0:00:29 > 0:00:31Hello, and a very warm welcome to The Adventure Show.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Ooh, that's going to hurt.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Well, once again, the Highlands of Scotland are alive to the sound
0:00:36 > 0:00:38of cheering crowds and crunching gears
0:00:38 > 0:00:42as the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup returns to Fort William.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46This really has become a staple of the adventure calendar in Scotland,
0:00:46 > 0:00:48and it's easy to forget just how tough and gruelling
0:00:48 > 0:00:50this Aonach Mor course really is.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55We'll be covering both the 2.8km downhill track,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59which is one of the toughest courses on the world circuit,
0:00:59 > 0:01:01and the incredible 4X,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04where the difference between success and failure is the slip of a tyre.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06The track is really wild.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09It's really rough, with some big jumps in there,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11so it's really exciting for us racers.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14And this is a very special Fort William,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17because this is the last time that legend of the sport
0:01:17 > 0:01:18and fans' favourite Steve Peat
0:01:18 > 0:01:21competes here in Scotland at World Cup.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24He has given so much to the sport,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26so this is going to be an emotional weekend for him
0:01:26 > 0:01:29and all the other people that have ridden against him over the years.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I think the old boys like Peaty and that, they don't slow down.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34They're always going for it.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36I just saw him up on the hill now, and he's flying.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Later in this month's programme, we'll be looking back
0:01:40 > 0:01:44at the achievements of this mountain biking legend.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47We'll catch up with how I'm getting on as I prepare
0:01:47 > 0:01:49for the Braveheart Triathlon.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Now, just whose idea was that?
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Go on, Dougie, you can do this.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57And Michael tries out Fort William's latest indoor challenge,
0:01:57 > 0:02:00for those rare rainy days in Lochaber.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Oh, my word. How are you meant to go from there up to anywhere?
0:02:04 > 0:02:05This is ridiculous.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09But first, here to the action in Fort William,
0:02:09 > 0:02:10where we start with the 4X.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13This is the event that demands most of the rider.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14It's one of the most technical.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17It's a fantastic combination of aggression, line choice,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and pure racing ability.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22You can outwit your opponents a bit, see if you can take their lines.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25They're going to try and take you off your bike as well.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27You're in for the fight.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29We're kicking off the action with the women's event,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32where 26-year-old Hannah Escott from the Midlands
0:02:32 > 0:02:34has battled her way to a place in the finals.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36It's a dream come true.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38I remember when I first started mountain biking,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Fort William World Cup was THE one.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42It was the massive thing that you look out for.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44And to be here racing is one thing,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46but my real goal is to get on that podium this year.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49I've been in the gym for it, training all winter, all weathers,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51and you just think, "Fort Bill, Fort Bill."
0:02:51 > 0:02:53When you're nailing down that last little bit in the gym,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57or when you're thinking, "I've got to go out in the rain today," it's all about Fort Bill.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02But today's competition is fierce, and one of the most talented riders
0:03:02 > 0:03:05is former 4X champion Steffi Marth from Germany.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08There's so much action. Four riders, it's really close.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10It's like, in the corners there's so much happening,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and there's overtaking and crashing,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14and it's just awesome for the crowds, too.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17So just really nice to entertain them.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20So, this is it - it's time for the women's final.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23And lining up in gate one, race favourite Steffi Marth.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25She's up against three Brits.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Gate two, the fastest qualifier, Monet Adams from Bristol.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Next to her, it's Hannah Escott.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32And finally, another rider
0:03:32 > 0:03:35from south of the border, Amanda Tanfield.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Gate down. And it's Steffi Marth straight into the lead.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Hannah Escott and Monet Adams battling for second place.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Monet's crept ahead already - something of a dark horse here.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Normally a downhill and Enduro racer,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49today she's on a borrowed bike.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52But Steffi Marth is dominating this race.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55She's still out in front as they hurtle through the rock garden.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Steffi's someone who also competes in downhill.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59A real all-rounder.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Towards the last corner -
0:04:00 > 0:04:03not much doubt who's going to win today.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Steffi Marth is having an amazing race.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Yeah, she's in a different class. Over the line first.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Monet Adams in second, with Hannah Escott coming in third.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14But what a ride from Steffi Marth.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17It was pretty hard for me, just because I do downhill, too,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19and my legs are just done now.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22It's so hard to do downhill today and then the 4X.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24But yeah, it was so much fun.
0:04:24 > 0:04:25The crowds are amazing.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27So, confirmation of those final results.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30All that hard training has paid off for Hannah Escott,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32who takes third place.
0:04:32 > 0:04:33Monet Adams was second.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36But the clear winner today was Steffi Marth.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Congratulations to Steffi - that really was a gutsy performance.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Now the women are taking a bit of a rest, and it's the men's turn.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Leading the field for the Brits is Scott Beaumont from Kidderminster.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52For him, this race is as much about strategy as brute force.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54There's two different start techniques.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57You either watch the traffic lights or you listen for the beeps.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59I listen to the beeps, and you're just waiting for that first beep
0:04:59 > 0:05:02to go off, and you just explode out the start and make it happen.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05This is a course with a notorious reputation.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10But it's one that 4X riders like Felix Beckeman from Sweden relish.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12For our season, it's one of the best courses.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15It's challenging, it's loose, it's rocky, big jumps,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17rock garden, so it's got everything in there.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19So yeah, it's a good track.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21And when you're on a course like this,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23do you hear the noise of the crowd?
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Because they seem, to us, to be pretty crazy.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Yeah, if you're putting up a big whip on the big table there,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31the crowd goes crazy. And yeah, the crowd is very good here,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33one of the best.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36In 2015, one of the world's top racers,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Czech rider Tomas Slavik,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40was out of the game with a major illness.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Now he's back.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Last year I was having really big problems with my health,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48because my immune system completely collapsed.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50So it was pretty hard times.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52But I'm getting back into it again,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55and I already won the first round of Pro Tour.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Where do you think on the course this race can be won and lost?
0:05:58 > 0:05:59I think it's the last two turns.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03There is a pretty big jump which not many guys are jumping,
0:06:03 > 0:06:05and if you really want to pass the guy who's in front of you
0:06:05 > 0:06:08and he's not jumping because it's risky to jump the jump in a race,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11you just basically jump the jump, dive to the inside,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13and try to pass the guy in front of you.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Really looking forward to what's going to happen this year.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18And what a line-up we've got for the first semifinal.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22In gate one, it's Bogdan Bondor from Romania.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Then it's race favourite Tomas Slavik from the Czech Republic.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Scott Beaumont, Britain's best hope, is in gate three.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33And finally, another strong British rider, Joe Mallinson, in gate four.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Green light for go, and they're off.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Tomas Slavik's taken the lead.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Scott Beaumont just behind.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Could this be the year that Boom Boom Beaumont takes the top spot?
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Now all he has to do is get to the final.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49It's the first two across the line who'll go through.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Looking good, though - Slavik may be out in front,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Beaumont well ahead of the other two.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Oh! Bit of a slip from Tomas Slavik.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Can Beaumont take advantage?
0:06:58 > 0:07:00But what a quick recovery from Slavik.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Great jump as he powers towards the last corner.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06It'll be very hard to catch him on this run.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Yeah, down to the final straight, quick glance behind,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12but he is in the clear. Over the step-down,
0:07:12 > 0:07:16it's Tomas Slavik across the line first, with Scott Beaumont second.
