While Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) took the win in round two for the downhill World Cup in Fort William, Scotland, it was the young riders who finished second and third - Danny Hart (Giant) and Brook MacDonald (MS Evil Racing) - who were the real story of the day, signalling the arrival of the next generation of downhillers. Minnaar's win, coupled with round one winner Aaron Gwin's (Trek World Racing) fifth place, put the South African into the leader's jersey for the overall standings.
American Mitch Ropelato, another under 21-year-old, was the first leader to go under five minutes, but he was quickly supplanted by Australian Mitchell Delfs (Kona), who was in turn replaced in the lead by another Australian, Mick Hannah, who took the leading time down to 4:53.433 .
Hannah held onto the lead for a long time before a third Aussie, Josh Button (SC-Intense) just barely edged him. However, the faster riders were just starting to come down the track, and Fabien Pedemanaud (Scott 11) took the leading time down to 4:52.5 shortly afterward.
This set the stage for MacDonald's incredible ride. Starting 48th (out of 81), MacDonald absolutely nailed the pedalling bottom half of the course, to finish a staggering 5.643 seconds ahead of Pedemanaud. The young New Zealand rider, who won't turn 20 until November, was the junior World Champion in 2009, but this ride put him in a whole new league.
As rider after rider came down, none could surpass his time, with another young Kiwi - Cameron Cole (Lapierre) - slotting into second, but still 1.8 seconds back. Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate), world champion Sam Hill (Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz), Fabien Barel (Mondraker) who DNF'd, and Canada's Steve Smith (Devinci) all came close but none came close enough.
It wasn't until Minnaar, a two-time winner at Fort William, and fourth from last to start, came down that MacDonald was finally dislodged from the lead. The South African, a prodigy himself when he won his world title in 2003, was eighth fastest at the top split, and continued to improve as the course went on, to knock nearly two seconds off of MacDonald's incredible run. Hart, starting just after Minnaar and only a month older than MacDonald, pushed the Kiwi down to third by 0.65 seconds. The final two starters - Gee Atherton (Commencal) and World Cup leader Gwin - slotted in to fourth and fifth respectively after their runs.
"It was tough today," said Minnaar. "I was really nervous, I didn't think I had it today. Yesterday's qualifying, I was behind, and I wasn't sure I could find the time. [Brook] MacDonald had a great ride, but I'm stoked to be on top ... it's just an awesome day. I'm just speechless."
Full Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 0:04:43.854 |
| 2 | Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team | 0:00:01.299 |
| 3 | Brook Macdonald (NZl) Ms Evil Racing | 0:00:01.934 |
| 4 | Gee Atherton (GBr) Commencal | 0:00:03.004 |
| 5 | Aaron Gwin (USA) Trek World Racing | 0:00:03.193 |
| 6 | Cameron Cole (NZl) Lapierre International | 0:00:03.748 |
| 7 | Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre International | 0:00:04.269 |
| 8 | Justin Leov (NZl) Trek World Racing | 0:00:04.331 |
| 9 | Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 0:00:04.579 |
| 10 | Steve Smith (Can) Devinci Global Racing | 0:00:05.823 |
| 11 | Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 0:00:06.481 |
| 12 | Marc Beaumont (GBr) | 0:00:06.866 |
| 13 | Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 0:00:07.246 |
| 14 | Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 0:00:07.606 |
| 15 | Luke Strobel (USA) Ms Evil Racing | 0:00:07.694 |
| 16 | Florent Payet (Fra) Sc - Intense | 0:00:07.953 |
| 17 | Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain | 0:00:08.050 |
| 18 | Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) Scott 11 | 0:00:08.646 |
| 19 | Ben Cathro (GBr) | 0:00:09.219 |
| 20 | Matthew Scoles (NZl) Team Cingolani Trek | 0:00:09.343 |
| 21 | Joshua Button (Aus) Sc - Intense | 0:00:09.499 |
| 22 | Michael Hannah (Aus) | 0:00:09.579 |
| 23 | Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 0:00:09.865 |
| 24 | Duncan Riffle (USA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team | 0:00:10.212 |
| 25 | Mickael Pascal (Fra) Morewood Unitedride | 0:00:10.364 |
