Danny Hart and Manon Carpenter Win Fort William World Cup Warm-up

May 14, 2017 at 11:41
by Pinkbike Staff  
Danny Hart has steered his prototype 29er Mondraker Summum to victory among a stacked field at the Fort William BDS event. He beat Loic Bruni by more than one second in the process.

Danny Hart keeps it tight to stay on line

Pro Men: Top Five Results

1 // Danny Hart // 4:31.807
2 // Loic Bruni // 4:33.487
3 // Greg Williamson // 4:36.092
4 // Marcelo Gutierrez // 4:36.510
5 // Adam Brayton // 4:37.495


In the women's race, it was Manon Carpenter who came away victorious, putting a hair over one second into second place, Tahnee Seagraves on her prototype Transition T11. Rachel Atherton was not on the results sheet (nor was Gee, for that matter).

Pro Women: Top Five Results

1 // Manon Carpenter // 5:07.514
2 // Tahnee Seagrave // 5:08.565
3 // Lucy Drees // 6:09.370
4 // Sophia Paull // 6:09.401
5 // Elena Melton // 6:10.663

See the full results and stay tuned for a full recap of race day action.

MENTIONS: @BritishDownhillseries


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156 Comments
  • 256 1
 How does Danny sit down with wheels that big?
  • 39 8
 He has his seat as far forward as possible Razz
  • 4 3
 excellent.
  • 4 10
flag RedBurn (May 14, 2017 at 12:44) (Below Threshold)
 Wheels AND balls
  • 52 2
 His balls are actually 29" diameter
  • 5 1
 WWHHAAT THE HELL?
  • 29 12
 He would have won on a 27.5 as well.
  • 7 2
 SCIENCE!!
  • 8 2
 There's. A picture elsewhere on Pinkbike where his trousers show scuff marks from the large wheel. I hope the 29" DHers don't want a family...
  • 138 38
 Calling this race a 'World Cup Warmup' discredits the hard work that a lot of people put into making this event as good as it is. It is a totally legit race along with many others that are not actual world cup rounds.
  • 119 6
 But... that is why so many World Cup racers are there who are not British nationals. They are using this race to get more track time, especially when new bikes are involved. Calling it a "World Cup Warmup" does no discredit to the BDS.
  • 38 56
flag timbud (May 14, 2017 at 12:16) (Below Threshold)
 @ka-brap: Thats not my point.
Credit should be given to the BDS event first and the fact that many use it as a warmup should be after that.
I was not denying it to be a warmup event, merely commenting on how pb chose to understate it.
  • 72 8
 @T1mb0: You're reading way too hard into this....
  • 30 46
flag timbud (May 14, 2017 at 12:39) (Below Threshold)
 @scott-townes: Nah not really. I just think it sucks to see an amazing event downplayed, knowing how much hard work and money that goes into making them a success. Smile

I just think credit where its due
  • 2 1
 @ka-brap:
  • 6 5
 @T1mb0: credit goes to the venue not BDS.
  • 5 0
 @T1mb0: this is the only race I have seen referred to this way. All the national series, all the different race events and courses all over the world, and this race, Fort bill stop of the BDS series is recognized for the level of talent that shows up to partake and race. I think that is a a fairly unique recognition in and of itself.
  • 3 0
 @VwHarman: I thought they were doing it to get more clicks, to be honest. World Cup has a much wider appeal than BDS. Who cares about the BDS who is not British?
  • 16 0
 @T1mb0: "World Cup warmup" is a compliment.
  • 1 0
 @T1mb0: really? I'm sure that's what it looks like,but when this race is so close to the World Cup it's bound to be mixed up like this. The promoters should be mindful of that and schedule it according to that otherwise this is what happens. Just saying. In fact I think it is actually good for the program
  • 2 4
 @jaame: race fans? Better BDS than some equestrian event or whatever else you brits are up to...
  • 1 0
 @smashingorange: If they changed the date then most of the international (World Cup) riders wouldn't show up... is that good or bad for the BDS?
  • 1 1
 @mrbabcock: exactly!!
  • 5 0
 @jaame: Would care much more about all national series if there were more coverage...those helmet cam runs were sweet. More please...if anyone has more links...even phone edits. Hell, I watch more of the BDS and Australian DHI than the crappy American series. Love racing.
  • 3 0
 I don't know man, I'd be stoked to race in a "Fort William World Cup Warmup"
  • 7 3
 @jaame: Bro I'll click anything DH related these days...it's so god damn few and far between, British or not, I'm in

