The World Cup visited Andorra for the first time in its 15 year history and all riders faced the challenge of a new course and all the unknowns that go along with that.
Early training times suggested that it was going to be a short race of around two and a half minutes, but with rain featuring throughout most of the week, concerns were also raised about how the track would hold up and whether or not rain would play a factor on race day.
Sam and Brendan trained together well throughout Thursday and Friday both finding the course very much to their liking. For Brendan it almost felt like one of his British local tracks had been imported into the Pyrenees, tipping early that the Brits would do well here. Neither rider opted to show their hand in the official timed training but knew that the time set by Steve Peat of 2m 36.73 was well within reach.
The semi final for Sam is nearly as important as the final, as 50 points are on offer for 1st place so in order to hang onto the leader's jersey, a solid run is needed. In dry yet very overcast conditions, Sam finished 2nd to Britian's Gee Atherton while Brendan took 13th, just 4 seconds back.
During the long 4 hour break before their final runs, the skies started to look more ominous and thoughts went back to round 2 in 2007 in the Swiss Alps where rain affected half the field at Champery. Instead though a brief 10 minute shower soon came and went, and racing went on unaffected. Brendan was the first of Team Monster Energy Iron Horse to head down, but it was soon apparent something wasn't right as his intermediate time didn't show up after 4 minutes. Team Manager Sean Heimdal quickly conferred with race control and confirmed that Brendan had hit a tree in section 9, was on the bike and rolling to the line. Soon after, Greg Minnaar took the hot seat with a time of 2m 36.73secs. His team mate Steve Peat came close, but it was Sam who bumped the South African from the lead and punched the air with jubilation having run a 2m 35.66secs; a great time.
All eyes then went to the TV screens to see if fastest qualifier Gee Atherton could take his first Downhill win in 4 years, and in so doing, join his brother and sister in winning a World Cup race this weekend in Andorra. The split time showed Gee 3 tenths off Sam's pace, but Gee made up time in the lower 50 seconds of the course, reversing the margin to be 3 tenths up at the line.
Comments:
Sam: "I made a mistake in the semis that cost me time. In the lower section at a road crossing, I ran wide and got hung up on a tree and I lost speed going into the next section. So for the finals I went for a strong run and apart from a small mistake in the bottom section, had a good one. I'm happy with 2nd place here on a new track, and to pick up 200 points. It's a long season so consistency is key."
Brendan: "It's pretty disappointing to be out with a crash in the final, especially when training had been going so well. In the semi's it was weird, I felt a lot slower than I knew I'd been in training, but when I crossed the line the time was a lot faster and more competitive than I imagined. In the final I started well but just overcooked it in section 9 and slammed a tree. My ribs are sore but I'll be good for Fort Bill."
Team Manager Sean Heimdal: "Sam keeps the leader's jersey going to Fort William where he's the only rider to win twice, so I'm very happy with where he's placed. Brendan isn't seriously injured which was of course my first concern, but he's pretty upset to have lost valuable points, but he's riding super well. You've got to hand it to the Athertons though this weekend, three wins, and being in the home nation of their sponsor, it made for great racing."
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
