0:00:26 > 0:00:29Hello and a very warm welcome to The Adventure Show.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32This month, we're at the premier event in the extreme sports calendar here in Scotland,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38And what a fantastic weekend of racing here we have for you.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42We start with the shoulder-to-shoulder,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45argy-bargy of the Four Cross, and then head up the hill
0:00:45 > 0:00:47for the longest downhill race of the season -
0:00:47 > 0:00:50550 metres in under five minutes.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Incredible racing ahead of us this weekend.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56It's so rough. The whole top section is man-made,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58so anything that can erode away from it has.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01So now what we've got left with is a hard track,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04with rocks that are basically sticking out of concrete!
0:01:04 > 0:01:07It's pretty fast at the top, and pretty rough,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09and it's usually pretty loose too, when it doesn't rain,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11so it's kind of like California, where I'm from,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13kind of dry and dusty, I guess,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16so it's pretty good. I like it.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20And there's no shortage of British talent on display this weekend.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23In the men's competition, we've got Scott Beaumont going for gold
0:01:23 > 0:01:26in the Four Cross. And we've got current world champion Danny Hart
0:01:26 > 0:01:29and former world champion Gee Atherton going for it in the downhill.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32There's a huge amount of Brits that are doing really well.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34You know, there's a handful of guys
0:01:34 > 0:01:36from the UK that could win on any day.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38So that's a good position to be in,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41and I think they're all relatively young that are coming through,
0:01:41 > 0:01:43so only going to get better and better.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Also on this month's Adventure Show, we're off out to sea,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50to an area not usually associated with kayaking.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55But it's got everything an adventurous paddler could wish for.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58And Cameron McNeish will be just down the road in Glen Nevis,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01for a wild walk in the nearby hills.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03But first the action here in Fort William,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07where we start with the fantastic, gladiatorial Four Cross.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11It's the only way to describe it. It's exciting and really dangerous.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14The track itself is very good fun for the riders,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16they really enjoy riding on this track.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17And it always provides good racing.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20The actual layout of the course, the corners that are used,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22and just the way it rides.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27Always expect the unexpected, you know, crashes, drama and overtakes
0:02:27 > 0:02:30is just part and parcel of the Four Cross. It's a head-to-head race,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33where we all start at the same time, and you must finish in the top two riders
0:02:33 > 0:02:36to transfer to the next round, and that's all there is to it.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40A former BMX world champion, Scott Beaumont's been at the forefront
0:02:40 > 0:02:43of British Four Cross racing for the past decade.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Britain's leading woman, 23-year-old Katy Curd,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47is currently seventh in the world.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50One of her greatest strengths is over the jumps,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53so she should do well here in Fort William.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Straight out the gate, it's quite technical,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57so it's not all about power here, which is good for me.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00And then, yeah, it's a bit more rough than usual courses,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02so, yeah, it suits my style.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06You never know what's going to happen, you could be behind
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and the people in front crash, or you could be in front
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and you could take yourself out. You've got three other riders
0:03:11 > 0:03:13around you, so you've got to be aware of
0:03:13 > 0:03:16what you're riding and what they're doing as well.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18And we're joining the action in the Four Cross
0:03:18 > 0:03:19for the women's semi-final.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22And in this year's event, there's a massive British presence
0:03:22 > 0:03:24with three Brits in the first semi-final race.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27They're up against the reigning world champion Anneke Beerten
0:03:27 > 0:03:30from the Netherlands in lane one.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Next to her it's Katy Curd in lane two.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36In lane three, 20-year-old Suzanne Lacey, really focused.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Finally, it's 19-year-old Jessica Greaves in lane four.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42So, three Brits up against Anneke Beerten. She's the one to beat,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44fastest down the track in qualifying.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47And just look at the concentration.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48And they're off!
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Anneke Beerten just gets the edge out of the gate,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53and it's Katy Curd pulling up into first position
0:03:53 > 0:03:56as they head towards the first... Oh, how did she manage
0:03:56 > 0:03:57to stay on there?!
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Scuffed it on the jump. But she's lost a shoe, though.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Anneke's making the most of that through her powers, though,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05all the way out in front to the rock garden.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10Suzanne Lacey in second place, Jessica Greaves in third, and Katy Curd way behind now.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Anneke Beerten hammers on. She's miles in the lead now.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16As she heads down into the arena, they're really spread out.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19It's going to be Anneke Beerten first by a mile,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22with Suzanne Lacey coming in second. What a race for her.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24They go through to the final.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Jessica Greaves in third, with Katy Curd fourth.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30And holding her leg there, took a pounding at the top of the course,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33got her foot stuck in the rear wheel.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37So it's Beerten and Lacy through, Greaves and Curd miss out
0:04:37 > 0:04:38on a shot at the top spot.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Right now, though, Katy needs to find a shoe.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Ah, there it is.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Time now for the second semi-final, and lining up
0:04:47 > 0:04:50in the gate, it's Celine Gros from France in lane one,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Melissa Buhl from the States is next to her in lane two,
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Tereza Votavova from the Czech Republic in three.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59And another French rider, Melanie Rugin, in lane four.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Celine Gros and Melissa Buhl qualified in second and third place,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05so there's going to be a battle on here.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Waiting for the gate to go...
0:05:07 > 0:05:08And there it is.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11The course is really tricky from the moment they leave the gate.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Over the first few jumps,
0:05:14 > 0:05:16and it's looking like Melissa Buhl into the first corner,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18with Celine Gros in second place,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Melanie Rugin in third with Votavova in fourth.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25As they head down towards the rock garden,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27veteran Melissa Buhl is flying over this bumpy section,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30but Celine Gros hot on her heels.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34But they're well ahead of the rest of the field, Rugin and Votavova.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Into the final stretch and Buhl's just hanging onto first place.
0:05:38 > 0:05:39Gros is chasing her down,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43she's closing that gap as they charge down into the arena...
0:05:43 > 0:05:46But Buhl is just too strong and holds onto that lead.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Yeah, good win for Melissa Buhl, with Gros in second place.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52They're both through to the women's final.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Votavova comes down in third,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56with Melanie Rugin limping back in fourth place,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58with very little left of her rear tyre.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Look at the state of that - this really is a brutal course!
0:06:03 > 0:06:06So here we have it, the women's Four Cross final,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08and it's favourite Anneke Beerten in lane one,
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Melissa Buhl is in two,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Celine Gros in lane three,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15and keeping British hopes alive, Suzanne Lacey is in four.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Can Lacey come up with something special here?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21But she's up against the big guns.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Gates down and they're off.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Anneke Beerten gets a great start.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Over the initial set of jumps, into the first corner...
0:06:29 > 0:06:32And it's Beerten out in front, taking the very fast line,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Buhl's in second, Gros in third, Lacey way back in fourth.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Poor start and the pressure of the final may be taking its toll,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42so it's a tight pack of three heading into the rock garden.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Beerten's flying and...
0:06:44 > 0:06:46- SUDDEN POP - What was that? It must be a tyre,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49did you hear that? Beerten's blown a tyre!