0:07:16 > 0:07:17They'll go through to the final.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Bogdan Bondor and Joe Mallinson are out.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23So up to the top again for the second semi,
0:07:23 > 0:07:25and the competition is fierce.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Swedish rider Felix Beckeman is in gate one,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31coming back into the field after a year of injuries.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Then it's last year's 4X Pro Tour champion,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Frenchman Quentin Derbier.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Next to him is Britain's Will Evans from Cornwall,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41and finally, it's the young German rider, Benedict Last.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Very even out of the gate. Neck and neck.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46No, Evans is behind there,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48struggling to stay up with the other three.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Shoulder to shoulder into the first corner.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52Jostling for position.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54This is 4X at its very best.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Beckeman and Derbier out in front.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58Derbier on the inside line.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01So dry and skittish today.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Derbier is first through into the rock garden.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Stumbling over those difficult rocks, Benedict Last struggling.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10That means Evans is through, moved up into third.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Could he make it into the top two?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Flying into the final corner, can he make it past Beckeman?
0:08:15 > 0:08:18He's so close, pushing right to the edge.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21But Beckeman's held on. It's Quentin Derbier across first.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Felix Beckeman second. They're through to the final.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Will Evans, unlucky, and Benedict Last, both out.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30So now it's time for the finals.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Look at this for a battle of the big guns.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Gate one, Swedish rider Felix Beckeman.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Next to him, the man who's dominated 4X for so many years,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Tomas Slavik.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42In gate three, from France, Quentin Derbier.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45And finally, Britain's very own Scott Beaumont.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Gate down, they're off.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Neck and neck out of the start line.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Tomas Slavik crept ahead. Beckeman second. Derbier third.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Beaumont bringing up the rear. Come on, Scotty, keep it together.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58You can do this.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Slavik still well out in front. Other three bunching up behind.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Derbier has taken that inside line.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08It's enough to get him past Beckeman into second place for the moment.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10It's a scramble now into the rock garden.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Beaumont's unclipped. He's now well behind.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16But look at Tomas Slavik. Out into the lead and up into the air.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17He just loves this sport,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20and he's miles ahead as he swings round the last corner.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Over the step-down and onto the finish.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24Derbier's still in second.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27But it's Slavik over the line first.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Look at this - Boom Boom Beaumont makes it onto the podium in third.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35No question, though, today's race belongs to Tomas Slavik.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37I really enjoyed every second on the track.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39I was really having some good lines on the track,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41so I felt quite confident.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44But it's still 4X, and you never know what's going to happen.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47So I'm pretty stoked with the first spot after two years here.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48So...excited.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51So, confirmation of those final results.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Britain's Scott Beaumont didn't achieve his dream
0:09:53 > 0:09:56of a win here today, coming in third.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58In second was Frenchman Quentin Derbier.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01But the emphatic winner was Tomas Slavik
0:10:01 > 0:10:03from the Czech Republic.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04Amazing performances there.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Shoulder to shoulder racing and bruised bodies.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Congratulations to Steffi and to Tomas.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Now we're heading not very far from here,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13just down the road, to Fort William,
0:10:13 > 0:10:15where Michael Stewart is quite literally
0:10:15 > 0:10:17stretching his body to the limit
0:10:17 > 0:10:19in a new facility that opened in early May.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I'm still a relative newcomer to the world of adventure sports.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34So far I've tried my hand at mountain biking, fell running,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37and I've had a kayaking trip I'm not going to forget any time soon.
0:10:39 > 0:10:40I've had enough.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Now there's something else for me to try my hand at.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47I've come to the Three Wise Monkeys.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50It's a brand-new climbing wall right here in Fort William.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Are my muscles going to be ready for this?
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Well, there's only one way to find out.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57So, what you going to set me off in here, Oliver?
0:10:57 > 0:11:00I thought I'd start you off with a bit of bouldering.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01- Yeah.- So quick safety briefing -
0:11:01 > 0:11:04if you jump from the top and land on your head, it'll still hurt.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06The bouldering mat doesn't remove the risk of injury.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08- OK.- Got that? Good.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Basically, in here the routes are all different coloured handholds.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14So you start following one colour of handholds
0:11:14 > 0:11:17from the bottom to the top, and then come back down again in control.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19What colour do you think you're going to set me off on?
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Well, turquoise is the easiest. - Right.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25And then it's black. So somebody of your calibre should be able
0:11:25 > 0:11:27to quite comfortably do all the blacks.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28Good start.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30LAUGHTER
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Don't make me laugh. I'll fall off.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36And I definitely don't want to be falling off on camera.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40You're going to be climbing up this in, like, ninja silence.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42You know, really cool, creeping.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43- No noise.- Yeah.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48Good stuff.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Sometimes when you're bouldering, cos the walls are a bit shorter,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54you actually start sat down on the floor to give yourself maximum value
0:11:54 > 0:11:57of climbing, so we can have you starting like that
0:11:57 > 0:12:02and climb in that smooth ninja style you showed earlier
0:12:02 > 0:12:04all the way to that top hold up there.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Oh, my word. How are you meant to go from there up to anywhere?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10This is ridiculous.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Maybe, as you're struggling with the bottom move,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14let's try a standing start, so if you...
0:12:14 > 0:12:16I think I like the sound of that better.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19..start instead on these two, and see how you get on from there.
0:12:21 > 0:12:22Great.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26See if you can get your right hand up again on that next good one.
0:12:26 > 0:12:27Argh!
0:12:27 > 0:12:28HE GROANS
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Please tell me this isn't a simple line.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32- Mm, it's medium simple. - HE LAUGHS
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- Medium simple.- Medium simple?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38I'd not necessarily expect a beginner to get it straight away.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42- Would you expect them to get it by now?- Mm...
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Good. I'm not like this with, like, normal people, you know.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47What, I'm not normal?
0:12:47 > 0:12:48LAUGHTER
0:12:48 > 0:12:50HE EXHALES VIOLENTLY
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Oh, my forearms are absolutely gone.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56Good. Well done.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57HE STRAINS
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Ah, ya..
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Argh!
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Go on, keep going, keep going.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Come on. Come on!
0:13:10 > 0:13:11HE STRAINS
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Get your feet nice and high. Go for it.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17LAUGHTER
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Right, Oliver. You've thrown plenty stick my way.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Are you going to show me how you get up this?
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Am I right in thinking that historically, indoor climbing
0:13:27 > 0:13:30was viewed as the ugly sister, almost, of outdoor climbing?
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Could say that. I've been really pleased, cos I was expecting
0:13:33 > 0:13:36a little bit in the run-up to us opening
0:13:36 > 0:13:38that we would get a fair bit of that.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Is this the ninja style you were telling me about?
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Something like that.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45But we've had minimal complaints
0:13:45 > 0:13:48from anybody... That don't view it as real climbing.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50I mean, this place is clearly not trying to be an outdoor crag.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53Very nice, very nice.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56It's good fun. There's a nice vibe and atmosphere.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Like, on a weeknight there's a good 20 or 30 people in here,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04and you can all have a chat. It's like a healthy pub, I suppose.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06LAUGHTER
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Oliver, I don't think I've disgraced myself,
0:14:08 > 0:14:09although I didn't manage to do it all.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I'm going to go down to the main hall now and get a challenge
0:14:12 > 0:14:13on the roped routes.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16So we're going to have a go at this lilac route.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Lilac's like... You'll be fine.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22It'll be highly entertaining.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26I think what's really good about climbing
0:14:26 > 0:14:29is that it's really mentally absorbing.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33And it doesn't necessarily have to be in a fear of height kind of way.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36It's all about the puzzle and the problem-solving and the challenge.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39And the fact that we can really easily step the challenge
0:14:39 > 0:14:41up and down depending on who it is,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44so it's always going to be challenging.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45How are you feeling up there?
0:14:46 > 0:14:47HE STRAINS
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Good. Go on.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52I remember when I was younger, sort of still getting into climbing,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55and watching some climbing film, and looking at this guy
0:14:55 > 0:14:59doing this route and thinking, "I could do that. He made that look pretty simple."
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It's just, you put your hand there and then you put your hand there,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and then you get on the holds and you can't hold them.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07And you think, "Oh, that's interesting."
