy Brosnan takes the mechanics secret to his helmet post quali run.
Troy Brosnan takes the mechanics secret to his helmet post quali run.


DHI ME Results Qualifying
DHI WE Results Qualifying
Must Read This Week

77 Comments

  • + 21
flag devil1143 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:27)
 yeah danny!!!!!
  • + 18
flag BeastlyBrant (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:35)
 troy in 8th? kid is sick
  • + 2
flag b4life (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:41)
 im more then suprised and stoked with just the results of qualy, can't wait to see what the race will bring us!
  • + 6
flag OliScale (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:02)
 was expecting more from sam this year
  • + 3
flag w-e-w (Jun 4, 2011 at 12:28)
 still early Oli.. let's wait and see.. don't forget his cameo at world's last year
  • + 1
flag Bjammin (Jun 4, 2011 at 16:42)
 Crazy. Gee and Danny were .001 seconds apart. and Gwin was over 1.8 seconds ahead of both of them.
  • + 2
flag hoolydooly (Jun 5, 2011 at 0:32)
 i think Hill his holding back a tiny bit because he doesn't want a repeat of last year.
[Reply]
  • + 17
flag Fix-the-Spade (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:25)
 Y'can't say Gwin without WIN!

Don't know what they're feeding him over at Trek towers, but he's really upped his game over the winter.
  • + 5
flag b4life (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:41)
 clever.. Wink
  • + 27
flag RaleighVoid (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:48)
 i read somewhere he has go faster stripes tattooed on his genitals.
  • + 3
flag RaleighVoid (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:11)
 orrr fix, you could have said "Gwin... its in the name"

(in the style of "EA sports, its in the game")
  • + 5
flag pumpkintaco (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:16)
 f*ck yeah Gwin! damn that guy's fast everywhere
Sam 9th? what?
  • + 11
flag mhailo (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:23)
 Peaty 15th? What?
  • + 5
flag IronHorse-Chris (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:40)
 Troy is a BOSS
  • + 3
flag peterman1234 (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:05)
 lets hope gwin can still perform under the pressure, hopefully he knows that everyone is gonna go balls out tomorrow morning. i think thats why you see some big names lower on the list, to save some energy and such for race day.
  • + 3
flag mountguitars (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:19)
 gwin's my man! he's gonna dominate this year! woohoo!
  • - 2
flag Empire-Matt (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:50)
 Quali's dont really mean much if your not point hunting, hence why some of the top boys are further down
  • + 4
flag jeromev10 (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:50)
 TOMAC + training = crazy fast Gwin
  • + 2
flag aoneal (Jun 4, 2011 at 12:48)
 Yup, Aaron win likely Gwin it again. He's an unstoppable Gwinning machine, that's all there is to say.
  • + 3
flag GingaCal (Jun 4, 2011 at 18:36)
 @Empire-Matt, wouldn't the top guys want to go fairly hard in the qualies get the quali points? May make the difference in the end of the year, you saw how close it was between Gee and Greg last year...
  • + 2
flag KURTSUCKS (Jun 4, 2011 at 19:39)
 AARON GWIN, ITS IN THE NAME!!!
'

HAHAHAHA
  • + 1
flag Empire-Matt (Jun 5, 2011 at 8:06)
 WHeeey, DANNY f*ckING HART YOU LEGEND! Greg Minnaar you monster!!!
  • + 1
flag mhailo (Jun 5, 2011 at 8:50)
 Gee I had a bet on you Frown
  • + 1
flag KurtMoon (Jun 5, 2011 at 23:42)
 I dont like kurts name....
  • + 1
flag KURTSUCKS (Jun 7, 2011 at 14:16)
 You talkin to me?
[Reply]
  • + 16
flag jamiemaclean94 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:53)
 Danny hart.... You. f*cking. Machine.

The kid is like what 19?