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Melissa Buhl goes thundering through into first place,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56with Celine Gros right behind. What a disaster for Beerten,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59she's riding on the rim, but the tyre is all over the place.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Suzanne Lacey swoops into third place,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04but it's going to be Melissa Buhl over the line first,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08with Celine Gros in second and Suzanne Lacey taking third.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Anneke Beerten, fastest qualifier,
0:07:10 > 0:07:12has been awesome on the track all the weekend,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14but she limps across in fourth place.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17What a ride, though, by Melissa Buhl.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21Took full advantage and belted past Beerten into the final corner
0:07:21 > 0:07:23to take a great win.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25I was just trying to stay smooth behind Anneke,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and unfortunately she got a flat. She was riding so awesome tonight,
0:07:28 > 0:07:29but that's racing and it happens
0:07:29 > 0:07:33- and I'm happy to take the win, I'm stoked tonight, so... - The atmosphere is amazing,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- and can you hear that up the top before you start?- Oh, yeah,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38I love racing here, it's one of my favourite venues.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40And to win here feels amazing.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45The huge crowd, the even louder noise and the carnival atmosphere
0:07:45 > 0:07:49are what makes Fort William one of the best weekends in the world.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51So, confirmation of those final results.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Anneke Beerten from the Netherlands takes fourth place,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Britain's Suzanne Lacey is in third,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00French rider Celine Gros comes in second,
0:08:00 > 0:08:01with Melissa Buhl from the States
0:08:01 > 0:08:03taking top spot.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05But what a day for Suzanne Lacey.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Just 20 years old, in her first final,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11she's taken a podium place here at Fort William.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Such an amazing experience to ride against them girls,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15they're so fast. I love it,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18it's amazing, I can't believe it.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20When you were sitting on the line before starting,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23what were you thinking? Was it important to get a good finish
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- or were you thinking, "Let's get through this?" - "Let's get through this,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29"I want to get down, top to bottom." I had not a very good start,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32but somehow managed to get third place, it's just amazing.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36A fantastic result there for Suzanne Lacey.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40Since 2002, the Fort William Four Cross has been part
0:08:40 > 0:08:42of the UCI World Cup Series.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45This year, they decided to drop it from their schedule.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50But no-one wanted to lose the spectacular event,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54so enthusiasts Scott Beaumont and Chris Roberts started a new event,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56the Four Cross Pro Tour.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59It was a shock to everyone, I think, in the world.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02The reaction online was, you know, on all the forums,
0:09:02 > 0:09:04and all the e-mails we were getting,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06and obviously telephones calls
0:09:06 > 0:09:08and everything else was of shock and horror, really.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10We were as shocked as anyone else,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13but at the same time saw it as an opportunity to pick up the reins
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and inject what we feel was a little bit more passion.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20We're very passionate about Four Cross, we believe in the sport,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23we enjoy doing the sport and we wanted to inject that enthusiasm
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and passion back into it, take it to the next level, as it were,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28from where it's been in the past.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Scott Beaumont is also one of the leading British men's Four Cross racers.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Today he's up against the world's best.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38And in this discipline, it's the Czech riders to watch out for.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40They always do well.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43I've been here, like, ten times
0:09:43 > 0:09:45and always it's good to race here, you know.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Yesterday we had the qualification, I had a good qualification run,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52and it's always a place where there's always such a big crowd,
0:09:52 > 0:09:56pushing you down the hill, so it's awesome to race here.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59So to the final heats of the men's Pro Tour Four Cross,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01and it's time for the first semi-final.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04In lane one, it's a young British rider, Isaac Mundy.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Just 18 years old today, he's up against the big boys
0:10:07 > 0:10:09and he knows it.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12He's standing next to fastest qualifier Tomas Slavik in lane two,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15and donning the stripes in lane three is reigning world champion
0:10:15 > 0:10:16and fellow Czech, Michael Prokop.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Finally in lane four, it's the French rider Quentin Derbier.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22So, Mundy's got it all to do against Derbier
0:10:22 > 0:10:26and the two Czech heavyweights, All eyes on the gate...
0:10:28 > 0:10:31They're off. Held for a wee while, now powering down the course.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34And that's a blistering start by Slavik,
0:10:34 > 0:10:35Prokop's in second place,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38but he's under real pressure from Isaac Mundy in third,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Derbier currently in fourth.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Out in front it's Slavik, really fast and low over the jumps there,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47leading them into the corner and down towards the rock garden.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50At the back Derbier is closing the gap on Mundy.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53It's a tight pack of four thundering over the rocks
0:10:53 > 0:10:56taking big air from the jumps and heading towards the bottom of the course.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59And Slavik holding onto the lead, looking really strong,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02has a little glance back there, but he's safe.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05It's going to be Slavik over the line in first position,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Prokop second, Mundy in third, and Derbier in fourth.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11So, Slavik and Prokop through to the final.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Lining up for the second semi-final is Joost Wichman
0:11:15 > 0:11:18from the Netherlands in lane one. Next to him
0:11:18 > 0:11:20is his team-mate Petrik Bruckner from Germany.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Britain's Scott Beaumont's in lane three.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25And finally in lane four is Czech rider Jakub Riha.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28So with Isaac Mundy knocked out in the first semi-final,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31all British hopes lie with Scott Beaumont.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34And they're away, neck and neck out of the gate.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Oh, no, Scott Beaumont's down in a clash of bars at the first jump!
0:11:37 > 0:11:39That must surely be it for him.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Wichman's in first place, with Bruckner in second,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Jakub Riha right behind in third, but Beaumont's way back on his bike,
0:11:46 > 0:11:52but it must be too far for him to get back into the race. It's Wichman over the rocks, though.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Bruckner glances behind, and that looks like a wee tumble by Riha
0:11:55 > 0:11:56in the rock garden, yes, it is.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59So, it's the boys in the matching jerseys
0:11:59 > 0:12:02and matching bikes pounding down to the bottom of the course.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Joost Wichman first,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Petrik Bruckner second. They'll go through to the final.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09And Riha and Beaumont are out.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12So, here it is, the four fastest men down the track
0:12:12 > 0:12:14lining up for the final.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Joost Wichman's lane one,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Tomas Slavik's in lane two, Petrik Bruckner next to him in lane three.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23And current world champion Michael Prokop in lane four.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25This really is a world-class line-up.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29I wouldn't want to call it, any of these guys could win.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33And it's off. Very tight, but Slavik just has the edge over the jump.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Oh, but he slightly overcooked it, that could cost him.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Prokop's not going to let that one go, he's away.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Slavik just holds onto second place, Bruckner right behind him
0:12:42 > 0:12:45battling in third, with Wichman currently in fourth.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47One little dab there in the corner by Bruckner.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50They hammer into the rock garden - Prokop, Slavik, Bruckner,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54not much between them. Wichman, though, way behind.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Prokop is flying, very fast line there.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00But Slavik has cut the corner and he's over the flag...
0:13:00 > 0:13:02And then Bruckner through into second.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05It's Prokop well in front, though, he's over the line first,
0:13:05 > 0:13:08takes first place. What a ride by the Czech.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10World champion and winner here at Fort William.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Bruckner's in second,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15but today there was no-one to touch Michael Prokop.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I pedalled as hard as I could,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21and suddenly I see Tomas and Joost, he got tangled, so...