0:15:07 > 0:15:08HE LAUGHS
0:15:08 > 0:15:09Argh!
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Annoying!
0:15:13 > 0:15:15I couldn't see where on earth..
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Really annoying.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21Done.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Finito.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24LAUGHTER
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Welcome back to Aonach Mor for the downhill.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41This course is described as one of the toughest on the world circuit.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43In previous years, there's been a lot of competition
0:15:43 > 0:15:46in the women's race between the French and the British,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49but with two key retirements in the French camp,
0:15:49 > 0:15:51the course is clear for the Brits.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Let's hope so.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55A few years back, it was quite usual
0:15:55 > 0:15:57to see five French girls on the podium,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00but now we're only, like, a few of us.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03I guess it's different. Depends on the years,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07and the British girls are obviously really good at the moment!
0:16:07 > 0:16:11This year, Morgane Charre is heading up the French attack,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13but one of the Brits who's really making a mark
0:16:13 > 0:16:15is Manon Carpenter from Wales.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Last year, she was on course for a win,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21but crashed out in spectacular style.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Didn't quite have enough speed on one of the jumps,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26but I wanted to do it, and I'd been doing it over the weekend.
0:16:26 > 0:16:27Just the weather was pretty foul last year,
0:16:27 > 0:16:29and it's made it that bit harder for us.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Is it in your head that you had such a big spill?
0:16:32 > 0:16:34I mean, I'm sure you've seen it.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36A little bit, cos when you're coming up to it,
0:16:36 > 0:16:37you're really tired from a race run,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and then you can just see the takeoff,
0:16:39 > 0:16:43you can't see anything behind it, cos you land on a downslope into the arena,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46so you're just paddling at this wall that you've got to take off of.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49You literally just paddle as hard as you can and pull up as hard as you can,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51and hopefully get as far as you need to go.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55This course is a gruelling test for everyone,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57including Britain's top downhill racer
0:16:57 > 0:17:00and world number one, Rachel Atherton.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Really is one of the hardest tracks of the year.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04You're absolutely on the limit.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06At the National a few weeks ago,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09I almost was fainting on the lips of every jump
0:17:09 > 0:17:11because, you know, putting that much effort in,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15you're emptying yourself completely, and I could feel it closing in,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and I was like, "I can't faint."
0:17:18 > 0:17:21As well as that, your arms and your legs are pumped up,
0:17:21 > 0:17:22and the adrenaline is so physical,
0:17:22 > 0:17:26and the girls, we're a lot less strong than the guys, you know,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28so for us it's much harder.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29Which makes us better riders!
0:17:29 > 0:17:30SHE LAUGHS
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Someone who's doing exceptionally well this year
0:17:33 > 0:17:35is Australian rider Tracey Hannah.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38She's a real contender for one of the top spots.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43But a few years ago, she had to work in a mine to finance her riding.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45They mine for titanium,
0:17:45 > 0:17:49and you know, really fine sand that you put in paint or toothpaste,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51you know, everything.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54It's actually crazy what we mined out of that mine.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55But the main one was titanium.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00The fact that I was one of the first girls to work in that mine,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02the guys were pretty hard on me.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04They were a bit mean, and they weren't, you know...
0:18:04 > 0:18:07They were back in the old days where girls can't do this or that,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10so that was pretty tough and definitely gave me thick skin,
0:18:10 > 0:18:14which helps in this industry, because it's good to be strong
0:18:14 > 0:18:17and know who you are and be confident in yourself.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19So let's see how these women do today,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23and we're joining the action with a former 4X specialist
0:18:23 > 0:18:25who's now focusing on downhill.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28On the course now, Britain's Katy Curd.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Came 15th in Lourdes and 12th in Cairns, Australia
0:18:32 > 0:18:34earlier on this year.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38She first started at the age of 17 in 2006,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and she is one of the great British hopes.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46One of the most aggressive riders we've seen so far today.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48She's up there in the top ten consistently.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51That's a very difficult corner.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53It pushes you out over the void.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Quite intimidating to come down these first few drop-offs.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58She is flying here.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01That's a very strong line.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05I think she should be in contention for a podium with this.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Katy Curd, she is flying.
0:19:09 > 0:19:10What is going on here?
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Oh, she's going in big style!
0:19:14 > 0:19:15Going over the jumps.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19Yes! Listen to this noise as Katy Curd comes flying down.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22She's our new leader by a country mile.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26If she gets a podium here, this will be absolutely fantastic.
0:19:26 > 0:19:2914th in the world. Listen to the noise!
0:19:30 > 0:19:31Oh, my goodness.
0:19:31 > 0:19:3413 seconds inside.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Wow, wow, wow.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39She could well be on the podium with that performance.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Back at the top of the mountain, next up is Morgane Charre.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51Morgane Charre from France has been chasing an elusive podium place
0:19:51 > 0:19:53for quite a few years now.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Hasn't won a downhill race in the last two years.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59This is not her favourite course.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Her favourite course, in Leogang in Austria,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06is a much shorter, steeper, rockier course.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09But here on the rocks of Fort William, it could be her day.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Ranked fifth in the world.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Looks solid, very strong
0:20:14 > 0:20:16on the upper part of the course.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22And looking pretty smooth - carrying a lot of speed,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24not doing much braking on this upper part.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Not doing much peddling either, though.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Trying to preserve her energy.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Oh, that was a little nasty kick there,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34got a twist in the handlebars that just put her off line there.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Morgane Charre from France
0:20:37 > 0:20:40disappears from our view and into the forest.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Morgane Charre going through the woods there,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47and she just has her foot down all the time.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Dabbing her way down. It's horrible in there.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Absolutely horrible.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Has the talent to win, there's no doubt about it,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56but the woods just caught her out.
0:20:57 > 0:21:03I wonder if Katy Curd is going to do better than many expect.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09Because those woods are becoming very, very, very exposed.
0:21:09 > 0:21:10The roots are exposed.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13It all depends what the girls are thinking.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Do they fly through the last section?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18But Morgane Charre has made up nearly a second now.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19Hold on a second.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23We thought maybe that Morgane was out of this,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26but she has put on an unbelievable performance
0:21:26 > 0:21:28in the bottom half of this course.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30My goodness, she could be knocking Katy Curd
0:21:30 > 0:21:32off the top of the podium here
0:21:32 > 0:21:35with this unbelievable performance on the second half of the course.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Really struggled through the woods,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40but she said she had a big winter, put the effort in.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Second!
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Two seconds out.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46Wow.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54On the course now is the Australian national champion, Tracey Hannah,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57who came second in her home race in Cairns
0:21:57 > 0:22:00and first in the national championships in March last year.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Came third here in 2014.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07And it looks like she's in for a good chance.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08She is fit.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14And strong. Very motivated after two very good top-five positions at the
0:22:14 > 0:22:15early part of the year.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Loves the dry track.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Thinks it's an advantage to her today.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Because it's dry and dusty.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23And absolutely flying here.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Not taking any speed off in the top rocky section.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28Tracey really moving.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34And very important for her if she's going to win today to keep out of
0:22:34 > 0:22:36the grit on the inside of these berms.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Looking very strong.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46And there is a long rock slab that takes you down into the forest here
0:22:46 > 0:22:49as Tracey is absolutely flying in the upper part of the course.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50Really accelerated now.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52She's flying into the woods.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57Tracey Hannah going tentatively, very tentatively indeed,
0:22:57 > 0:23:03going through the woods, but my goodness me,
0:23:03 > 0:23:08she must have been absolutely flying through the top section of this course.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Ten seconds inside.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Look at that. Look at the way she rides those berms.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17That is the way to do it.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Elbows out, pedalling when she has to,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23she is pumping through the handlebars as well.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29Oh, look at that. She is just getting a little bit out of shape,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33but you notice how she gets her head down, pushes the wind out of the way.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Oh, my goodness me.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Oh, my goodness me.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Tracey Hannah
0:23:39 > 0:23:42is flying through this.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Different class, different class from Katy Curd in this run.
