On Safari - Fort William Practice Photo Epic
What's it like to be at Fort William at the moment... Well it's a bit like the Serengeti did you notice? Firstly it is obscenely hot. The clouds have thoroughly parted and there is little opportunity for shelter from the full power of the midday sun, especially without the flies. Then there's the fact there are all kinds of rare, possibly endangered, beasts zipping about the place, and you don't see specimens like this any old place. Only in quality Savannah grassland. They travel around in little hunting packs and herds, occasionally eyeballing the other creatures of alternative species as they go. Then there's the brutality of it all. We've got riders getting smashed around as if they were baby antelope, by the sheer fierceness of the terrain. So like any good game keeper would, let us proudly present to you the plunder of a hard day's hunt. Here's some of the most groundbreaking (in some cases literally) events of the day.
PB caught up with Holly to see if she was ok and whether she would still be racing.
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 Jill Kinter into the wild. |
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| A bit of rider interaction is a rare treat, scarcely observed in our sport other than in training. 99 Logan Binggeli performs for Trek onlookers Neko and Williamson. |
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| Red Bull keeping up appearances with Slovakian rider Filip Polc. |
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| For many riders the number 13 is bad luck. Road cycling tradition frequently sees the number inverted to ward off bad luck--a habit many mountain bikers take to, even on the World Cup. Not so for Pekoll: "Thirteen is my lucky number, I'm stoked to run that." |
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| Sadly the good luck feeling couldn't reach all present today. The grand Innerleithen destroyer, Brayton, took a fall high up on the moor, sadly rendering himself out of contention for a Scottish rematch. Note the the wheel wasn't his: Adam made full use of his shoulder to take all the impact instead. |
 | My weekend has been cut pretty short going down on my second run just trying to take things easy. I came over one of the granite crests and just carried a little bit further than I planned on going and couldn't hang on to the bike. Pretty much did a gas-to-flat on the front end and next thing I know I'm piling into the ground. It's the fourth collar bone I've broken now. Coming off a good high last weekend I had high expectations; I wanted to mix it with those guys again, there's no reason why I can't. Sadly it's not gonna happen now so I'll just be looking forward to next time round. - Adam Brayton |
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| Needles and Danny go nearly full Siamese, as Andrew greases a matching Rockstar deal |
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| Lost in the team swaps this past season was Marcelo Gutierrez getting the nod from Red Bull and the hand up to the Rockstars of the Giant Factory team. Cedric Gracia's former understudy is definitely one to watch this year. |
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| Steve Smith on a tear... Steve was one of the minority of riders that just looked liquid on the track all day: Where other riders struggled, Smith was all flow, grace, and smashing power. |
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| The Beast, aka Nathan Rennie, is back and prowling the track...as a coach? "I have 12 juniors with me. They're good kids. I've had one "talk" with them to lay down the rules and they've been great ever since." Um yeah, pretty much anyone Rennie's gonna lay down the law to is gonna walk the line. Check out that throwback pass photo. |
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| Mondraker star, and female World Champion, Morgane Charre is looking sharp and indimidating right now. |
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| But would the overall champ ever condone a hostile takeover? Canopy tours aboard the good ship Atherton. |
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| Ragot getting up to full Euro-speed: Second to Rachel in timed training. |
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| The new GT Fury came out of the box last night in an official press launch; the new slack head angle and lowered BB had Marc Beaumont ripping out of corners like he had a twist throttle wide open. |
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| Friday was a lot about taking it up to the boil...and having a play and a chat in between. Here, Atherton/Beaumont understudy Taylor, attempts to redefine 'low' on the marbles, post road gap. |
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| Steve Peat flying high over the stream, under prolonged magnificent skies |
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| Ratboy was one of the only racers with enough speed to muscle it through all 3 jumps and get stylish on the motorway. The senders are LONG this year and a lot of riders were struggling to make the transitions. Mick Hannah was struggling to not over shoot them. |
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| Those monster tabletops were a menace today as Holly Feniak had to finish her descent on a stretcher, following a very unpleasant high speed eject. |
PB caught up with Holly to see if she was ok and whether she would still be racing.
| I have a minor concussion apparently. My finger seems to be broken, but I haven't had an x-ray yet. I think I'd be ok to ride if I hadn't hit my head so hard. Crashing a second time can be a lot more serious with a head injury. I was feeling good before just surprising myself, riding really well and being ballsy, but that crash was something just so unexpected. I just got really nose-heavy, no idea how and went hard straight to my head and left side. I was out for a second so I don't remember the details too well. - Holly Feniak |
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| Some riders seem to look fast everywhere during practice, and today Matthew Simmonds was one of those riders. He was absolutely killing it from run 1, coming 3rd behind Hart in timed training. |
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| The TT whirlwind from Aus. It's Mick Hannah clocking quickest at close, Friday afternoon. |
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| When the racing don't count, there's showboating about. Fairclough gives anyone who'll watch an eyeful, to round out the day here Savannah-side. |
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Yeah sick Mick!
*That's a lie, enjoy it while it lasts
No no thats Emmeline Ragot, recognise those goggles anywhere!
As long as hollys face is ok, I'm not to worried.
Not Charre Morgan…. Common BikePink, you can do better than this.