0:13:23 > 0:13:27I just passed him and tried to be smooth till the finish line.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31So, confirmation of those final results.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Czech rider Thomas Slavik finished fourth,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Joost Wichman from the Netherlands
0:13:36 > 0:13:37is in third.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Second place went to the German rider Petrik Bruckner,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43and over the line first to take top spot
0:13:43 > 0:13:45is the amazing Michael Prokop
0:13:45 > 0:13:46from the Czech Republic.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50We'll be back with the fast and furious action
0:13:50 > 0:13:51here at Fort William shortly.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Right now, we're joining Cameron McNeish, as he takes to the hills
0:13:55 > 0:13:57at a more leisurely pace.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18I'm in Glen Nevis in Lochaber.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20And the hill I want to climb today
0:14:20 > 0:14:23is a hill that many people every year mistake for Ben Nevis,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Britain's highest mountain.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27They look up the length of Glen Nevis
0:14:27 > 0:14:30and they see this big rounded hill at the end,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33its summit slopes glistening like snow.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Except that it's not snow. It's quartzite. And it's not Ben Nevis,
0:14:36 > 0:14:41it's a hill called Sgurr a' Mhaim, an outlier up to the main Mamores ridge.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Nobody's going to see very much of it today unfortunately,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47because it's just a wee bit cloudy, but to be a hill walker in Scotland,
0:14:47 > 0:14:48you have to be an optimist.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51And I'm hoping that in the course of the day the mist will dissipate
0:14:51 > 0:14:53and we might even get some views.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Most hill walkers climb Sgurr a' Mhaim by the Ring of Steall,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11a circular walk that starts below the waterfall on Upper Glen Nevis.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15But today we're taking a more direct route up Coire a' Mhusgain,
0:15:15 > 0:15:19with its beautiful indigenous trees, birch and rowan.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21It'll take us up into the upper corrie.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24And from there we'll access Sgurr a' Mhaim itself
0:15:24 > 0:15:27by the dramatically-named Devil's Ridge.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31As I climb up the corrie, the scenery's becoming more dramatic by the minute,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34as the mist swirls round these big buttresses ahead of us.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Pretty special.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51It's a lovely still and mild morning,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55and you think there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57And then the devil himself raises his head,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01in the form of tens of thousands of these biting insects
0:16:01 > 0:16:03that we lovingly call midges.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05IRRITABLY: Oh...
0:16:22 > 0:16:26I've climbed up out of Coire a' Mhusgain onto the main Mamore's ridge,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and Stob Ban is up there somewhere.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Sgurr a' Mhaim is over there somewhere, I can't really see very much because of the mist.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36But it could be a lot worse actually.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38I'm now on the main crest of the Mamore ridge,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41which takes in no less than 11 Munros.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44And, as I mentioned earlier, Sgurr a' Mhaim is slightly out on a limb,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48so we have to cross the Devil's Ridge to get out to it.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52So that's not too far. I'm just going to have a cup of coffee and something to eat,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55do a bit of navigation, because I think it'll be map and compass work
0:16:55 > 0:17:01when we get onto this narrowest section of the route across the Devil's Ridge.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10The Mamores is one of the great classic ridges in Scotland.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13I did it when I was a youngster, 17 or 18 or something like that.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17We started very early in the morning and got to the final summit by evening.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21But then we'd to walk back down the whole length of Glen Nevis.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26It was a big, big day, but it really was an amazing experience.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Sometimes, just sometimes, the mountain gods are on your side.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43And when you're not quite sure where you are,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46the mist just lifts enough to let you see exactly where you are.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49And that's the start of the Devil's Ridge.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00It's quite a dramatically named ridge, as you can imagine,
0:18:00 > 0:18:01the Devil's Ridge.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04And you expect something that's really, really difficult
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and quite risky. In actual fact, it isn't.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09But in wintertime it's a different proposition entirely
0:18:09 > 0:18:12when it's covered in snow and ice, you have to be pretty careful,
0:18:12 > 0:18:15and pretty skilled in the use of an ice axe and crampons
0:18:15 > 0:18:20and all the rest of it, so very much a different ball game in winter.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27It's not technically difficult,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29but it is a wee bit slippery here and there.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Oh, I had a little moment there, and there's nothing to stop you.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35If you went down, it's a long way to the corrie bottom.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58And that was the Devil's Ridge. Not too bad, eh?
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Plus there's a sting in the tail at the end,
0:19:09 > 0:19:13a 100-metre climb from the top of the Devil's Ridge
0:19:13 > 0:19:18up onto the summit of Sgurr a' Mhaim at 1,099 metres.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21And I wish I could tell you how wonderful the view is.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24But I can't, because I can't see the view for the cloud.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27But you'll just have to take it from me that it's a tremendous viewpoint,
0:19:27 > 0:19:32with Ben Nevis across there, the Aonachs, and the Grey Corries and the Mamores stretching down behind,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Glen Nevis stretching out down towards Fort William.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37It's fantastic, and you'll just have to come up
0:19:37 > 0:19:39and have a look at it for yourself.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Pick a good day, come up and see this fantastic viewpoint
0:19:42 > 0:19:44because it's well worthwhile.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48But for me, it's now a long, knee-grinding descent
0:19:48 > 0:19:51back into Glen Nevis, so see you next time.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Welcome back to the action here
0:20:03 > 0:20:06at the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Now, it's time for the downhill.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Top to bottom, it's nearly three kilometres,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12with 550 metres descent,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15and the best guys get down in less than five minutes.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17It's certainly quite a ride.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21We asked former world champion and previous winner at Fort Bill,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Steve Peat, to show us how it's done.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28When you're at the top of the track warming up for your final run,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30people looking on that from the outside,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32you could cut the atmosphere with a knife.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Everybody's getting in their own zone,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39getting in the right mindset to have that perfect run down the track.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42You can win or lose a race by milliseconds,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44so it's just 100% focus.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47And we're off, straight into a pedalling part on the track.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Nice little jump just here for the fans.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57What a rock... You've got to sit up for these turns.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58'You know how fast you've got to go,'
0:20:58 > 0:21:02you've been those speeds before, but when you're putting it together in a full run
0:21:02 > 0:21:05there are definitely some hairy moments when you're trying to make up those seconds
0:21:05 > 0:21:07and split seconds against the other guys.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11There's a real rough section here, it speeds up again here.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14You can see just how rough it is.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18'You've done your practise runs, you know every rock, root, wind, tree.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23'Every single thing on that course, so you've just got to try and put the best run you can together.'
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Yeah, a little bit sort of steeper down this section,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29but the key is to just link all these turns together.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35Try and stay out of the big holes, the big rough stuff.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39'The speed on this track is pretty high speed, but it feels good.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42'It feels good for me, I'm used to doing it.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45'You can gauge whether you're on a good or bad run sometimes,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48'You might have a little slip, and it puts a bit of pressure on
0:21:48 > 0:21:51'to get back up to speed quick.' Whoa!
0:21:51 > 0:21:53A bit of a moment there for me!
0:21:54 > 0:21:58Yeah, I'm pretty tired by this part of the track.
0:21:58 > 0:22:04It's the only bit of sort of wood that's rooty and rocky.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I'm coming to a road gap here.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12Quite a big road gap but easy to do. Motorway section.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17Gets up to speed really fast. Yeah.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19We're coming to the new big jumps.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23KLAXON
0:22:23 > 0:22:26That one's a big one. Up and into the finish.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31This is where the crowd go crazy on race day.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35There it is, full run down Fort William.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Steve Peat showing us just how it should be done.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41We're going to start with the women's downhill.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45And British hopes are high with Tracy Moseley and Rachel Atherton,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49both former world champions taking part, flying the flag for the UK.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52But they'll face stiff competition from overseas riders.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55The French, they've got a lot of good riders,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58and we try and keep them off the top step as much as we can.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01But we're all quite friendly, which is nice, you know.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05I used to be quite vicious, but I think you get a bit older and you chill out a little bit.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08You're racing against each other. You always want to beat everybody.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12And how big a deal would it be for you to top the podium at the end of the day?
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Well, I'm not going to lie, I want the win so much here.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19I just... I don't know, it would mean the whole world.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Rachel's main British opponent is Tracy Moseley.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Twice world champion, Tracy's won here at Fort William five times.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31But now she's concentrating on other cycling disciplines.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35In fact, this is her first downhill race this season.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38For someone who's at the top of her sport, why change?
0:23:38 > 0:23:42It got to the point where I finally achieved everything I wanted to do in the sport.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I won the World Championships, had a great year last year
0:23:44 > 0:23:47winning the World Cup overall and four rounds of the World Cup.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49So it was kind of a perfect year,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51and it was like, "I guess this is a good time to stop."
