This week sees the (god knows how many years it's been) return of the mountainbike world cup to the Nevis Range at Fort William. This time it's slightly different, and slightly bigger as it's the World Championships.
Ever since hosting various rounds of the world cup cross country, trials, four cross and downhill races, the event has been voted No1 by the riders and has ensured that Ft Bill has been a return venture for following world cup rounds. The cross country course is well known for being testing in both endurance and technical skill for the riders with steep seemingly never ending climbs and slippery rocky rooty sections winding their way around Leanachan Forest.
Having ridden the Downhill course a few years ago I have first hand experience of how great it is (even though I'm not a downhiller by any stretch of the imagination).
This year's preparations have included rebuilding the 4x track to include more spectator veiwpoints, renewing and adding to sections of the XC course and extending and adding sections to the DH course which now starts from just below the top gondola station and includes more boulder fields, more roots roots and roots through the trees and a lot bigger jumps coming into the main arena.
Last years was massive, this years is expected to attract three times the folk.
There's also the world cup village where you can look at the pro's kit, the new kit that's about and around and even buy stuff (woo).
Prices are a quite reasonable £10 per day (discounts for multi day passes). Free park and ride is setup in various fields nearby.
Just don't expect to find a B&B with any room within 20miles.
http://www.fortwilliamworldchamps.co.uk/fwwc_home.html
Started Yesterday with the XC champs on this coming Saturday and the DH champs on Sunday.