0:23:46 > 0:23:51She's absorbing all these jumps and she is coming through.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55She flew that for miles over that junction.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Here is the Aussie, Tracey Hannah,
0:23:58 > 0:24:00showing the rest of the field how it's done.
0:24:01 > 0:24:02This is our new leader.
0:24:03 > 0:24:09What? 17.756 seconds ahead of Katy Curd.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Wow, wow, wow.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15Only Manon Carpenter and Rachel Atherton left to come.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Is Tracey Hannah our new champion?
0:24:22 > 0:24:24On the course now, Rachel Atherton,
0:24:24 > 0:24:29who has been unbeaten in World Cup and downhill events since April 2015.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Incredible run of firsts.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33First in Cairns this year, first in Lourdes.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Rachel is the darling of women's British mountain biking.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39And chasing Manon Carpenter,
0:24:39 > 0:24:43who was four seconds ahead of her in qualification.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44Rachel has every chance here.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45She has here every year.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52So impressive. Part of the great Atherton dynasty of mountain biking and
0:24:52 > 0:24:53absolutely flying.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56She is in a class of her own.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01Manon and Rachel are really something special for women's downhilling.
0:25:01 > 0:25:02Flying the British flag as ever.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09Loves the Fort William course and has said that it is so physically
0:25:09 > 0:25:13difficult that it is pain through the arms and the lower part of the section into
0:25:13 > 0:25:14the jumps.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Totally dedicated athlete,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22continuing, hopefully, her domination of women's racing,
0:25:22 > 0:25:27as Rachel kicks up onto the slab and heads down into the forest.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33Here we go. Rachel Atherton, World Cup champion, World Champion,
0:25:33 > 0:25:38she is looking for her ninth consecutive win in World Cup.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40And that would just be unbelievable.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44And she is bossing this course.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46She doesn't know she's ahead of Tracey,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50but she will when she approaches the archway and this Fort William crowd
0:25:50 > 0:25:55suck her down into the arena and into the finish and into the hot seat.
0:25:55 > 0:25:56Because that is where she's going to be.
0:25:58 > 0:25:59Oh, my goodness me.
0:25:59 > 0:26:0113 seconds up.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03She will hear that noise.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05She will hear that crowd in a few seconds.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07She will see them.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09As she approaches the Scotland arch.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12She is such an incredible racer.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18This will be an equal record of nine consecutive wins,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23set by Anne-Caroline Chausson a long, long time ago,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25if she wins this. Manon Carpenter
0:26:25 > 0:26:29still to come but Rachel Atherton, hello,
0:26:29 > 0:26:3312 and a half seconds inside Tracey Hannah.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Number one on the bike.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Will she be one at the end of play?
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Manon Carpenter will have to be sensational to beat that.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49On the course now, a girl who's been snapping at the heels of Rachel
0:26:49 > 0:26:50Atherton for the last couple of years.
0:26:50 > 0:26:55Manon Carpenter, third this year in Cairns and third in Lourdes in France.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Actually qualified faster than Rachel today.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03And continuing that fantastic heritage started by Tracy Moseley,
0:27:03 > 0:27:08Rachel Atherton, and hopefully now Manon Carpenter as the best downhillers
0:27:08 > 0:27:11in the world. Total dedication.
0:27:11 > 0:27:12And a fast line there.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16Manon looking really quick, very aggressive.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Very unfazed by this course.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26And you can see, she has the strength to pick the bike up,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30keep it out of the ruts and the bumps to make it fly down the course.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33And Manon is a strong sprinter, like Rachel,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36so sprinting along the bottom part of the course will win the race for
0:27:36 > 0:27:42these two. And Manon is negotiating these berms incredibly well.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Nice, fluid line and a quick step up onto the rock slab.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50And down into the forest Manon goes to chase a podium position.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55Manon Carpenter, 23 years old, is a brilliant rider.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58She is our fastest qualifier and she is the World Cup leader,
0:27:58 > 0:28:03but she's nine seconds down, but this is still a great ride.
0:28:03 > 0:28:04Let's not take it away from her.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07This is still a brilliant ride by Manon Carpenter.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10She's very... Oh, she's off.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Oh, my goodness. That's a mistake, oh, and a really weird place to fall.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15What was going on there?
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Oh, she just... Oh, goodness me.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22That is heartbreaking.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25But Manon is not going to give up. You can be absolutely sure of it.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29She's still in third place.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31This is unbelievable from Manon Carpenter.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Absolutely unbelievable.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37She was chewing the Fort William dirt just a couple of seconds ago.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Now she's got herself back on the bike.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Last year, she flew over this and crashed.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44She's over safely, thank goodness.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50And she's still... But she will be furious with herself,
0:28:50 > 0:28:52the Welsh girl. Such a talent.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55She'll still be on the podium, even though she's fallen.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59But Rachel Atherton is our champion 2016.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03All smiles, thumbs up and well deserved.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08What a brilliant, brilliant athlete.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12So confirmation of those final results and it's two Brits on the podium.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Despite her crash,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17Manon Carpenter came in third in a
0:29:17 > 0:29:19time of 5 minutes 32.11 seconds.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21In second place was Australian rider
0:29:21 > 0:29:22Tracey Hannah
0:29:22 > 0:29:25in 5.23.27.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27But with a time of 5.11.22,
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Rachel Atherton dominated
0:29:29 > 0:29:30the race today.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Rachel, champion on your home World Cup once again.
0:29:34 > 0:29:35Absolutely fantastic stuff.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37I had a pretty wild run.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39I nearly crashed so many places.
0:29:39 > 0:29:40My back end was sliding out.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Normally I'm completely in control,
0:29:42 > 0:29:44but Fort William seems to bring something out in
0:29:44 > 0:29:47me where you know you're on the edge, you're like, "Go, go, go."
0:29:47 > 0:29:50I think it might be all the people shouting your name, like, "Go, go, go."
0:29:50 > 0:29:53You're going round a corner and their shouting, "Pedal" and you're
0:29:53 > 0:29:55like, "Oh, my God, I can't pedal".
0:29:55 > 0:29:57And you've equalled nine consecutive wins.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00You've equalled the record of 16 years ago and that's amazing.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03- Is that the record, nine? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Yeah, the French girl, Anne-Caroline Chausson,
0:30:06 > 0:30:10she's got the record, world championships, and Olympic gold medallist and,
0:30:10 > 0:30:12you know, she's like on a pedestal.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17All us girls are inspired by her and if I can inspire a few girls like
0:30:17 > 0:30:19she's inspired me, then that's awesome, yeah.
0:30:19 > 0:30:20Really cool.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23Well, there really is no place to hide on this Fort William course,
0:30:23 > 0:30:28but Rachel Atherton just gave a masterclass on how to absolutely storm it.
0:30:28 > 0:30:29Congratulations to her.
0:30:29 > 0:30:30Men's downhill coming up,
0:30:30 > 0:30:35but right now I'm preparing for a challenge that's going to push me to my limits.
0:30:35 > 0:30:36In fact,
0:30:36 > 0:30:41it's going to push me way beyond my limits and the training, frankly, is not
0:30:41 > 0:30:43going very easily.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54Here we go again. You know, over the past decade,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57I reckon I've done my bit for The Adventure Show.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59'I've paddled through 70 Wild Miles...'
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Do you have a bar on that thing?
0:31:01 > 0:31:03- Yes.- Gin and tonic, please.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06'..taken part in the Strathpuffer 24 Hour Mountain Bike race to varying'
0:31:06 > 0:31:12degrees of success, and puffed my way through the 300km Snow Roads Audax.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14That was hard.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16That was the toughest thing I've ever done.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18- In your life?- By a country mile.