0:23:51 > 0:23:54So, yeah, it was a hard decision to make, but at some point...
0:23:54 > 0:23:56You can't race forever, and I've had a pretty amazing run of it.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00I decided that I wanted to take a break and move directions,
0:24:00 > 0:24:01and still wanted to race.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05So this year I've been doing more cross country and endurance-based stuff,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08but I couldn't resist coming back to race at Fort William
0:24:08 > 0:24:12cos it's been such an amazing place to me over my career.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15At 33, Tracy is one of the older competitors here.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18But there's a number of up-and-coming young riders.
0:24:18 > 0:24:2122-year-old Jessica Stone recently swapped a career
0:24:21 > 0:24:24as a professional footballer for mountain biking,
0:24:24 > 0:24:28and she's already competing against the veterans at the highest level.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30It's just an absolute honour really,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32to be able to say I can ride with these people.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36They've been so high up in the sport, and Tracy Moseley as well,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40she's a legend in the sport of downhill mountain biking for women.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43So, you know, to do runs with her this weekend as well
0:24:43 > 0:24:48and follow her and learn from her is just such a great thing.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51So you had a difficult sporting career choice to make?
0:24:51 > 0:24:54I had the dream of being an England football player,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and the opportunity arose with a new sport.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00And wow, you know, that's a pretty incredible sport,
0:25:00 > 0:25:02and I saved up for my bike and gave it a go.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05And instantly, from the first day that I rode,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08I just knew it was the sport for me, and I've not regretted the decision at all.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Look where I am, I'm travelling the world riding a bicycle.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14I mean, you can hardly complain really, can you? So it's great.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Jessica did well in yesterday's qualifying round,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19where she was 12th fastest on the course.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21But with the rain pouring down
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and conditions at the top of the hill tricky,
0:25:24 > 0:25:28she didn't manage to pick up enough speed to challenge the top riders.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Into the arena at the bottom, and that was a disappointing result.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36She's already almost 19 seconds behind the current leader,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40but undoubtedly we'll see lots of her in the years ahead.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43One of the strong young French riders
0:25:43 > 0:25:45is 26-year-old Emmeline Ragot.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47She's the current world champion,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50but has never won here at Fort William.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I think it's bigger... and I'm a bit small,
0:25:53 > 0:25:55so it's hard for me to carry spin.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57And especially on the bottom parts.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02I try to go quicker on the technical parts so I can...
0:26:02 > 0:26:04yeah, get some time.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08And we're picking up the action in the women's downhill final,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11as Emmeline Ragot hurtles down the course.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14And Duncan McCallum's up there in the mist and the rain.
0:26:14 > 0:26:20Wearing number one, having won the first few races of the season.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21Absolutely flying,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24showing the other girls who have been before her how it's done.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Fearless performance so far from Emmeline.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Was the Elite World Downhill Champion in 2009.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Very, very fast.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Absolutely the fastest we've seen so far.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40That could well be a winning time we're witnessing.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Very, very impressive so far.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47So, here comes Emmeline Ragot the Frenchwoman.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50My goodness, she's absolutely flying! Well inside Celine Gros' time,
0:26:50 > 0:26:55Emmeline Ragot, seventh place in Fort William 2011,
0:26:55 > 0:27:00but she has got the power to get first this year, absolutely flying.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04What a time that is, incredible for Emme Ragot.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Fourth in the UCI world ranking,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09but will she be top at the end of play here today in Fort William?
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Next up at the start gate is Britain's Tracy Moseley.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18And with 5:27:01 to beat, she'll have to give it everything.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21This is the biggest hill we've got in the UK
0:27:21 > 0:27:23and we don't get to ride here that frequently.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26And the rest of our tracks are two, three minutes long.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29When you get to a World Cup race, it's five, six minutes long.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31It's rough, technical. It's proper mountainous terrain.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35And we don't get to ride on that stuff a lot of the time.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36- MAN IN CROWD:- Go on, Tracy!
0:27:36 > 0:27:39So on the course now, Britain's Tracy Moseley,
0:27:39 > 0:27:43who has not raced downhill this year.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46She's been concentrating on other things, long enduro.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49She was the 2011 British champion,
0:27:49 > 0:27:54has won in Fort William in 2002, '05, '06, '08, and '11.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Tracy loves this place, always gets a huge amount of support.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Now racing for her own team, TMO.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06A little scrub of the back brake there to keep the back end of the bike down before the big drop off.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11Phenomenal technique even in desperate conditions like this. KLAXONS
0:28:11 > 0:28:15And the big noise is that Tracy Moseley is on the course.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20She's way down on Emmeline, but she is still pretty fast.
0:28:20 > 0:28:26As she drops into the arena, the crowd go absolutely mental.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Big, big welcome from the Fort William crowd for this woman.
0:28:29 > 0:28:35Just so dominant in the early and middle 2000s here at Fort William...
0:28:35 > 0:28:39But she has had a mechanical. She's 15 seconds down.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42She actually goes straight into second place, Tracy Moseley,
0:28:42 > 0:28:45hasn't raced a downhill this year.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48And she's back, and she's back and meaning business.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51She looks absolutely exhausted.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Wow! What a run for her.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00And at the top of the course next up is another young French rider,
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Floriane Pugin.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Floriane came second in the World Cup last year,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06and third place in Fort William.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10He knows the course well, very young rider aged 23,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13currently ranked third in the world.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Riding in the yellow, the Scott team.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Absolutely flying, this looks like a good ride.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24Just as you can see, there's not so much movement in the suspension,
0:29:24 > 0:29:26the bike is keeping light.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Trying to skip over all the little obstacles.
0:29:31 > 0:29:32Just letting it drift.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39A lovely, lovely rider, she's so smooth when she needs to be,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41and she breaks lots air when she needs to as well,
0:29:41 > 0:29:45but has she got a problem? Is that slowing her down?
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Here she comes.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Well, you'd normally expect Floriane Pugin to be
0:29:50 > 0:29:54bigger off that jump at the top of the Scotland Arch,
0:29:54 > 0:29:56she's just rolling things down.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00She was eleven-and-a-half seconds down on our leader,
0:30:00 > 0:30:02but will she knock Tracy Moseley off of second place?
0:30:02 > 0:30:06Yes, she will! Floriane Pugin, winner here in 2007
0:30:06 > 0:30:08when she became junior world champion,
0:30:08 > 0:30:10currently sitting in second place.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13At the Downhill World Cup at Fort William
0:30:13 > 0:30:15there's two riders still to come.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20And next is another French girl, Myriam Nicole.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22Myriam's currently in the top five,
0:30:22 > 0:30:24but she's never won here at Fort William.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28It's a really fast course, it's really rough as well.
0:30:28 > 0:30:29There is many rocks.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32But that's the coolest tracks,
0:30:32 > 0:30:36That's one of the best tracks in the world and everyone loves being here.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Myriam Nicole who is the French national champion,
0:30:42 > 0:30:45ranked second in the world this year,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48came fourth in Fort William in 2011.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Very technical, very smooth rider.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57She's in good form, a consistent top ten finisher
0:30:57 > 0:31:02in all her major World Cup races.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Absolutely terrific line there, very smooth,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08missed out a whole bunch of the rocks.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10She's scoped this course out very well.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12she looks very, very solid so far.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19Myriam Nicole was the 2008 junior world champion,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22finished fifth in the senior World Championship last year,
0:31:22 > 0:31:26but she had a couple of World Cup wins as well, one in France and one in Canada.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28And has she got the power, has she got the ability,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30has she got the strength to win here
0:31:30 > 0:31:34in Fort William to get her first victory of 2012?