Big, big, BIG things to come from him Smile cant wait for tomorrow
  • + 2
flag jdotr (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:57)
 totally agree. saw him ride one of the spots i ride at about a month or two back. The dudes going to be insane
[Reply]
  • + 11
flag calum-mackie (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:31)
 danny only 0.001 s behind gee..
  • + 5
flag nakeddave (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:45)
 It's the awesome race gear he's wearing! Gotta be good for a 5 second advantage!
  • + 3
flag conorscully (Jun 4, 2011 at 12:21)
 One fart coming into the finish and he had it haha Big Grin
[Reply]
  • + 7
flag b4life (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:42)
 Are we goin to get a video?
  • + 2
flag hoolydooly (Jun 5, 2011 at 0:33)
 No, UCI are to busy being a bunch of power jockey bastards.
  • + 1
flag peterman1234 (Jun 5, 2011 at 13:58)
 http://freecaster.tv/mountainbike/1014860/uci-world-cup-2011-dhi-2-fort-william-gbr
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag Goldenwalt (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:22)
 Can anyone say "Fifth Victory" for Gwinning! You do So Cal proud big dog.
  • + 5
flag kokaneecrankworx (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:59)
 Fifth?
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag dude05 (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:50)
 Really good to see Hart up there. Race results will depend so much on the conditions, if it starts blowing a gale you've gotta put your money on the bigger more powerful riders.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag chettjames (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:59)
 Can't wait for them to turn up the wick!!!!!!! GO STEVE SMITH!!!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag t4bz (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:28)
 sick to see danny hart up there!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Quinsta (Jun 4, 2011 at 13:58)
 Go the Athertons and GO the KIWI"S..!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag jptothetree (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:15)
 GWIN FOR THE WIN!!! Seems like a course he can win on!
  • + 4
flag Fader18 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:33)
 gwin is a monster! he is just killing everything!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag haz1700 (Jun 4, 2011 at 14:59)
 Fair play to Rachel Atherton coming back after last year. So fast.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag GabrielDugas (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:26)
 my vote is still for steve smith!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag BenMx702 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:18)
 Jill was on pace...something must have happened. She is going to give Rachel and Tracy a good fight for the win.
  • + 2
flag skivt27 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:23)
 jill had the fastest first split
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag rapplez (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:41)
 Its good to see a different mix up in the top 10. Speechless.......when it comes to A. Gwin!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag harry-righton (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:32)
 does anyone know what happened to brendan fairclough???
  • - 1
flag tobiebiker (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:45)
 he ate shit at south africa
  • + 2
flag nakeddave (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:47)
 131st place 35 seconds down.
  • + 1
flag duncanp (Jun 4, 2011 at 13:38)
 he crashed again today unfortunately
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag blackfields57 (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:06)
 Where's Mik Hannah?
  • + 1
flag cGonzalez (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:37)
 burried back in 56th ...17 seconds off
  • + 1
flag w-e-w (Jun 4, 2011 at 12:31)
 ouch
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Deezil23 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:49)
 Great result for GBR, Atherton, Hart and Cunningham all within the top 10, cant wait for the race tomorrow!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag ButtonPusher (Jun 4, 2011 at 12:57)
 Oh no Scribd format... my computer can't view these : (
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag brandoncoughlin (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:26)
 gwins been the man to beat the last couple races
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Cusalabanjura (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:06)
 Trek are doing summet right 2 in top 6
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag togood2die (Jun 4, 2011 at 15:59)
 GET SOME GWIN!!!
You too Rach!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Coreey (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:15)
 Is Gwin still sane? That gap between Gee and him is weird.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag benjiscott82 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:23)
 gwin 1st and danny hart 3rd awesome!!! tomorrow is going to be inf*ckingsane
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Jonni70 (Jun 4, 2011 at 14:37)
 Go for it Danny, would be gr8 to see a Northerner win it.
Have watched this lad at Hamsterly Forrest, awesome.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag BLIPDH (Jun 4, 2011 at 16:29)
 Or someone else???ummm ya gee atherton
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag DH-DANIMAL (Jun 4, 2011 at 17:46)
 Wooho two kiwi's in top 5. Give it heaps boys
  • + 1
flag DH-DANIMAL (Jun 4, 2011 at 17:46)
 * top 6
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag Jonni70 (Jun 4, 2011 at 14:37)
 Go for it Danny, would be gr8 to see a Northerner win it.
Have watched this lad at Hamsterly Forrest, awesome.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag KurtMoon (Jun 5, 2011 at 23:43)
 Yeah Aaron! Keep it up man!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag hoolydooly (Jun 5, 2011 at 0:45)
 Come on Danny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag devo123 (Jun 4, 2011 at 9:38)
 Brosnan FTW!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag neimbc (Jun 5, 2011 at 4:37)
 Greg nearly 3 secs back? C'mon!!! Minnaar for vengence!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag DownhillBro (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:48)
 Manon top 5? That's really impressive for a '93 baby
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag Craiglers (Jun 4, 2011 at 13:20)
 Christopher McGlinchey 67th? Yes man. First World Cup and 2nd youngest lad on the startlist. Hon the Irish
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag fox7 (Jun 4, 2011 at 14:29)
 How come there's no pictures of Gee/Athertons?

I'm disappointed.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag jakeheath (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:45)
 Alexis Delcroix Whats happenning.. lol jks i dont know you.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag Cusalabanjura (Jun 4, 2011 at 11:04)
 Gee wIll win all day long
  • + 0
flag suicidedh711 (Jun 4, 2011 at 12:58)
 I disagree
Gwin will win
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag gombo8 (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:41)
 could of been a triple atherton win but gwin is just killin it
  • + 6
flag DirtyDee (Jun 4, 2011 at 10:56)
 How? Dan isn't racing 4x and seems to be a bit off pace in the DH (which is to be expected given what he is coming back from).
[Reply]

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