0:31:18 > 0:31:23Oh, God. 'No wonder it's taken four years for me to work up the courage
0:31:23 > 0:31:25'for another challenge.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28'This time, I've taken on the Braveheart Triathlon that's coming up in
0:31:28 > 0:31:32'September. It's over 70 miles altogether
0:31:32 > 0:31:38'with swimming, cycling, and the small matter of running up and down Ben Nevis.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43'So I've enlisted the help of hardened triathlon racer Sean McFarlane.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46'He competed in this event last year and came in third.'
0:31:47 > 0:31:49So, Sean, could you lift me up and down Ben Nevis?
0:31:49 > 0:31:52- That'll probably help me.- Well, there is compulsory kit in this race,
0:31:52 > 0:31:55- but sadly that doesn't include you. So I can't carry you up.- OK.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57- Shall we go for a run then?- Yeah.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Good, good. Sean, tell me about your experiences on this race.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Where do I start? The swim was cold, but it was OK.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07The bikes, quite flat, actually.
0:32:07 > 0:32:08Not too bad.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11But obviously, the run is something else,
0:32:11 > 0:32:14up Ben Nevis. That was the bit I struggled on the most.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15You got a serious problem.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17You ended up feeling a bit ill as a result of the challenge.
0:32:17 > 0:32:21I got a migraine coming off the top and ended up in hospital.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24I messed up my hydration, even though it was quite a cold day,
0:32:24 > 0:32:26and I'm meant to know about these things.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28And in the hospital, I met the guy that won, as well.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29So it was interesting.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31So you both ended up in hospital?
0:32:31 > 0:32:33- Should I book a space?- Perhaps, perhaps.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36- Hopefully not.- Hopefully not.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39'If I was in any doubt before, not any longer.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42'This is going to be a tough race.'
0:32:42 > 0:32:44- Oh, dear.- Come on, Dougie, you can do this.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48'So how will I cope going up Britain's highest mountain at the end of an
0:32:48 > 0:32:52'already very, very long day?'
0:32:52 > 0:32:54The one thing that we are doing which I think is important,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57a lot of people get put of the idea of hill running because they think
0:32:57 > 0:33:00- they've got to run on hills all the time.- Uh-huh.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04- We are jogging fairly slowly, still moving forward...- Fairly slowly, you said?
0:33:04 > 0:33:06..and we're walking bits as well.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10You know the amazing thing? He's chatting.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14I'm struggling to breathe. Oh, dear.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18I think you've got to break it up into manageable chunks,
0:33:18 > 0:33:22just take the next little small bit at a time.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24Try not to look too far ahead.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28And just enjoy it and think of it as a slightly quicker walk than usual.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33There's very little to be gained in trying to run this,
0:33:33 > 0:33:35because you can burn so many calories
0:33:35 > 0:33:38in such a short space of time, so walk like this.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42The more advanced people will begin to walk like this and speed up a
0:33:42 > 0:33:44- little bit, as we're doing now. - Yeah.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Do that. And to be honest with you,
0:33:46 > 0:33:51I certainly can't actually run uphill that much faster than this.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56So just tell me about the different disciplines and how you obviously
0:33:56 > 0:33:59physically and mentally prepare for something like that,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02because at the end of a very long day swimming and cycling, for me,
0:34:02 > 0:34:06then the prospect of running up Ben Nevis is fairly daunting.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09A triathlon is perfect in the sense that you can actually break it up
0:34:09 > 0:34:12into three races. Just a big day out, essentially.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15I would caution against calling it a race as such.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18It's really just about if you keep on going forward and enjoying yourself
0:34:18 > 0:34:20as well. That's the most important thing.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22Like a gazelle there.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26When you go in for an event, you're going in to win,
0:34:26 > 0:34:28for me it's all about surviving and getting through it,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32and there will be times where I'm at the back of the swim, maybe at the back of the cycle,
0:34:32 > 0:34:35maybe at the back of the run. How do you suggest I keep that going mentally?
0:34:35 > 0:34:39You might not be at the back of the field. But this year, because Ben Nevis is up and down,
0:34:39 > 0:34:42as I was coming down, I saw the back markers, and you know what?
0:34:42 > 0:34:44They were so much happier than everyone at the front.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46And I can see you fitting into that,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49if you're in that position. It might be you're higher up than that.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53But if you are at the back quarter, it's an environment which you will enjoy.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56The other thing about hill running as well, we are, what,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59ten minutes' drive from the centre of Stirling?
0:34:59 > 0:35:01- And look at this.- I know.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03And there's nobody here. This is great.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06- There's the Forth Valley. - A good excuse to stop here.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10If I come onto the hill, I do have a tendency just to do that.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14But I guess the big thing about being on a hill is you're on a hill.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16- Absolutely.- And it's all there in front of you.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18Forget about that bit, which is the up bit.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19All this is fantastic.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23See that? It's just a wee excuse for stopping there.
0:35:23 > 0:35:24Come on. Come on, let's go.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29Whoa. Easy now.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32'I'm worn out already, and Sean's only just warming up.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35'I'd better keep on training.
0:35:35 > 0:35:36'Hard.'
0:35:44 > 0:35:47Welcome back to Fort William, where we're watching the men challenge
0:35:47 > 0:35:50this fiendishly difficult course. But before that,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53we couldn't resist celebrating one of the greatest downhill
0:35:53 > 0:35:55mountain bikers in British mountain-biking history.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Rower Steve Redgrave, runner Paula Radcliffe,
0:35:59 > 0:36:01and tennis player Andy Murray.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04British stars that have defined their sport.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07In the world of downhill mountain biking,
0:36:07 > 0:36:09this crown belongs to former world champion
0:36:09 > 0:36:13and three-times World Cup winner Steve Peat.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15Here he comes. Inside four minutes,
0:36:15 > 0:36:18sweeping down over the bottom section.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Listen to the roar of the crowd here.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23Everyone is going absolutely wild.
0:36:23 > 0:36:24He is in.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Steve Peat has won his first-ever event at Fort William.
0:36:27 > 0:36:324.11.44. Hands in the air. And listen to the roar of the crowd.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37Now, after 20 years competing at the very top of the sport,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40Steve has announced his retirement from professional racing.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44We caught up with him just outside his home city of Sheffield.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48I've been racing World Cup now for,
0:36:48 > 0:36:53this is my 23rd season, so yeah, I've been doing it a while.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57'I think for me racing at World Cup is obviously the creme de la creme,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00'the Formula 1 of mountain biking.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04'And downhill gets harder and harder to train for.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06'To be at the top level against the young guys...'
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Come on!
0:37:09 > 0:37:11'I'm doing it my way. I want to take the whole year
0:37:11 > 0:37:14'and let everybody know that it is going to be my last season,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18'have a couple of parties along the way and have a bit of fun and just
0:37:18 > 0:37:19'do it in my own sort of style.'
0:37:19 > 0:37:22I don't want to get to the last race of the season, stand on the podium,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25and just tell everybody, "That's it. I'm done. I'm finished."
0:37:25 > 0:37:28I want it to be a year to celebrate, really,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32what I've done in the sport and give something back to all the fans.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37Steve Peat has been instrumental in shaping the mountain bike scene
0:37:37 > 0:37:41in this country, particularly in promoting the sport to youngsters
0:37:41 > 0:37:45and guiding fresh talent onto the World Cup circuit.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Here in Sheffield, he's founded the Steel City race,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51a mini downhill to help promote the sport.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54'Sheffield's always been a great spot for mountain biking.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57'It's built on seven hills, so there's plenty of stuff to go at.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59'We've just got a really good scene.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03'Everybody gets together and works together to acquire funding,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06'to build new trails, and we're constantly pushing.'
0:38:09 > 0:38:12'This forest that we're in now, Grenoside Woods,'
0:38:12 > 0:38:15is owned by Sheffield Wildlife Trust and they work with us
0:38:15 > 0:38:18really well on mixed-use in this forest,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21so when we do the Steel City downhill race,
0:38:21 > 0:38:23which is in this forest, we put all the funds
0:38:23 > 0:38:27back into maintaining trails and making new trails in the wood
0:38:27 > 0:38:29'and also mixed-use in the wood.'
0:38:30 > 0:38:32Steve's base may be Sheffield,
0:38:32 > 0:38:35but like everyone on the World Cup circuit, each year
0:38:35 > 0:38:38he makes the pilgrimage up to Fort William.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41It's a race that is never far from Peaty's thoughts.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45'I'm constantly thinking about the Fort William track.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47'I raced there a couple of weeks ago.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49'I catch myself watching TV,'
0:38:49 > 0:38:52thinking about some corners on the track
0:38:52 > 0:38:54or, "I wonder if you could cut that corner a little bit,
0:38:54 > 0:38:57"make that a little bit tighter, shave a few seconds there."
0:38:57 > 0:39:00You've got to know every root, every rock, every tree,
0:39:00 > 0:39:02know where you're going to brake,
0:39:02 > 0:39:05know where you're going to change gear,
0:39:05 > 0:39:07just be 100% focused for a five-minute run.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10It's a constant thing when you're at this level of the sport.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12CHEERING
0:39:14 > 0:39:17'2005, when I actually won in Fort William,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20'I could hear the fans shouting all the way down
0:39:20 > 0:39:21'and they willed me down that hill
0:39:21 > 0:39:23'and when I came into the finish area,
0:39:23 > 0:39:28'the actual noise and the boom of the place,
0:39:28 > 0:39:30'I've never experienced anything like it before.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34'Or since. And it was really emotional for me there.'
0:39:34 > 0:39:37I didn't know what to do with myself when I came into that finish area
0:39:37 > 0:39:39and I knew I'd actually won the race. It was pretty special.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Well, the fans here at Fort William are waiting to welcome Peaty
0:39:46 > 0:39:50down here for the last time in a World Cup, but this year,
0:39:50 > 0:39:52the event is tinged with sadness,
0:39:52 > 0:39:56as the mountain bike world lost one of its top stars, Stevie Smith.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58World Cup winner in 2013,
0:39:58 > 0:40:01Stevie lost his life whilst riding his motorcycle
0:40:01 > 0:40:05in his hometown in Canada back in May earlier this year.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Stevie Smith was amazing.
0:40:10 > 0:40:11I think he single-handedly
0:40:11 > 0:40:13brought Canadian downhilling back on the map.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Yeah. Just such a sad loss.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Me and Stevie were the same age, so we raced together in juniors
0:40:22 > 0:40:25and it was awesome to watch his career flourish
0:40:25 > 0:40:27and go from being like a junior who could never stay on
0:40:27 > 0:40:30to one of the...to the best in the world in 2013.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34He was one of the legends of the sport and I think this race is
0:40:34 > 0:40:36'a celebration of him and what he accomplished
0:40:36 > 0:40:38'and what he brought to the sport.'
0:40:39 > 0:40:43This is the first World Cup since that accident.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46And everyone here feels the big hole
0:40:46 > 0:40:48that has been left in the men's event.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Back up on the hill for today's race, conditions are great.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56It's such a pleasure being here in good weather.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00Last year, this was torrential rain, horizontal snow, absolutely awful,
0:41:00 > 0:41:01but now the weather is fantastic.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04But it does bring other challenges for the riders.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06The track is extremely loose
0:41:06 > 0:41:09and it's very difficult to hold the line on the gravel.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13The track gets faster and faster so of the riders are starting
0:41:13 > 0:41:15to chop it up more, so new holes are coming through
0:41:15 > 0:41:18so you kind of find new lines are a bit smoother,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20they last for a few runs and then they change,
0:41:20 > 0:41:22and you have to really pay attention to that
0:41:22 > 0:41:24and make sure you're on top of it
0:41:24 > 0:41:26and really ride in the fastest line that is there.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Today, Gee Atherton is the foremost British rider
0:41:29 > 0:41:32and has dominated the sport for years.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35But the qualifying round threw up some major surprises.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40Adam Brayton from Keswick normally manages to make it into the top 50.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43Today, he qualified fifth fastest.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45He is the man.
0:41:45 > 0:41:46'It's easy to get'
0:41:46 > 0:41:49caught up in the crowd here and get a bit wild on the track.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Yeah, the crowd was that good.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Just kept pushing and kept clicking sections off that are tricky
0:41:55 > 0:41:59and, yeah, just pushed hard and no mistakes and ended up fifth.
0:41:59 > 0:42:00I was blown away.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Really shocked.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Another amazing qualifying result came from a young Scottish rider
0:42:05 > 0:42:07from Selkirk, George Gannicott.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10He finished tenth fastest.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Really pleased with that. I don't know how to put it into words.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14I came across the line, a couple of rides
0:42:14 > 0:42:17I got quite close to it. My time didn't come up instantly,
0:42:17 > 0:42:19I was waiting for about five or ten seconds
0:42:19 > 0:42:22and then popped up tenth - "Nah, can't be right."
0:42:22 > 0:42:24It's a big difference from riding in Innerleithen
0:42:24 > 0:42:27when you're being watched by maybe 20 or 30 riders
0:42:27 > 0:42:29- to here where it's 10,000. - It's a surreal feeling.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32You can't explain the feeling that you get
0:42:32 > 0:42:33when you're coming down the finish line
0:42:33 > 0:42:36and there's thousands and thousands of people
0:42:36 > 0:42:38all cheering just for you. It's incredible.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41The highest-ranking Scot is Greg Williamson from Inverness.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Currently placed 11th in the world,
0:42:43 > 0:42:46he was seventh fastest in qualification.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50And knows it's all down to split-second timing.
0:42:50 > 0:42:51To have a run winning here,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54you've just got to be on the limit, really.
0:42:54 > 0:43:00And just ride comfortably, but ride just a bit over the limit,
0:43:00 > 0:43:03so if you don't do that, then you most likely won't win.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07It's just so fast just now, and dusty for once.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11And there's certainly no shortage of competition.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14Last year's winner, South African rider, Greg Minnaar,
0:43:14 > 0:43:17knows this course as well as any Brit.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19I've been coming back here since 2002
0:43:19 > 0:43:22and it's always great coming back
0:43:22 > 0:43:24because I always feel like this is my home race away from home.
0:43:24 > 0:43:29I grew up racing in the UK and all the guys that I grew up racing with
0:43:29 > 0:43:31come through in support, so it's a good race for me.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33Do you ride the course differently now?
0:43:33 > 0:43:34I know it's changed over the years,
0:43:34 > 0:43:37but do you ride it differently from when you were a younger guy?
0:43:37 > 0:43:39- I'm still young, aren't I? - You're clearly a young guy
0:43:39 > 0:43:42but you were obviously a wee bit younger...
0:43:42 > 0:43:46You know, I try and maintain that same pace up top, you know.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48The whole top section is about carrying speed
0:43:48 > 0:43:50so sometimes you want to just brake and be a little bit safe
0:43:50 > 0:43:52and you just don't have that opportunity,
0:43:52 > 0:43:56so I feel I am still riding like a young gun.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59We're picking up the action as Greg's team-mate,
0:43:59 > 0:44:01the legendary British rider Steve Peat,
0:44:01 > 0:44:06starts down this course for his last World Cup race at Fort William.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08This is history in the making.