0:31:34 > 0:31:37She was eight seconds down in the second split,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40she'll have to absolutely fly the bottom half of this course.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43It's almost too big a ask.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Yes, it is! Nine-and-a-half seconds behind Emmeline Ragot,
0:31:46 > 0:31:47but she got second fastest,
0:31:47 > 0:31:52which pushes Tracy Moseley off the top three.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56And it means it's France one, two, three here in Fort William,
0:31:56 > 0:31:58and the only person that can do anything about it
0:31:58 > 0:32:00is Rachel Atherton.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05It's definitely slipped away from me a few times here before, the win.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08But I think almost that helps. I've had experiences
0:32:08 > 0:32:11of pretty much everything that Fort William can throw at you,
0:32:11 > 0:32:14you know, nerves, the crowd and weather and all sorts.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16So hopefully I'm well-prepared for today.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21World champion in 2008, World Cup Series winner in 2008,
0:32:21 > 0:32:26came second here last year, Britain's Rachel Atherton,
0:32:26 > 0:32:28from the famous Atherton dynasty,
0:32:28 > 0:32:30currently ranked number one in the world,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33coming out last here in Fort William.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Hoping for a podium place
0:32:35 > 0:32:38here in front of what is essentially her home crowd,
0:32:38 > 0:32:40Rachel now riding for GT.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42- MAN IN CROWD:- Come on, Rachel!
0:32:42 > 0:32:45The consummate professional, a tall, rangy, strong rider.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48Huge support on the top of the hill for Rachel,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51and that looks very, very good.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54It looks like a nice ride here on the top of the course.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02Rachel Atherton is up on Emmeline Ragot at the first split.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05She's finished second here far too often.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09She's lost a lot in the middle, but what can she do at the bottom?
0:33:10 > 0:33:14A lot of noise as she comes down. She has to power on now, though.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17Rachel, you have to really go for it!
0:33:17 > 0:33:19She said earlier on today it would mean the world to win here
0:33:19 > 0:33:24at Fort William. Power on down, Rachel, if you are going to do it.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27- ANNOUNCER:- It's going to be close! - Oh, just outside!
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Rachel Atherton finishes second again,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34for the second year in a row. And that's what it means to her.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37she tried everything to get to the top of the podium.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41But Emmeline Ragot was sensational.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44But my goodness, Atherton gave it her all.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48But Ragot is the champion here at Fort William,
0:33:48 > 0:33:51and what a ride it was.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55Emmeline, an absolutely fantastic ride, congratulations.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58I just tried to not go to too crazy, knowing the limit,
0:33:58 > 0:33:59controlled everything,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03cos because it was pretty slippery on the top and muddy in the woods.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06I made a mistake, I almost cried,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09but I didn't get stressed, so that was good.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11But yeah, really hard conditions actually,
0:34:11 > 0:34:15because on the bottom section, it's really soft and it's really hard to pedal.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19I can see Rachel pedal really hard on the bottom,
0:34:19 > 0:34:23and I am like, "I'm done!" It was OK.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25Great news for Emmeline Ragot,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29but it's yet another second place at Fort William for Rachel Atherton.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34She is gutted and doesn't want to talk to anyone.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36So, confirmation of those final results,
0:34:36 > 0:34:38and it's the French and British
0:34:38 > 0:34:39dominating the podium.
0:34:39 > 0:34:45In fifth place, Tracy Moseley made it down in a time of 5:41:34.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Fourth, Floriane Pugin in 5:38:78.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51Third place goes to Myriam Nicole
0:34:51 > 0:34:53with 5:36:05.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55Rachel Atherton's in second
0:34:55 > 0:34:57with a time of 5:28:04.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59But just a second ahead
0:34:59 > 0:35:00is Emmeline Ragot,
0:35:00 > 0:35:04with that fantastic run of 5:27:08.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09The World Cup is the biggest mountain biking event in Britain,
0:35:09 > 0:35:13and this year is on the route of the Olympic flame.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15Former world champion and five-times winner here
0:35:15 > 0:35:20at Fort William, Tracy Moseley has the honour of being a torchbearer.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23Pretty amazing to get a chance to ride a little bit of the course
0:35:23 > 0:35:25one-handed with the torch. Really cool.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Sadly it's not part of the Olympics,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29but it's still an amazing opportunity
0:35:29 > 0:35:32to be part of a big sporting spectacle and a great year for the country
0:35:32 > 0:35:34to have the Olympics here. So it's pretty special to combine it
0:35:34 > 0:35:38with the biggest race in the UK. It's been amazing.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Was there ever a lobby to get downhilling as part of the Olympics?
0:35:41 > 0:35:44I actually don't know the politics behind it.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47I think a lot of it's down to the location, being able to hold
0:35:47 > 0:35:50a downhill in all the different places they go to with the Olympics year after year,
0:35:50 > 0:35:54so I think that's one reason. Also they don't want to increase the number of sports,
0:35:54 > 0:35:58so someone has to lose out for a new sport to get taken on board.
0:35:58 > 0:35:59It would be amazing,
0:35:59 > 0:36:02I think you can see the support the sport gets at this race every year.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04It's growing, people love to watch it.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07It'd be amazing to see it as part of the Olympics, but hopefully
0:36:07 > 0:36:12- that's something that will happen in the future, we'll see. - That would indeed be great news.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15We'll be back with the men's downhill shortly.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17Right now, though, we're leaving the action at Fort William
0:36:17 > 0:36:22and we're heading out to sea for a very different kind of adventure.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30We've joined Doug Cooper,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33an instructor at our National Outdoor Centre, Glenmore Lodge,
0:36:33 > 0:36:36on Scotland's northeast coast.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40This isn't the best known destination for sea kayakers,
0:36:40 > 0:36:42but it's one of Doug's favourites.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46We're at Portknockie Harbour here, which is on the east coast,
0:36:46 > 0:36:48and we've got the Moray Firth out there.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52And we're here cos the weather's always fantastic on the east coast.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57It's an amazing bit of coastline.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01And many people generally go in the sea paddling across the west coast and the islands,
0:37:01 > 0:37:03which, sure, is world class.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06But on the east coast, which is kind of my local coastline,
0:37:06 > 0:37:08there's lots of absolute hidden gems.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11And those hidden gems can involve the beaches,
0:37:11 > 0:37:15the beautiful local harbours, which have a fantastic amount of history
0:37:15 > 0:37:17with the fishing industry of the past.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20We've got the Moray Firth dolphins out there who live and reside
0:37:20 > 0:37:22kind of on the east coast and there are a lot in the Moray Firth,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24so hopefully we may see some dolphins.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28And just round the corner, the cliff architecture is second to none.
0:37:34 > 0:37:35So why do I like sea kayaking?
0:37:35 > 0:37:38It's definitely the variety. It's just fantastic.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42I can go out for a day with a group of friends for a social, mellow paddle,
0:37:42 > 0:37:45I can go out and see a whole variety of wildlife,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48and you can chose to push your limits as much as you feel comfortable.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51So you can be dodging around the rocks, playing in the tide races,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54the surf, or looking for flat, calm conditions.
0:37:54 > 0:37:55And you see the coastline
0:37:55 > 0:37:58from an angle which you can only see and explore from a sea kayak.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04It's just an amazing playground,
0:38:04 > 0:38:08all within, like, 2K of this section, isn't it? As good as it gets.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11I come across here pretty regularly. For myself, it's great,
0:38:11 > 0:38:14but if I get a chance, I'll bring groups out here
0:38:14 > 0:38:16for kind of two or three K's worth of paddling.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20It's absolutely stunning and loads people can learn and enjoy it.
