For over a decade, downhill mountain biking fans and racers have been coming to the Nevis Range by Fort William in Scotland to witness some of the toughest bike racing the planet has to offer. Often the Scottish weather makes it decidedly more challenging with the ever present threat of the heavens opening and drenching the course and competitors, making the track even more tricky and slippery, and this year’s event was to be no different. With Saturday practise and qualifying being postponed until Sunday morning due to the weather, riders could do little but wait.
We were stoked to be involved with 4 riders competing with Element 9 painted helmets; Tahnée Seagrave, Ruaridh Cunningham, Reece Wilson and for a second season, Innes Graham. Sunday started early with the track opening for practise at 6.45am. Tahnée didn’t have the best run in qualis, coming away with 23rd, but by the time finals rolled round she went on to take second after putting a solid run together on the wet track. Wearing her new E9G custom painted Fox Rampage Pro – a one off for this race along with a special pink kit and bike to raise awareness of breast cancer charity Coppafeel, Tahnée scored her best World Cup result to date, and the first E9G painted helmet on an Elite podium!
Innes Graham on the top section at Ft William – Image: Jack Tennyson
Innes Graham, riding for MS Mondraker and sporting his latest Ethic Watches custom helmet qualified 31st and went on to smash that in finals with an amazing 17th; another best result and in his first Elite World Cup too.
Reece Wilson – Image: Adam Marsden
After qualifying in a solid 12th, Reece Wilson (Unior Tools Team) was looking good on track, up at the splits but unfortunately he went down in the woods and ended up coming across the line in 61st place.
Ruaridh Cunningham – Image: Adam Marsden
Ruaridh Cunningham (Unior Tools Team) qualified 22nd, just ahead of Brendan Fairclough and Innes Graham and took 21st in finals despite rolling about in the mud – a good result for the 2015 Scottish Champion.
Round 3 of the UCI Downhill Mountainbike World Cup is on 13th/14th June at Leogang, Austria.