0:44:09 > 0:44:14UCI Downhill World Champion 2009, nine-times UK Champion,
0:44:14 > 0:44:18twice European Champion, with over 17 World Cup wins,
0:44:18 > 0:44:22he will get a fantastic, fantastic reception here.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25Peaty is flying down the hill.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29That is an amazing, amazing man, with an incredible downhill career.
0:44:29 > 0:44:33It's very, very hard and that little drop off the line
0:44:33 > 0:44:36has to be absolutely spot on.
0:44:36 > 0:44:39So here he is, Steve Peat.
0:44:39 > 0:44:41He won here in 2005.
0:44:41 > 0:44:47First year that The Adventure Show came to Fort William.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50Listen to the noise.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52He is putting the style on.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54And PT comes through the archway.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56Listen to the welcome.
0:44:56 > 0:45:00CHEERING
0:45:01 > 0:45:02What a noise.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08Here he comes. His last ever World Cup in Fort William
0:45:08 > 0:45:13and I think there could be some tears under that visor.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15Get that visor up, Peaty.
0:45:15 > 0:45:19Everyone's wearing the Peaty masks. Fantastic.
0:45:20 > 0:45:24So while Peaty soaks in the crowds, back at the top of the mountain,
0:45:24 > 0:45:28it's business as usual for his team-mate, Greg Minnaar.
0:45:28 > 0:45:33The South African giant that is Greg Minnaar, winner here last year,
0:45:33 > 0:45:37started racing at the age of 17 in 1999,
0:45:37 > 0:45:42had an incredible set of wins at the very, very highest level.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46Struggled earlier on this year to match his form
0:45:46 > 0:45:48that he made here last year.
0:45:48 > 0:45:52But Greg is one of the senior riders, 35.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Respected. A hugely strong rider.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57Incredibly skilled.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02Hoping to repeat his success here last year.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04And Greg looking pretty solid.
0:46:06 > 0:46:10And his strength is his huge power in the lower part of the course,
0:46:10 > 0:46:11and very, very good in the air.
0:46:13 > 0:46:18So here is Greg Minnaar. He's won in Fort William five times.
0:46:18 > 0:46:20No-one else has ever done that.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24Minnaar's on the hunt. Six and a half seconds up.
0:46:24 > 0:46:28And he's absolutely flying down here.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31They love him here at Fort William, the way he attacks the course.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34I spoke to him earlier today,
0:46:34 > 0:46:37and he said he loves the fact that the course is riding fast,
0:46:37 > 0:46:41because when the course is riding fast, he rides fast.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44Thirion is in the lead at the moment.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48Greg Minnaar is going to smash him off the top spot.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52Here is Greg Minnaar throwing down the gauntlet.
0:46:52 > 0:46:56Every single yard he has timed
0:46:56 > 0:47:02and he is absolutely playing a master card here at Fort William.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04Here he goes.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08And some style into the bargain.
0:47:08 > 0:47:09Forget that, Greg.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12Get to the finish and get in the hot seat
0:47:12 > 0:47:13and say to everyone else,
0:47:13 > 0:47:15"Let's see what you can do,
0:47:15 > 0:47:17"because this is what I can do
0:47:17 > 0:47:20"and what I can do is amazing."
0:47:20 > 0:47:22Almost eight seconds inside.
0:47:22 > 0:47:244:35.6.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27Greg Minnaar is the boss and no mistake.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34And already receiving a great welcome,
0:47:34 > 0:47:36a fantastic favourite of the crowd here.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38Danny Hart, the British downhill champion,
0:47:38 > 0:47:42ranked seventh in the world this year.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44Has been riding for a long time and still only 25.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49Any of these riders could do well and he's really pushing it.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54Such a danger of a flat on some of these upper parts
0:47:54 > 0:47:56and he's just maybe trying too hard
0:47:56 > 0:48:00but you might say that Danny is one of the best in the world.
0:48:01 > 0:48:03He's come out of his pedal there.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Yeah, I thought he was going a little bit hard.
0:48:06 > 0:48:08Back online now.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11He needs to keep it out of the grit and gravel.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Try to cut the corners is not going to work today.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17You've got to stay on the clean race line.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20And Danny chasing Greg Minnaar,
0:48:20 > 0:48:22who currently sits in first position.
0:48:26 > 0:48:31The Rocket from Redcar has just blown the roof off Ben Nevis.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35He's never had a win here at Fort William.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37He would love to do it this year.
0:48:37 > 0:48:41He's currently ranked seventh in the world rankings at the moment,
0:48:41 > 0:48:43which is kind of low for him.
0:48:43 > 0:48:44He loves to put on the style.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46Let's look at this split.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51Oh, he's two seconds down. Two seconds down.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54And that's slightly disappointing,
0:48:54 > 0:48:59but can he do anything at this point?
0:48:59 > 0:49:03I reckon too much time in the air, there, for Danny Hart,
0:49:03 > 0:49:05and he may have lost a little more down the way,
0:49:05 > 0:49:07those end jumps.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11Greg Minnaar was in great form.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Danny Hart just needs to get over the line,
0:49:13 > 0:49:15get himself onto the podium for the moment
0:49:15 > 0:49:18and see how everyone else does.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22Second place. Almost four seconds outside Greg Minnaar.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25That just shows you how incredible Greg Minnaar's run truly was.
0:49:27 > 0:49:28Now we're into the last ten
0:49:28 > 0:49:32with two great young riders flying the flag for Scotland.
0:49:32 > 0:49:36George Gannicott from Selkirk in the Borders.
0:49:36 > 0:49:41Incredibly pleased to be sitting in the top ten after qualification.
0:49:41 > 0:49:42It would be an amazing thing
0:49:42 > 0:49:45for George to get a position on the podium.
0:49:45 > 0:49:47Very, very strong rider.
0:49:47 > 0:49:48Go on, George.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53He spends his winter working in a clothes shop,
0:49:53 > 0:49:54says he knows nothing about fashion.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57He certainly knows a lot about biking.
0:49:58 > 0:49:59That is a pretty good line.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02Loves Innerleithen in the Tweed Valley.
0:50:02 > 0:50:03Looks pretty good so far.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08Fashion to flyer, as George heads off down into the forest.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12Down onto the motorway and George's time is slipping.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15Has the pressure of expectation got him?
0:50:16 > 0:50:20He's already over 12 seconds down on Greg Minnaar.
0:50:20 > 0:50:24And there is no way he can make that up in the last part of the course.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Might be enough for a podium. It won't get him into the top ten,
0:50:26 > 0:50:28but it's still been a fantastic weekend
0:50:28 > 0:50:30for this young Scottish rider.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33I reckon we will be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40On the course now,
0:50:40 > 0:50:44having qualified seventh-fastest, is Greg Williamson from Inverness.
0:50:44 > 0:50:49He'll surely get a fantastic welcome when he reaches the arena.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52Had a crash in practice earlier on and hurt his shoulder
0:50:52 > 0:50:55but it looks as though it's not hampering him at all now.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58Knows the course, absolutely loves Fort William.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01Rocky, big jumps, very, very strong.
0:51:03 > 0:51:08So Greg is just up onto the rocks before descending into the trees.
0:51:09 > 0:51:10Well, I tell you what,
0:51:10 > 0:51:13Greg Williamson is picking up the pace.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16Can he do something here at Fort William?
0:51:16 > 0:51:18He already has done, let's face it.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21Come on. He's in fourth place, Greg.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24And the Scottish crowd will love Greg Williamson
0:51:24 > 0:51:26and love what he is doing.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28He's from the Highlands of Scotland.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30The big fella is doing a Highland Fling.
0:51:32 > 0:51:35Chooses the safer option
0:51:35 > 0:51:38and Williamson has just got to head down,
0:51:38 > 0:51:42get out of the wind, and just get down as quickly as he can.
0:51:42 > 0:51:43What's he done?
0:51:43 > 0:51:45Third place! No way!
0:51:45 > 0:51:48That is unbelievable.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52That is unbelievable from Greg Williamson.
0:51:52 > 0:51:54He's in third now.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57I know there are some really, really big guys still to come.
0:52:00 > 0:52:04Adam Brayton, the British rider, based in Keswick.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08Did really well here to qualify in fifth place.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11Had an absolute blinder of a qualification ride.
0:52:11 > 0:52:13His placings in World Cup so far,
0:52:13 > 0:52:18he's been consistent in the top 50, but never really shined above that.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23Come on, Adam. Pushing on.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27Absolutely terrific in the top part of the course.
0:52:27 > 0:52:28Giving his all.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30Adam is flying on the top part.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32Just slightly missed that line.
0:52:32 > 0:52:34Being slightly too tight.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38And you can see how difficult that is,
0:52:38 > 0:52:40getting all off-line there.
0:52:40 > 0:52:41You can see he lost a bit of power
0:52:41 > 0:52:44in the elbows to hold the front wheel straight.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46But pushing on. Let's hope he does well
0:52:46 > 0:52:49as he jumps up onto the rocks and heads off into the forest.
0:52:51 > 0:52:56Well, well, well. Adam Brayton has been doing some incredible stuff.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00He's had an amazing weekend
0:53:00 > 0:53:04and he could well be on the podium here, if he keeps it tight.
0:53:04 > 0:53:06He is picking up and picking up and picking up all the time.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10Let's see where he is. Let's see...
0:53:10 > 0:53:12Split four - he is 1.4 down.
0:53:17 > 0:53:18Oh, he's still in third.
0:53:18 > 0:53:203.1 down.
0:53:20 > 0:53:22He's lost a bit of time on Greg Minnaar,
0:53:22 > 0:53:25but he's still in third place.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28And he's just going for it.
0:53:28 > 0:53:30And that's what the Fort William crowd absolutely loves.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33Gasps from start to finish.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36Made lots of mistakes all the way through
0:53:36 > 0:53:41but the reason he made mistakes was he was taking the risky options,
0:53:41 > 0:53:43and it almost paid off.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47What's he done now?
0:53:47 > 0:53:49Into third place
0:53:49 > 0:53:51for Adam Brayton.
0:53:51 > 0:53:53That is a sensational ride.
0:53:53 > 0:53:54Wow.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00On the course now,
0:54:00 > 0:54:01the current World Cup leader,
0:54:01 > 0:54:02American Aaron Gwin,
0:54:02 > 0:54:06who placed first in Lourdes in April.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09Aaron has raced here many, many times.
0:54:09 > 0:54:14Came second last year with an incredible performance
0:54:14 > 0:54:16only to be pipped at the post -
0:54:16 > 0:54:19Aaron Wareing, the number one on the bike.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22He is truly flying on the top part of the course.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24He's an extremely strong sprinter
0:54:24 > 0:54:27and absolutely brilliant on the jumps.
0:54:27 > 0:54:32Trying to keep a nice, smooth line, here, keep out of trouble.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36He'll be sprinting hard in the next little section
0:54:36 > 0:54:39on the rock slab, to take him down into the trees.
0:54:40 > 0:54:44Aaron Gwin, got the American flag on his arm,
0:54:44 > 0:54:46he's the national champion.
0:54:46 > 0:54:47And he is great.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50Look at that. He's absolutely flying.
0:54:50 > 0:54:52He is behind Greg Minnaar
0:54:52 > 0:54:54and he's not going to beat him.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56But he puts some style on.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59That's unbelievable.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01Adam Brayton is sitting there
0:55:01 > 0:55:03and Aaron Gwin is behind him on the time.
0:55:03 > 0:55:07That shows you how good Brayton's ride truly was.
0:55:07 > 0:55:08Here is Aaron Gwin.
0:55:09 > 0:55:10Just really smooth.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12He's still working the shoulders,
0:55:12 > 0:55:15still working the suspension, getting nice and low.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19Keeping it low, keeping it fast into the finish.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21Will he get third?
0:55:21 > 0:55:23He gets second. My goodness!
0:55:23 > 0:55:28Aaron Quinn has just smashed the bottom half of the course.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30Made up such a lot of time
0:55:30 > 0:55:34and knocked Danny Hart down to third place.
0:55:34 > 0:55:36Aaron Gwin, that's sensational.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41Now just two racers still to go
0:55:41 > 0:55:43and up at the top, another surprise rider,
0:55:43 > 0:55:47Eddie Masters from New Zealand, ranked 44 in the world,
0:55:47 > 0:55:49but got the second-fastest time in qualification.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52Can he knock any of the big names off the podium?
0:55:53 > 0:55:56Oh, no, he's off! In the sight of the start gate.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58That's a massive crash.
0:55:58 > 0:55:59I guess trying too hard.
0:55:59 > 0:56:03Overcooked it on one of the very first turns.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05Eddie Masters will not be challenging the leaders,
0:56:05 > 0:56:06at least for this year.
0:56:06 > 0:56:10So, now, all eyes will be on the last man to race.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Britain's very own Gee Atherton.
0:56:14 > 0:56:16The last rider out and fastest qualifier
0:56:16 > 0:56:19from the Saturday qualifications, Gee Atherton,
0:56:19 > 0:56:24the ex-world champion of 2014 and hero here in Fort William.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27He won the British Downhill Series here last year
0:56:27 > 0:56:30and came seventh at Lourdes earlier on this year where,
0:56:30 > 0:56:33apparently, he looked as though he was on the brakes on little bit.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36He had a crash in qualification there, shook his confidence,
0:56:36 > 0:56:39but Gee will be pushing so hard here.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41Oh! That... Oh, too hard.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44That looks like a very bad crash.
0:56:44 > 0:56:47And that is it. Oh, that's not good.
0:56:47 > 0:56:52I'm afraid Gee's challenge for a podium is over.
0:56:54 > 0:56:56That was a big spill for Gee,
0:56:56 > 0:57:02but that means Greg Minnaar is the champion once again.
0:57:02 > 0:57:08Holds up the Canadian flag in honour of Stevie Smith, and smiles.
0:57:08 > 0:57:11He's won here more times than anyone else.
0:57:11 > 0:57:16Sensational stuff from Greg Minnaar. Champion 2016.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Brilliant, brilliant result. Congratulations.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22Thank you, yeah. It was tough, you know.
0:57:22 > 0:57:26Yesterday I had a bit of a mechanical in the qualifying
0:57:26 > 0:57:29so I wasn't sure I had the track speed
0:57:29 > 0:57:31but I just put it all out today
0:57:31 > 0:57:34and managed to pull it off.
0:57:34 > 0:57:38He most certainly did, and the final results look like this.
0:57:38 > 0:57:41A fantastic ride for Adam Brayton from Keswick.
0:57:41 > 0:57:45He came in fourth, with a time of 4:39.65.
0:57:45 > 0:57:51Third place went to Danny Hart from Redcar in 4:39.6.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54In second place it was Aaron Gwin from America
0:57:54 > 0:57:57with his time of 4:38.96,
0:57:57 > 0:58:00but in a time of 4:35.6,
0:58:00 > 0:58:03Greg Minnaar, once again, took the top spot.
0:58:04 > 0:58:07Well, another Fort William, and a sensational one.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09The course here at Aonach Mor has stood up,
0:58:09 > 0:58:11the racing has been absolutely wonderful
0:58:11 > 0:58:15and the champions have performed to their very best.
0:58:15 > 0:58:16This has been a brilliant weekend.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18But that's it for this Adventure Show.
0:58:18 > 0:58:21Next time around, we'll be doing the West Highland Way.
0:58:21 > 0:58:2695 miles endurance contest, running as hard and as fast as you can.
0:58:26 > 0:58:28Please join us for that if you can.
0:58:28 > 0:58:31Until then, from all of us here, bye for now.