0:38:20 > 0:38:21It's brilliant.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27In some ways, you feel very exposed to the environment
0:38:27 > 0:38:31because you are sat on a moving body of water,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34you are in amongst rocks, you're around and about wildlife.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37So you're very much living as part of the environment,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40and moving as part of it, and it demands a huge amount of respect.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43But from that respect, you see the coastline
0:38:43 > 0:38:46from that unique perspective, from a height where you are
0:38:46 > 0:38:48very much in amongst it and part of it.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55So, the great thing about paddling along these bits of coastline
0:38:55 > 0:38:59is the rock-hopping potential, and what we've got coming up here
0:38:59 > 0:39:03is kind of a gap between a bit of rocks, we've got some swell coming through.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06We've got a bit of an easterly swell running today.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10So there's a lot of sport to be had dodging the rocks
0:39:10 > 0:39:12and timing it well with the swell.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19One of the key things is patience and standing it off a little bit,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22watching what the swell's doing, cos timing is the art
0:39:22 > 0:39:25to good rock-hopping, so that you've time to go
0:39:25 > 0:39:26when the swell's appropriate,
0:39:26 > 0:39:31as opposed to when the swell could cause you a little bit of hassle.
0:39:34 > 0:39:39The sea is a potentially incredibly unforgiving environment,
0:39:39 > 0:39:42so anybody venturing out on it definitely needs to be aware
0:39:42 > 0:39:45of the safety considerations and get the appropriate training
0:39:45 > 0:39:47and learn what's required.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50With that knowledge and choosing the right days and knowing the weather
0:39:50 > 0:39:53and the tides, then you've got a limitless playground
0:39:53 > 0:39:57and you can bite as much or as little a challenge as you wish.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08This is Bow Fiddle Rock,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11quite a unique bit of rock architecture, as you can see,
0:40:11 > 0:40:15and a complete hidden gem. It's fantastic, eh?
0:40:17 > 0:40:19Fantastic!
0:40:43 > 0:40:47When you land, you can enjoy the landing kind of area
0:40:47 > 0:40:50and have your picnic, your packed lunch, it's great.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52And just sat having your sandwich,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55taking in the environment a little bit more is brilliant.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58Lots of the coves along here, the only way you can land on it
0:40:58 > 0:41:00is by a craft like a sea kayak,
0:41:00 > 0:41:04so you'll always feel as if you're the first person perhaps ever there
0:41:04 > 0:41:07because the sea will wash away the footsteps
0:41:07 > 0:41:10and you're arriving there as if it was for the first time.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14But certainly not many people have been there before.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Load your boat and then you're self-contained,
0:41:16 > 0:41:19and whether it's a single day or multi-day, you're self-contained,
0:41:19 > 0:41:22you're your own boss and your life revolves around the weather
0:41:22 > 0:41:24and the environment, the friends you're with
0:41:24 > 0:41:27and the food and the drink you've got,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29and the simplicity of that is fantastic.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35Having been lucky enough to paddle all over the world,
0:41:35 > 0:41:37I consistently come back to Scotland
0:41:37 > 0:41:41and think you don't get much better than this for what it offers.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43To find out more about what's on offer
0:41:43 > 0:41:46at our National Outdoor Centre, Glenmore Lodge,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49and to keep up-to-date with The Adventure Show,
0:41:49 > 0:41:51follow us on Facebook.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00Well, welcome back to Fort William and the Mountain Bike World Cup.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02We're preparing now for the men's downhill.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04Rachel Atherton was disappointed in the women's,
0:42:04 > 0:42:06but her brother Gee is in action here,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10as is Danny Hart and Mark Beaumont flying the flag for the UK.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14But expect strong challenges from Aaron Gwin, the American,
0:42:14 > 0:42:16and last year's winner Greg Minnaar.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19It's really challenging, as you don't know where your rivals are.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21When you're on track, you're by yourself.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23You don't have time to make a mistake and catch up
0:42:23 > 0:42:25cos you can't see where your competitor is,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27you've got to nail everything at 100%.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29And if you don't make it 100%,
0:42:29 > 0:42:33you've got to catch that 100% back up, so it's a tough thing to do.
0:42:33 > 0:42:34Mentally it's hard,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38and at the end of the day you've just got to ride as hard as you can,
0:42:38 > 0:42:39as fast as you can down this hill.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Every year the track's a little bit different
0:42:41 > 0:42:44and riders ride a little different, so it's always a new challenge.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46So, just trying to focus on this weekend,
0:42:46 > 0:42:49and just putting together the best run that I can.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52It's pretty physical. We just did the first longer run just now
0:42:52 > 0:42:54and you'll be pretty tired at the bottom.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57In this competition, it's not just about speed.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01The condition of the track means riders must adjust their technique.
0:43:01 > 0:43:05It's something Britain's Gee Atherton is fully aware of.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Yesterday, we were racing a track that was dusty, dry.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11You know, as fast as Fort William every gets really.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14And we wake up today and it's almost a different track,
0:43:14 > 0:43:176so we've had a short amount of practise
0:43:17 > 0:43:21to try to get used to the course. But race-wise, I think it's going
0:43:21 > 0:43:24to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, so to speak.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27Will it hold the track together given it's now a bit wetter?
0:43:27 > 0:43:29Cos it was so dusty the last few days.
0:43:29 > 0:43:32Yeah, it was really dusty. At the top it was breaking up,
0:43:32 > 0:43:36it was crumbling, and traction was a bit of an issue.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39But now the top section's probably just as fast as yesterday,
0:43:39 > 0:43:43minus the visibility issues on your goggles.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46The bottom sections, well, it's changing all the time.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48I don't know what's going to happen there, really.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51This is a sport where the Brits do really well.
0:43:51 > 0:43:55One young rider who hit the big time in 2011
0:43:55 > 0:43:58is 21-year old Danny Hart from Redcar.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01He flew down the course at Fort William last year
0:44:01 > 0:44:05to snatch second place. Now he's the current world champion.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08I come here every year, a couple of times a year.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11And it's just a bonus to have the stripes round my waist, you know,
0:44:11 > 0:44:15so, yeah, it's good. I mean, like I said, I've been saying
0:44:15 > 0:44:18that was last year now and this is this year
0:44:18 > 0:44:22and a whole other ball game. So, everyone's going fast
0:44:22 > 0:44:25and that's how it is, and I'm world champion.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28How big a deal would it be for you to stand on top of the podium
0:44:28 > 0:44:31- at the end of the downhill? - If I wanted to do it anywhere,
0:44:31 > 0:44:34at World Cup, this would be the World Cup to do it in, so...
0:44:34 > 0:44:36it would be like a dream come true.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40Nothing is certain in downhill mountain biking,
0:44:40 > 0:44:45and one of today's surprises is that yet another Brit, Mark Beaumont,
0:44:45 > 0:44:47had the fastest time in the qualifying rounds.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50It's always awesome to be here racing in Fort William,
0:44:50 > 0:44:53and, you know, probably one of my favourite events for the year.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56And I'm sure a lot of the riders would agree with me,
0:44:56 > 0:44:59it's one of the best World Cups each year.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02As far as my riding, yeah, it's been going pretty good,
0:45:02 > 0:45:04good practice, course is good,
0:45:04 > 0:45:06and I managed to qualify first.
0:45:06 > 0:45:08No Fort William would be the same
0:45:08 > 0:45:12without the doyenne of British mountain biking, Steve Peat.
0:45:12 > 0:45:15We're joining the action for the 2012 men's final
0:45:15 > 0:45:18as he prepares for the 550 metres of descent.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21He had a bad crash in qualifying yesterday
0:45:21 > 0:45:24and is riding with a torn hamstring.