| 26 | Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa) | 0:00:10.462 |
| 27 | Joseph Smith (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 0:00:10.646 |
| 28 | Cédric Gracia (Fra) Cg Racing Brigade | 0:00:10.760 |
| 29 | Fabien Cousinie (Fra) Morewood Unitedride | 0:00:11.066 |
| 30 | Troy Brosnan (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 0:00:11.151 |
| 31 | Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Col) Cg Racing Brigade | 0:00:11.245 |
| 32 | Shaun O'Connor (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team | 0:00:12.066 |
| 33 | Mitchell Delfs (Aus) Kona | 0:00:12.080 |
| 34 | Filip Polc (Svk) Ms Evil Racing | 0:00:12.933 |
| 35 | Nico Vink (Bel) Team Lac Blanc / Solid / Massif Des Vosges | 0:00:12.985 |
| 36 | Robin Wallner (Swe) Team Are Bikepark Powered By W - Racing | 0:00:13.149 |
| 37 | Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) Team Lac Blanc / Solid / Massif Des Vosges | 0:00:13.435 |
| 38 | Mark Scott (GBr) | 0:00:13.804 |
| 39 | Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) Riding Addiction Commencal | 0:00:13.866 |
| 40 | Thomas Braithwaite (GBr) | 0:00:13.984 |
| 41 | Greg Williamson (GBr) | 0:00:14.493 |
| 42 | Ben Reid (Irl) Dirt Norco Race Team | 0:00:14.626 |
| 43 | Romain Paulhan (Fra) | 0:00:14.861 |
| 44 | Harry Heath (GBr) Unior Tools Team | 0:00:14.940 |
| 45 | Patrick Thome (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 0:00:15.096 |
| 46 | Will Rischbieth (Aus) | 0:00:15.329 |
| 47 | Mitch Ropelato (USA) | 0:00:15.416 |
| 48 | Adam Brayton (GBr) | 0:00:15.419 |
| 49 | Jack Reading (GBr) | 0:00:15.643 |
| 50 | Rémi Thirion (Fra) Labyrinth Shimano Racing Team | 0:00:16.144 |
| 51 | Markus Pekoll (Aut) Ms Evil Racing | 0:00:16.260 |
| 52 | Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 0:00:16.731 |
| 53 | Boris Tetzlaff (Aut) Alpine Commencal Austria | 0:00:16.843 |
| 54 | Wyn Masters (NZl) Ms Evil Racing | 0:00:17.638 |
| 55 | Timothy Bentley (RSA) Morewood Unitedride | 0:00:17.792 |
| 56 | Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) | 0:00:17.852 |
| 57 | Fergus Lamb (GBr) | 0:00:17.919 |
| 58 | Dan Stanbridge (GBr) Dirt Norco Race Team | 0:00:18.246 |
| 59 | Scott Mears (GBr) | 0:00:18.427 |
| 60 | Lewis Buchanan (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 0:00:18.440 |
| 61 | Lorenzo Suding (Ita) | 0:00:19.458 |
| 62 | Richard Thomas (GBr) | 0:00:20.522 |
| 63 | Curtis Keene (USA) | 0:00:20.575 |
| 64 | Emanuel Pombo (Por) | 0:00:22.309 |
| 65 | Alexander Kangas (Swe) | 0:00:22.418 |
| 66 | Florian Arthus (Fra) | 0:00:22.735 |
| 67 | Ziga Pandur (Slo) Unior Tools Team | 0:00:23.882 |
| 68 | Sam Dale (GBr) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 0:00:24.523 |
| 69 | Dan Atherton (GBr) Commencal | 0:00:25.018 |
| 70 | Seanan O'Riordan (Irl) | 0:00:25.369 |
| 71 | Neko Mulally (USA) Trek World Racing | 0:00:27.485 |
| 72 | Ivan Oulego Moreno (Spa) | 0:00:33.290 |
| 73 | Christopher Mcglinchey (Irl) | 0:00:35.491 |
| 74 | Loic Bruni (Fra) Lapierre International | 0:00:42.017 |
| 75 | Joris Bigoni (Fra) | 0:00:47.924 |
| 76 | Mathieu Gallean (Fra) Ryde - Racing | 0:04:53.950 |
| 77 | Julien Camellini (Fra) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 0:05:45.571 |
| 78 | George Brannigan (NZl) Devinci Global Racing | 0:16:04.336 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trek World Racing | 91 | pts |
| 2 | Santa Cruz Syndicate | 77 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Commencal | 65 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Scott 11 | 55 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Lapierre International | 50 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | MS Evil Racing | 48 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Giant Factory Off-Road Team | 42 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain | 36 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Team GR | 32 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Riding Addiction Commencal | 26 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | SC - Intense | 25 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 23 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 22 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Devinci Global Racing | 21 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Madison Saracen | 16 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Team Cingolani Trek | 11 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| 17 | Alpine Commencal Austria | 9 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
| 18 | Mondraker Factory Team | 8 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
| 19 | Morewood Unitedride | 8 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
| 20 | Passion Velo Thiers Stemtee | 6 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
| 21 | CK Racing Santacruz | 3 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
| 22 | CG Racing Brigade | 3 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 425 | pts |
| 2 | Aaron Gwin (USA) Trek World Racing | 378 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Gee Atherton (GBr) Commencal | 327 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Danny Hart (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team | 249 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Brook Macdonald (NZl) Ms Evil Racing | 199 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Steve Smith (Can) Devinci Global Racing | 197 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 195 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 190 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Samuel Blenkinsop (NZl) Lapierre International | 172 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Justin Leov (NZl) Trek World Racing | 164 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | Cameron Cole (NZl) Lapierre International | 164 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Marc Beaumont (GBr) | 159 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Fabien Barel (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 156 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Josh Bryceland (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate | 153 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 148 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Duncan Riffle (USA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team | 147 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| 17 | Cédric Gracia (Fra) Cg Racing Brigade | 143 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
| 18 | Matthew Scoles (NZl) Team Cingolani Trek | 129 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
| 19 | Fabien Cousinie (Fra) Morewood Unitedride | 128 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
| 20 | Troy Brosnan (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz | 126 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
| 21 | Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain | 124 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
| 22 | Florent Payet (Fra) Sc - Intense | 119 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
| 23 | Luke Strobel (USA) Ms Evil Racing | 114 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
| 24 | Thibaut Ruffin (Fra) Riding Addiction Commencal | 111 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
| 25 | Michael Hannah (Aus) | 109 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
| 26 | Ben Cathro (GBr) | 102 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
| 27 | Shaun O'connor (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team | 99 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
| 28 | Filip Polc (Svk) Ms Evil Racing | 98 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
| 29 | Robin Wallner (Swe) Team Are Bikepark Powered By W - Racing | 98 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
| 30 | Damien Spagnolo (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 97 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
| 31 | Mickael Pascal (Fra) Morewood Unitedride | 97 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
| 32 | Joseph Smith (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 97 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
| 33 | Julien Camellini (Fra) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 96 | Row 32 - Cell 3 |
| 34 | Joshua Button (Aus) Sc - Intense | 95 | Row 33 - Cell 3 |
| 35 | Nick Beer (Swi) Scott 11 | 94 | Row 34 - Cell 3 |
| 36 | Romain Paulhan (Fra) | 94 | Row 35 - Cell 3 |
| 37 | Pierre Charles Georges (Fra) Team Lac Blanc / Solid / Massif Des Vosges | 93 | Row 36 - Cell 3 |
| 38 | Markus Pekoll (Aut) Ms Evil Racing | 92 | Row 37 - Cell 3 |
| 39 | Fabien Pedemanaud (Fra) Scott 11 | 91 | Row 38 - Cell 3 |
