The split times said it all on his way down the mountain here in Italy; Sam Hill was back to his winning ways and was on course to take his 5th World Championship by at least 5 seconds, but then in a surreal burst of dust, Sam lay on the track just 300 meters from the finishing line, scrambling for his bike.
The World Championships are widely considered the cruelest and toughest of all downhill races to win. So much work goes into them by all top riders, and so much can go wrong, it's like controlling chaos. Team Monster Energy's Sam Hill was well in control all week and happy with his riding and race lines, and was without doubt the man with the pace in the final, but out of nowhere, the front end of the bike just slid out.
Sam Hill: "I hit the top section really good and so when I got to the bridge in the middle of the track I was like, 'cool I'm here already' and everything was going good. I knew I didn't have to take any huge risks in the second half of the track. When I got to the bottom of the ski jump I took the left hander like I had been all week. I was letting it drift through there always and I just went to put my foot back on the pedal to start pedaling out of the corner and onto the 2nd last straight when the front wheel just went. I was on the ground and the first thing that went through my mind was 'I can't believe that just happened'."
Remarkably even with the crash, Sam crossed the line only half a second behind the current leader at the time, Steve Peat (GBR). Fastest qualifier Gee Atherton was the last rider down and bumped them both back one spot, taking the World Title, as his sister Rachel had done 2 hours early. Despite the crash, Sam received the bronze medal and has therefore maintained his perfect record of World Championship podiums.....8 out of 8.
Team Manager Sean Heimdal: "It's crazy, I was all set to take care of him at the finish so I turned away from the giant screen for just a second to get his water, and then I heard the crowd. You know, he's been running that line all week and he was looking so comfortable. Obviously we're all really disappointed for him. I was really proud of Brendan as he took a beating on this course with arm pump and some other crashes, so a top 15 for him is on target for us".
Brendan Fairclough: "I just rode too slowly. After getting 8th in the qualifier with a crash I was really looking for a top 5 here in the final. But I just took it a bit too conservatively. Maybe my crash in training this morning (leg had to be taped for the final) had a bit to do with it, but I wasn't having any moments, you know, like it was all too safe. I just stiffened up and didn't ride like I know I can."
Final Results:
1. Gee Atherton (GBR) – 3mins 12.12secs
2. Steve Peat (GBR) – 3mins 14.74secs
3. Sam Hill (AUS) – 3mins 15.27secs
4. Greg Minnaar (RSA) – 3mins 17.34secs
5. Fabien Barel (FRA) – 3mins 17.92secs
14. Brendan Fairclough (GBR) – 3mins 29.06secs
The team takes a small break now from international racing before re-grouping for the 4th round of the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, next month.
Team Monster Energy Iron Horse is also sponsored by: Mad Catz, Game Shark, Air Drives, RockShox, SRAM, Avid, FUNN, Maxxis, DT Swiss, FSA, Crank Brothers, WTB, e.thirteen, DW Link, Troy Lee Designs, Minoura, Maxima, Obtainium Performance Products, Five-Ten, Freestyle Watches, THE, Alligator, Yamaha of Troy, KMC and Kicker.
More info:
www.madcatzracing.com