0:45:24 > 0:45:26It's one of those sports that's so tough, you've just got to
0:45:26 > 0:45:29go as hard as you can to the finish line
0:45:29 > 0:45:32and hope you've done well. You never know what the other guys have done,
0:45:32 > 0:45:34cos they're setting off at different times from you.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36It's one of those sports that's very individual,
0:45:36 > 0:45:38where you've got to have 100% focus on yourself
0:45:38 > 0:45:41and get to the bottom as quick as possible,
0:45:41 > 0:45:44cos you never know what the other guys are going to do.
0:45:47 > 0:45:51And the rider who needs almost no introduction here,
0:45:51 > 0:45:5452 World Cup podiums to his name so far,
0:45:54 > 0:45:57it's the legend that is Steve Peat.
0:45:57 > 0:46:02He is the legend that has really started British downhill riding.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05Ever-popular, ever-strong, ever-competitive,
0:46:05 > 0:46:08always has time for people. He's going very slow,
0:46:08 > 0:46:12it looks like he's already completely ripped up the back tyre.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14There's something wrong here...
0:46:15 > 0:46:19He's maybe had a fall, but that is not the Steve Peat
0:46:19 > 0:46:22we see normally competing here.
0:46:22 > 0:46:23Conditions are worsening,
0:46:23 > 0:46:26and in the fog Steve Peat slid off the course higher up,
0:46:26 > 0:46:28aggravating his injury.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31And with competitors set off at minute intervals,
0:46:31 > 0:46:34already the next rider, Aaron Gwin, is set to go.
0:46:38 > 0:46:44Currently ranked number one in the world, fifth here last year.
0:46:47 > 0:46:49One of the hot favourites today.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53Very, very strong rider from the States.
0:46:53 > 0:46:58Number one on the bike, hopefully number one on the podium.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Big, big wide handle bars there, wider than normal.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05He's going to overtake Steve Peat for sure.
0:47:06 > 0:47:11And Aaron is smooth, collected.
0:47:11 > 0:47:13Looks like a very economical rider.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18So, we're looking for Steve Peat at the top of the hill,
0:47:18 > 0:47:21riding with a torn hamstring.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23But Aaron Gwin is coming down,
0:47:23 > 0:47:28he's way inside of the second split, doing incredibly well.
0:47:28 > 0:47:32He's wearing the black jersey of the World Cup leader at the moment.
0:47:32 > 0:47:36He's nine, ten seconds inside, watch him go through here.
0:47:38 > 0:47:43Aaron Gwin, that is fantastic! 4:48:21 for Aaron Gwin,
0:47:43 > 0:47:45currently leading the World Cup Downhill,
0:47:45 > 0:47:49and he's currently in first place. Number one on his back...
0:47:49 > 0:47:52He could well finish number one at the end of today
0:47:52 > 0:47:55with that performance. 'And at last here's Steve Peat.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58'Despite really bad luck and a poor time,
0:47:58 > 0:48:01'he's still a hero with the Fort William crowd.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04'Back at the top, next up it's Josh Bryceland from Manchester.
0:48:04 > 0:48:08'He now rides on the same team as Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar.
0:48:08 > 0:48:12'He's definitely the new kid on the block.'
0:48:12 > 0:48:14There's always an apprentice in a workplace
0:48:14 > 0:48:16who gets, you know, not picked on,
0:48:16 > 0:48:18but I get the brunt of all the abuse.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22But it's good fun, it's character-building. Yeah, we keep it light-heated.
0:48:25 > 0:48:30Josh Bryceland, aged 22, ranked 16th in the world.
0:48:30 > 0:48:36Josh, very tall, rangy, rangy rider in the model of Steve Peat.
0:48:38 > 0:48:40That looks very solid.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44Just stood up a little bit there,
0:48:44 > 0:48:46a little bit nervous about that drop-off, maybe.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51Bending the bike over, pushing out of these berms,
0:48:51 > 0:48:54trying to get the maximum out of the bike on the course,
0:48:54 > 0:48:57trying to accelerate out of the corners
0:48:57 > 0:48:59and keep the speed up and the intensity.
0:49:01 > 0:49:08Looking very good indeed is Josh Bryceland from Manchester.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10He was just four-and-a-half seconds outside Aaron Gwin.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14- Can he pick it up down the bottom? - EMCEE:- It's Miami Bryce!
0:49:14 > 0:49:18They call him Miami Bryce! He's such a talented rider,
0:49:18 > 0:49:22racing since the age of 10, now 22.
0:49:22 > 0:49:26Extremely talented, extremely experienced, but what's he got?
0:49:27 > 0:49:30Oh, second for Josh Bryceland!
0:49:30 > 0:49:33Wow, that's very nice indeed.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35There you go, there's the point
0:49:35 > 0:49:36to the boys on the podium.
0:49:36 > 0:49:41He means business, Josh Bryceland in second.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44'So Aaron Gwin's safe in the winner's seat,
0:49:44 > 0:49:46'but some of the big names are still to come.
0:49:46 > 0:49:48'Next down it's Sam Hill,
0:49:48 > 0:49:52'and, in typical Australian style, he's keen to keep things cool.'
0:49:52 > 0:49:57Yeah, I think you can over-try and make mistakes and it ends up...
0:49:57 > 0:50:00probably end up going slower than if you just back it off a bit
0:50:00 > 0:50:05and ride at your ability and try and stay smooth.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07Especially on a big, rough track like this,
0:50:07 > 0:50:08it's important to stay out the holes,
0:50:08 > 0:50:13and if you're going flat-out and off your line and hit every hole,
0:50:13 > 0:50:15it just takes all your energy
0:50:15 > 0:50:17and you end up going slower at the bottom.
0:50:21 > 0:50:25On the course now is the downhill phenomenon that is Sam Hill,
0:50:25 > 0:50:31World Championship winner in 2007 and again in 2010.
0:50:31 > 0:50:36Had a couple of bad crashes in 2011, still recovering from injury,
0:50:36 > 0:50:39but he is now back on top form here,
0:50:39 > 0:50:42absolutely loves the Fort William course.
0:50:45 > 0:50:47An incredible rider. One of the few riders
0:50:47 > 0:50:49still to be riding flat pedals.
0:50:49 > 0:50:54There's no clip in here, just sticky rubber and very, very sharp pedals.
0:50:55 > 0:50:59Supremely technical rider, always known for his unusual lines.
0:51:01 > 0:51:05One of the finest rides many people have ever seen in the rain
0:51:05 > 0:51:09was back in 2007 when Sam Hill won the World Championship
0:51:09 > 0:51:10at Fort William.
0:51:10 > 0:51:15He absolutely loves it when it's wet and muddy and horrible.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18One of the most talented riders on a bicycle.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20What's he got, Sam Hill?
0:51:21 > 0:51:22Ninth place last year
0:51:22 > 0:51:25- at Fort William, what's he got? - EMCEE:- Last jump!
0:51:25 > 0:51:29Oh, it's second place for the Australian!
0:51:31 > 0:51:34He rides that bike and that kit, the pink and yellow kit,
0:51:34 > 0:51:36goes onto eBay and all his stuff
0:51:36 > 0:51:40gets sold off for Cancer Research. Really talented boy, Sam Hill.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46That ride's pushed Josh Bryceland into third place.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48But there are still three Brits to go.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52And it's Danny Hart up next on what is effectively a home track.
0:51:52 > 0:51:54I've been up here doing a lot of preparation
0:51:54 > 0:51:56and feeling strong up there.
0:51:56 > 0:51:58It's one of my favourite tracks of the year,
0:51:58 > 0:52:00and a fast track, which is good for me.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02Lay off the brakes and away you go.
0:52:05 > 0:52:10And on the course now, barely visible in the cloud of Nevis Range,
0:52:10 > 0:52:13is Danny Hart, the world champion in 2011.