| 40 | Mitchell Delfs (Aus) Kona | 90 | Row 39 - Cell 3 |
| 41 | Bryn Atkinson (Aus) | 80 | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
| 42 | Aurélien Giordanengo (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 70 | Row 41 - Cell 3 |
| 43 | Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team | 68 | Row 42 - Cell 3 |
| 44 | Rémi Thirion (Fra) Labyrinth Shimano Racing Team | 68 | Row 43 - Cell 3 |
| 45 | Mitch Ropelato (USA) | 68 | Row 44 - Cell 3 |
| 46 | Thomas Braithwaite (GBr) | 66 | Row 45 - Cell 3 |
| 47 | Neko Mulally (USA) Trek World Racing | 62 | Row 46 - Cell 3 |
| 48 | Timothy Bentley (RSA) Morewood Unitedride | 62 | Row 47 - Cell 3 |
| 49 | Sam Dale (GBr) Team Sunn Montgenevre | 60 | Row 48 - Cell 3 |
| 50 | Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Col) Cg Racing Brigade | 59 | Row 49 - Cell 3 |
| 51 | Patrick Thome (Fra) Mondraker Factory Team | 58 | Row 50 - Cell 3 |
| 52 | Richard Thomas (GBr) | 57 | Row 51 - Cell 3 |
| 53 | Bernat Guardia Pascual (Spa) | 55 | Row 52 - Cell 3 |
| 54 | Dan Stanbridge (GBr) Dirt Norco Race Team | 52 | Row 53 - Cell 3 |
| 55 | Andrew Neethling (RSA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team | 48 | Row 54 - Cell 3 |
| 56 | Emanuel Pombo (Por) | 47 | Row 55 - Cell 3 |
| 57 | Nico Vink (Bel) Team Lac Blanc / Solid / Massif Des Vosges | 46 | Row 56 - Cell 3 |
| 58 | Bernard Kerr (GBr) | 46 | Row 57 - Cell 3 |
| 59 | Mark Scott (GBr) | 43 | Row 58 - Cell 3 |
| 60 | Scott Mears (GBr) | 42 | Row 59 - Cell 3 |
| 61 | Curtis Keene (USA) | 42 | Row 60 - Cell 3 |
| 62 | Greg Williamson (GBr) | 40 | Row 61 - Cell 3 |
| 63 | Ben Reid (Irl) Dirt Norco Race Team | 39 | Row 62 - Cell 3 |
| 64 | Harry Heath (GBr) Unior Tools Team | 37 | Row 63 - Cell 3 |
| 65 | Fergus Lamb (GBr) | 36 | Row 64 - Cell 3 |
| 66 | Will Rischbieth (Aus) | 35 | Row 65 - Cell 3 |
| 67 | Adam Brayton (GBr) | 33 | Row 66 - Cell 3 |
| 68 | Jack Reading (GBr) | 32 | Row 67 - Cell 3 |
| 69 | Alex Bond (GBr) | 32 | Row 68 - Cell 3 |
| 70 | Marcel Beer (Swi) | 31 | Row 69 - Cell 3 |
| 71 | Matthew Simmonds (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 29 | Row 70 - Cell 3 |
| 72 | Boris Tetzlaff (Aut) Alpine Commencal Austria | 28 | Row 71 - Cell 3 |
| 73 | Wyn Masters (NZl) Ms Evil Racing | 27 | Row 72 - Cell 3 |
| 74 | Jonty Neethling (RSA) | 27 | Row 73 - Cell 3 |
| 75 | Johann Potgieter (RSA) | 26 | Row 74 - Cell 3 |
| 76 | Antonio Ferreiro Pajuelo (Spa) | 25 | Row 75 - Cell 3 |
| 77 | Hayden Brown (RSA) | 23 | Row 76 - Cell 3 |
| 78 | Lewis Buchanan (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof | 21 | Row 77 - Cell 3 |
| 79 | Lorenzo Suding (Ita) | 20 | Row 78 - Cell 3 |
| 80 | Thomas Jeandin (Swi) | 19 | Row 79 - Cell 3 |
| 81 | Lars Peyer (Swi) Sc - Intense | 18 | Row 80 - Cell 3 |
| 82 | Fraser Mcglone (GBr) | 17 | Row 81 - Cell 3 |
| 83 | Alexander Kangas (Swe) | 16 | Row 82 - Cell 3 |
| 84 | Daniel Pombo (Por) | 16 | Row 83 - Cell 3 |
| 85 | Florian Arthus (Fra) | 15 | Row 84 - Cell 3 |
| 86 | Kelvin Purchase (RSA) | 15 | Row 85 - Cell 3 |
| 87 | Ziga Pandur (Slo) Unior Tools Team | 14 | Row 86 - Cell 3 |
| 88 | Chris Hutchens (GBr) | 14 | Row 87 - Cell 3 |
| 89 | Tiaan Odendaal (RSA) | 13 | Row 88 - Cell 3 |
| 90 | Dan Atherton (GBr) Commencal | 12 | Row 89 - Cell 3 |
| 91 | Seanan O'riordan (Irl) | 11 | Row 90 - Cell 3 |
| 92 | Francesco Danilo Petrucci (Ita) Team Cingolani Trek | 11 | Row 91 - Cell 3 |
| 93 | Roman Roschi (Swi) | 10 | Row 92 - Cell 3 |
| 94 | Oscar Harnstrom (Swe) | 9 | Row 93 - Cell 3 |
| 95 | Ivan Oulego Moreno (Spa) | 9 | Row 94 - Cell 3 |
| 96 | Arthur Parret (Fra) Passion Velo Thiers Stemtee | 8 | Row 95 - Cell 3 |
| 97 | Christopher Mcglinchey (Irl) | 8 | Row 96 - Cell 3 |
| 98 | Jérôme Payet (Fra) | 7 | Row 97 - Cell 3 |
| 99 | Loic Bruni (Fra) Lapierre International | 7 | Row 98 - Cell 3 |
| 100 | Charly Di Pasquale (Fra) Labyrinth Shimano Racing Team | 6 | Row 99 - Cell 3 |
| 101 | Joris Bigoni (Fra) | 6 | Row 100 - Cell 3 |
| 102 | Mathias Haas (Aut) Alpine Commencal Austria | 5 | Row 101 - Cell 3 |
| 103 | Mathieu Gallean (Fra) Ryde - Racing | 5 | Row 102 - Cell 3 |
| 104 | Daniel Critchlow (GBr) | 4 | Row 103 - Cell 3 |
| 105 | Travis Browning (RSA) | 3 | Row 104 - Cell 3 |
| 106 | George Brannigan (NZl) Devinci Global Racing | 3 | Row 105 - Cell 3 |
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