And no, articles about 29er DH is not the answer.
  • 3 0
 @nvranka: www.pinkbike.com/video/471333

www.pinkbike.com/video/471275
  • 1 0
 @rcrdrvr: thx! The Australian footage was rowdy, looks like a fun track
  • 1 0
 @nvranka: I take it back about the crappy American series...f*cking love @mtbmaniatv! Just wish we had some better tracks.
  • 1 0
 I care@jaame:
  • 3 1
 I stand corrected. Still as someone said it is a compliment to call it a world cup warmup.
  • 2 0
 @enduroFactory:
The bds guys have put just as much work into the event as the venue does at all of there races. They do all the taping and marking of the track, supply all the marshalls and first aid areas and points on the track so they deserve credit just as much as the venue does.
  • 2 1
 @jaame: I do... that's one?
  • 38 7
 Even as someone who likes 29ers, I'm happy to see that even on a track that could favour a 29er, the margin was minimal and could have been exactly the same had Danny Hart been on 650b. Just #rideyourf*ckingbike
  • 22 7
 -1.68 is not minimal in a men's DH race. -4.285 between 1st and 3rd is a huge gap in a men's DH race. There is no way to know if the results woukd have been different if everyone was on the same wheel size, but it is possible that bigger wheels made a difference.
  • 12 1
 Actually, a 1.68 gap isn't uncommon at all , granted is a decent gap but Dany has been strong all year but we've all seen WAY bigger gaps on equal wheels size and a significant gap would be more 6+ seconds ... @tetonlarry:
  • 4 1
 I wouldn't read too much into the results of this race. I doubt the top guys pushed it that hard seeing as they have a WC coming up and it's early season. This probably isn't much more reliable than timed training.
  • 2 0
 @tetonlarry: do you understand how the length of track can affect time gaps? Generally a longer track will create larger time gaps between riders.
  • 1 0
 Considering Bruni went and had stitches in his ankle just before race run too! Sure he was still fast but you'd imagine it would slow him down a bit..
  • 1 0
 @Tadams113: I was stood where Bruni crashed on his first run saw it happen in person then watched him come through on his race run with exactly the same commitment if not a little faster Danny was on it all weekend
  • 19 1
 1 // Manon Carpenter // 5:07.514
2 // Tahnee Seagrave // 5:08.565
3 // Lucy Drees // 6:09.370
4 // Sophia Paull // 6:09.401
5 // Elena Melton // 6:10.663

On another level from the rest of the pro women
  • 31 0
 Look at the junior women !

1 // Mille Johnset // 5:35.253
2 // Valentina Höll // 5:39.202
  • 4 2
 Never even heard of 3/4/5...
  • 7 0
 @nvranka: Sophia Paul is Danny Harts GF.
  • 1 1
 @sclarke319: we know who finishes first
  • 27 8
 I wonder if Loic is rethinking 29ers right about now... on
  • 84 8
 Danny has been beating everyone the last 5 races on 27.5. Not like him riding a 29er made the result any different
  • 24 0
 @sooner518: I agree, If some one who regularly finished 6th-10th ended up in the top 5 because they were on a 29er I'd actually care a tiny bit more than I do. As it stands a rider of Danny's calibre winning is no real suprise really
  • 12 8
 @fatduke: Yeah, but the difference to Bruni was considerable. Like it or not, everyone will be riding 29ers by the end of the season...and that's not a problem...even though i prefer 27.5.
  • 6 3
 @gbcarmona: kinda sucks though that some of the smaller brands are going to have to shell out R&D just to keep up with what the bigger brands can fire out.
  • 4 1
 @sooner518: And he has absolutely owned this course for years
  • 26 4
 @gbcarmona: Not really, Danny beat Gee by 1.8 seconds last year at the same race, and has only gotten stronger since. Based on what we've been told about teams testing 29ers, Danny should have won by at least 5-6 seconds to even remotely prove anything. I'm not against 29ers if they do prove faster, but so far I'm not convinced at all. What I am convinced of is this so called 'innovation' will only further impede the DH market - I was going to buy a new DH bike, now I'm not as I don't want anything that may soon be obsolete.
  • 16 2
 @gbcarmona: Bruni crashed and still came second, Dont just look at the timing!
  • 2 0
 @Maverickdh00: did he crash in his final run though? he crashed in seeding and had to have some stitches on an ankle injury.
  • 2 0
 @fatduke: yeah you are right...but are there any "small" brands competing?...ok Spesh, Trek and SC might be the top ones, but aren't they all pretty much levelled anyway or at least Mondraker level? Genuine question on what people think?!
@NickB01 Yeah, you might be right then and totally agree with you. The whole bike industry is properly screwing us...its like you buy anything and the next day something else comes out that is "better".
@Maverickdh00 didn't know that...if he did on his last run and still came second, thats impressive...hope he doesn't injure himself like last year so we can have a proper competitive year...still want Gwin to win tho?! haha
  • 1 2
 @gbcarmona: I'm inclined to agree. Maybe Bruni would have taken the win on bigger wheels. Fact is that both winners (men and women) were on 29 inch. Time will tell but I'm sure that by next season 27.5 will make up just a small minority of the field.
  • 1 0
 @fatduke: Gotta pay to play!
  • 2 0
 @tremeer023:

Women race has been won by a 27.5
  • 1 0
 @Nykolat: sorry my mistake, I was thinking of Tahnee
  • 1 0
 @tremeer023: And a cheap aluminium 27.5 at that... ouch on Tahnee's new wheels...
  • 3 0
 @SoccerFilson

So, BDS Fort Bill 2016

1 // Danny Hart // 04:36,826
3 // Loic Bruni // 04:40,888

vs BDS Fort Bill 2017

1 // Danny Hart // 4:31.807
2 // Loic Bruni // 4:33.487

Yes, 29ers are obviously faster and it has nothing to do with the fact that Danny is on home soil and is smashing this track most of the time. In fact Bruni is closing the gap this year.
  • 1 0
 @mentalhead: @zooey: @RedBurn: ........basically, theres a 10% difference every year in the way the track is routed. and when boiling down to seconds you can't compare different years against each other, also fort william is very exposed to the wind in the top sections and depending on whether its been soaking for ages, (slow and sloggy) dry for ages (fast but on marbles) or at the weekend just past, dry for ages then a tiny bit of rain to make things fast and grippy...perfect conditions with no wind..... a few seconds here and there doesn't mean anything when compared to other years or races.
  • 2 0
 @forkbrayker: In my case, I didn't mean to compare how riders are progressing from 2016 to 2017 because of the reasons you mentioned. I meant to show that the gap between Danny and Loic is the same and even smaller when Danny switched to 29er and Loic didn't.
  • 1 0
 @mentalhead: cool. i see now
  • 15 1
 Pinkbike, why are you putting the results in the title now? Please stop.
Stoked you guys covered this and the Australian champs. Keep it up, we want more DH coverage!
  • 15 1
 Let's begin... gonna grab some popcorn
  • 11 5
 Comment of the day
  • 26 3
 @RichardCunningham: typo of the day...
  • 11 2
 @nickkk: Reply of the day
  • 9 2
 @Thustlewhumber: Compliment of the day
  • 12 0
 @nickkk: overused joke of the day
  • 3 2
 @nickkk: Ha!
  • 7 3
 @piersgritten: buzzkill of the day
  • 10 0
 Finn's time puts him in the top10 for Pro Men, nice to see the progress before he and Bruni move to Devinci! ????????
  • 5 0
 What with this ream tumor
  • 9 0
 So... at this point should we just replace the racers names with their wheelsize to make arguing easier?
  • 9 1
 Holy crap, the split on the women's podium.....congrats to Manon! And Tahnee at a close second!
  • 4 0
 pinkbike, I still didnt see the race. But you put the names into the title of the post, which i would skip reading until tomorrow...

Idea is, since this is not football world cup, I would go for days without overhearing results ... Frown But now... spoiler...
  • 9 2
 Any News from Gee Atherton's big crash???
  • 6 0
 Dislocated hip according to trek
  • 8 0
 What happened to Gee?
  • 2 1
 Big crash in finals apparently.
  • 2 1
 Wonder if it's why Rach didn't race? Serious injury? Hope not!
  • 1 0
 Serious injury to Gee*
  • 4 0
 @sclarke319: no because Elite Women ride before Elite Men.
  • 1 0
 @fraktiv: good point!
  • 11 4
 @sclarke319: Shit no!!! Any news on what it is? I'm dying to see him pound again and shut some folks up.
  • 9 3
 He went too fast because of the waggon wheels.
  • 5 0
 if you go on 'phunkt' 's instagram there's a picture of Gee's helmet, looks pretty knackered
  • 5 0
 What happened to Rachel? Or what's up? The Atherton's?
  • 2 0
 @DigRenno: Rachel just decided not to race for some reason, no reason given as of yet.
  • 2 0
 @hairy-g: i read somewhere that someone seen her packing her car around 12 not looking happy? this would be before gee's run? or not?
  • 2 1
 @hairy-g: looking at the photo only seem's that the visor bent and the paint chipped away, it's normal on the visors
  • 3 1
 Still insinuates a crash. You can't tell me that after a weekend's riding your visor looks like that without crashing?
  • 2 0
 @hairy-g: it's obvious that you have to crash or at least hit it on a branch or something, just said that it doesn't have to be a big crash to do that
and as rachel didn't race i think they probably decided to not race for some race, i din't see his name as a dnf on the full classifications my2.raceresult.com/73434/results?lang=en#1_03DBB0
  • 2 4
 @DigRenno: to much winning...,taking a leg from Trump
  • 2 0
 @tiagomano: another Mtb site saying he was stretchered off track.
  • 3 0
 @neil-g: I read that on wide open if that's where you've read it too?
  • 2 0
 @neil-g: that's some unfortunate news then
  • 4 0
 @sclarke319: Tough to see a loved champion on the down of the hill.
  • 2 0
 Trek Twitter account says dislocated hip