0:52:15 > 0:52:20Danny has been riding bikes pretty much all his life,
0:52:20 > 0:52:24rides motocross, cross country, swims.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27He is a world, world-class rider,
0:52:27 > 0:52:29and he's just starting his career, really.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33At 21, he is the future of British downhill riding.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37Very, very smooth and quick.
0:52:37 > 0:52:41It must be extremely difficult to see now, very low cloud,
0:52:41 > 0:52:45damp, cold conditions here in Nevis Range.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48Well, Danny Hart was given special dispensation to race
0:52:48 > 0:52:53in the downhill series in the UK when he was just 10-years-old.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56Just one second out on the split,
0:52:56 > 0:52:59can he pull it out in the bottom half of the course?
0:52:59 > 0:53:02Here he comes, smoothing it up.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05It's beautiful! What's he got left?
0:53:05 > 0:53:09Come on, Danny, power it all the way to the line!
0:53:10 > 0:53:14Is it enough? Oh, just outside!
0:53:14 > 0:53:19Less than a second, 0.83 outside Aaron Gwin.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23He made up some time right at the bottom.
0:53:23 > 0:53:27Look at him there, look at him there, such a popular rider,
0:53:27 > 0:53:31Does so well here at Fort William.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33'Just two more riders to go.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36'Next up, Gee Atherton, someone who's hugely experienced
0:53:36 > 0:53:39'on this course.'
0:53:39 > 0:53:42Another rider on the course,
0:53:42 > 0:53:45it is Gee Atherton, ranked sixth in the world,
0:53:45 > 0:53:47fourth here last year in 2011,
0:53:47 > 0:53:51and he was the downhill world champion in 2008.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55Gee from the famous family is on the top part of the course,
0:53:55 > 0:53:57coming through the mist.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01Riding very, very well this year,
0:54:01 > 0:54:03has been riding at the upper levels of the World Cup circuit
0:54:03 > 0:54:05for many years now,
0:54:05 > 0:54:07Gee is flying in the upper part of the course.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10It must be very difficult to see your line now.
0:54:10 > 0:54:13This is almost going to be riding by instinct.
0:54:13 > 0:54:18The 2009 world champion, the 2010 World Cup Champion,
0:54:18 > 0:54:24Gee Atherton is absolutely flying down this course.
0:54:24 > 0:54:25But it's not enough, is it?
0:54:25 > 0:54:29Unless he makes a lot up in the bottom section of this course.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32Four seconds down on the second split,
0:54:32 > 0:54:34he really will have to power everything,
0:54:34 > 0:54:36give it everything he's got.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39He said he likes the long physical courses.
0:54:39 > 0:54:41He finishes third.
0:54:41 > 0:54:47So, quite extraordinary. 4:50:72.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49So, it's Aaron Gwin,
0:54:49 > 0:54:51Danny Hart and Gee Atherton,
0:54:51 > 0:54:54and the only man that can make any difference to that right now
0:54:54 > 0:54:58is Mark Beaumont, who's still to come.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01Mark Beaumont, the last and fastest
0:55:01 > 0:55:06rider here in qualification yesterday, ranked 11th in the world.
0:55:06 > 0:55:10Mark has been riding on the World Cup tour for many years, now 28.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12Has suffered a little bit in the past
0:55:12 > 0:55:17from a little bit of lack of confidence, but has been a consistent strong rider.
0:55:17 > 0:55:21Certainly in the last 18 months his riding has improved
0:55:21 > 0:55:24and he's reached top form again. Oh, a big stall there.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28There's something wrong here...
0:55:28 > 0:55:30- FAN:- Go on, lad. Go on.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34It might not be Mark's day today, that is going to cost him.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37CHEERING The crowd will be cheering him down,
0:55:37 > 0:55:40he's a firm favourite is Mark.
0:55:40 > 0:55:42But it might be a little bit of a lost cause
0:55:42 > 0:55:46unless he pulls something super special out of the bag here.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49FRANTIC CHEERING
0:55:50 > 0:55:54Mark Beaumont is 18 seconds down in the first split,
0:55:54 > 0:55:56and he will not get that back.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59What a shame for Mark Beaumont.
0:55:59 > 0:56:00He qualified in the fastest time,
0:56:00 > 0:56:03but he's just had a bit of a nightmare here.
0:56:03 > 0:56:07Watch out for some style, though.
0:56:07 > 0:56:09Wait until you see the tail whip here.
0:56:09 > 0:56:10Oh, lovely biscuits!
0:56:10 > 0:56:14That's nice, they love that here in Fort William.
0:56:15 > 0:56:19Mark Beaumont knows that he will get nowhere near the podium today,
0:56:19 > 0:56:21but he'll get a huge round of applause
0:56:21 > 0:56:23from this Fort William crowd
0:56:23 > 0:56:25for putting the style on at the top of the course.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29Oh, that's disappointing from him.
0:56:29 > 0:56:32So we have a winner,
0:56:32 > 0:56:33and that winner is Aaron Gwin.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37The second win of the World Cup Series so far this year,
0:56:37 > 0:56:39and a very fine one indeed.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43Danny Hart, the world champion, a sensational ride from him,
0:56:43 > 0:56:47and in third place, Gee Atherton, the world champion back in 2009.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51The conditions were changing every few minutes.
0:56:51 > 0:56:53The track was getting rougher.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56But I think it's just down to the fastest man down the hill today.
0:56:56 > 0:56:58I had a good run, you know.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01It was so misty and such bad conditions at the top.
0:57:01 > 0:57:05And to go and do 48 or whatever it was, it's good times, you know.
0:57:05 > 0:57:08Everyone went fast today. Oops, sorry, sir.
0:57:08 > 0:57:11Yeah, you got to give it up to everyone,
0:57:11 > 0:57:12and I was just second fastest.
0:57:12 > 0:57:16And confirmation of those final results,
0:57:16 > 0:57:18Mark Beaumont never recovered from that brake problem
0:57:18 > 0:57:20at the top of the course.
0:57:20 > 0:57:22So, in fourth place, Sam Hill
0:57:22 > 0:57:25completed the run in 4:51:74.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27Gee Atherton came in third,
0:57:27 > 0:57:30with a time of 4:50:72.
0:57:30 > 0:57:32Danny Hart was in second
0:57:32 > 0:57:35with 4:49:04.
0:57:35 > 0:57:39But the fastest down the course today with the time of 4:48:21
0:57:39 > 0:57:41was America's Aaron Gwin.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44Man, can't believe it. I was having a hard time all weekend,
0:57:44 > 0:57:47kept crashing and just doing dumb stuff,
0:57:47 > 0:57:50but just knew if I could put down a solid run
0:57:50 > 0:57:53at least to get me up there towards the top... Really happy,
0:57:53 > 0:57:56and thanks to everybody so much, All the fans here, man,
0:57:56 > 0:57:59I mean, they make this race so much fun. So, thanks to everybody.
0:57:59 > 0:58:03It's been another fantastic Fort William,
0:58:03 > 0:58:05but for now that's all for this month's Adventure Show.
0:58:05 > 0:58:07We'll be back in the autumn
0:58:07 > 0:58:10with some of the hardest events Scotland has to offer.
0:58:10 > 0:58:13It's going to be a tough experience for us too.
0:58:13 > 0:58:17In the next programme, Desiree will be tackling the Goatfell Hill Race,
0:58:17 > 0:58:20and after that one, I'll be in the saddle,
0:58:20 > 0:58:22potentially for over 18 hours,
0:58:22 > 0:58:25trying to complete 300 kilometres of road biking
0:58:25 > 0:58:29in the Snow Roads Audax. Join us for that if you can.
0:58:29 > 0:58:31Until then, bye for now.
0:58:52 > 0:58:55Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd