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PEATY WINS
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6/6/2006 - by
Kathy Sessler
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PEATY WINS, RENNIE 4TH AT UCI WORLD CUP DOWNHILL WILLINGEN, GERMANY
June 4, 2006
Willingen, Germany
Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM/Rock Shox) comes out on top and Nathan Rennie joins him on the downhill podium in fourth position at the UCI World Cup Downhill in Willingen, Germany.
After two and a half weeks of rain everyday, the team enjoyed their first dry day with bits of sunshine when they arrived in the quaint German town of Willingen found nestled in a green valley surrounded by pine covered hills. Even still, the downhill track was muddy, as it had rained for weeks here, too, and the grassy off camber turns sent riders tumbling.
The downhill course is short, just a bit over 2 minutes in timed practice runs. With heaps of double jumps, hip jumps and soft run-ups the course was challenging. Rennie and Peaty worked the course extensively in sections in practice. “The downhill practice is going good. Even though it’s short, it’s hard. Working it section by section it’s okay, but putting them all together is hard. If you make one mistake it will mess up your next line. The experienced guys will be the ones who can link it all up and do well.” Said Rennie.
The wind was icy cold for the downhill qualifier, with the sun teasing through the clouds. UCI point’s leader, Sam Hill was first down the hill and posted a 2:07.25, equaling his practice timed run. Peat comes down next with a 2:0244 and stayed atop the leader board through 202 men. Rennie, fifth down, comes in at 2:04.80 and is third place in the qualifier. Minnaar tests Peaty with a 2:02.91, and is second. Fabien Barel comes close to Rennie with a 2:04.96, and Chris Kovarik rounds out the top 5 with a 2:05.43. Rennie was right about the experienced guys delivering the performances and lots of power is needed for this course.
The final came and it was the most exciting final I’ve seen in awhile. Rennie came down with a time that assured him of a podium position, which was exciting. The split time margins were so tight, and when Peat came down and unseated Minnaar from the hot seat 1.17 seconds ahead, it was amazing. Having two Santa Cruz riders on the podium is always the objective and my knees were still shaking 15 minutes after the finish from the excitement.
Peaty says, “I’m absolutely stoked to finally win this year. I rode like I didn’t have an injury and I felt really good, and the end result showed that. I knew for the final the track had dried out and that I would have to push pretty hard and it paid off, even though I had a few sketchy moments. I’m stoked to win and get some good points and take over the overall UCI World Cup points series for the Santa Cruz Syndicate and all of our sponsors.”
Nathan says, “I did something for the final but something wasn’t enough, apparently. I touched the brakes three times and I shouldn’t have touched them at all, but I’m stoked to be on the podium.”
The World Cup race in Willingen marks the end of the first European road trip for the Santa Cruz Syndicate downhill racers. It’s been an action packed month with podium visits at every event. Highlights of the month include:
· A stopover in the small town of Lousa, Portugal where the team relaxed by the river complete with rope swing, and where Nathan stuck his hand in a buzzing beehive (yes he got stung, and yes, the honey was good).
· Lisbon taxi cab drivers are shady and pretend not to know where your hotel is, and if you run from them, sometimes they catch you.
· Stick your finger in curry, and then in your eye, and it will burn, a lot.
· We spent a few days at Peaty’s farmhouse and his neighbor, Farmer Jack, treated us to a big bonfire at his place on the hill. Rennie and Syndicate mechanic, Mathieu Dupelle, played quad fury, for real. Rennie remained unscathed from rolling the four-wheeler. Peaty and his neighbor Tim unstuck the quads from the mud after the boy’s midnight excursion.
· Rennie celebrated his 25th birthday in 5 countries as he traveled from the UK to Willingen on May 31st, besting his former birthday record of 4 countries and a 40 hour long birthday. Countries driven through on the day: England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany.
After a two week hiatus, the Santa Cruz Syndicate gravity racers will be back in action at the UCI World Cup in Mt. Ste. Anne and then on to Brazil. Peaty goes into the next race in the overall points standings, and Rennie is in position.
Final Results:
STEVE PEAT 1:58.30
GREG MINNAAR 1:59.47
GEE ATHERTON 1:59.55
NATHAN RENNIE 1:59.99
CHRIS KOVARIK 2:00.39
UCI OVERALL POINTS
PEAT 580
MINNAAR 448
HILL 422
RENNIE 421
ATHERTON 403
Thanks to the Syndicate sponsors:
SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES
SRAM
RockShox
Truvativ
Avid
DT Swiss
Kenda
PUSH
Crank Brothers
Chris King
WTB
Clif Bar
Troy Lee Designs
5Ten
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