twitter.com/TrekFactoryDH/status/864070440721022976
  • 1 0
 @regdunlop38: ouch!
  • 1 0
 Dislocated hip.
  • 2 0
 @neil-g: ya definitely not fun, but as far as stretcher-able injuries go, it certainly could've been much worse. Heal up gee-brah
  • 1 0
 @regdunlop38: @fasian: I actually hope that's true. Hurts like f$#k but gets put back in and can be fully functional in short order. I know of which I speak as I dislocated a hip and was stretchered off a ski race in total agony. I was back for the after-race party adding beer to my post-morphine haze and my re-located, mostly functional hip.

Healing vibes to Gee!
  • 2 0
 In the interview it sounds like Danny Hart does not rally enjoy 29" as much as a 27.5", since he proposes a limit to 27.5". I wonder if he really meant what he said about "we will ride whatever is fastest." I think he is such atalented riderthat he would win on 26" (maybe especially on 26"). I think the difference between 26 and 27.5 is not that much. You gain some roll over ability, but lose a percentage of control. With 29" you probably roll over any obstacle, but with much less control and finesse than with a 26". A lot of the downhill tracks I see in the videos are so very well prepared, that it could just as well be a bob sleigh track. I agree with some of the comments that with 29" the DH races will become more of a bike park race, rather than an insanely fast trail ride.
  • 5 0
 Nice to see Manon back on the top step
  • 3 0
 No one was getting under 4:35 racing Fort William since 2006...

Look at the times: www.rootsandrain.com/venue13/fort-william/races/filters/dh/organisers15,21
  • 3 0
 and Danny and Loic broke the record of Sam hill
  • 8 0
 It's pretty hard to compare the track to the past as the mid section has changed so much. I bet you that this world cup will be the third different woods section In 3 years
  • 2 0
 @piersgritten: and they're developing a new mid section after the dear gate for the World Cup this year
  • 5 0
 RACHEL ??
  • 1 0
 Increased media exposure for the BDS and a great opportunity for some less known riders to get noticed and gain some experience from racing against the pros. Win win win.
  • 2 1
 Where's the special ed wagon wheeler? A bit surprised by no dh bike unveil yet especially because they pumped out the e29 back in '13
  • 3 0
 So what happened to Rachel then?
  • 7 1
 She decide not to race. twitter.com/rachelatherton/status/863794477659500544
  • 3 4
 @fraktiv: she does this all the time
  • 2 0
 What happened with the Commecal team? Remi was way back and the other two were last. Tire/flat issues?
  • 2 1
 Well, last year Danny got a 4 seconds win over Loic, both on 27.5, so I guess that means 29ers are slower. Don't do a 29ers hype on that race PB, don't do it!
  • 2 1
 So what happens when everyone is on 29ers? The time difference will be the same as it was when everyone was running 27.5 inch wheels. So what's to point with 29ers again?
  • 2 1
 The point is selling new bikes, frames, forks and wheels.
  • 1 0
 The point is to experiment within the current rules in order to gain more speed and hopefully, more podium finishes. Exactly the same as 26 vs 27.5 - this is bicycle racing, not rocket science. Nothing has changed - fastest person to the finish wins.
  • 1 0
 Did the Athertons not compete? I thought I saw a picture on PinkBike of Gee testing out his 29" Session on Fort Williams just earlier this week. Hm.
  • 2 0
 Danny stayed on his bike!
  • 2 0
 Isnt 4:31 a new all time record for the fort william track ???
  • 2 0
 No spoilers in the title! You should know better..
  • 1 0
 Was a awesome day on the hillside, sun was out
  • 3 4
 Hell yez 29er! All it takes is podiums no matter your opinion. 29er is and will be the future of DH...a natural progression.
  • 2 0
 Tell that to the Commencal team, Gee Atherton, and the fact that Loic actually closed the gap to Hart by a couple seconds compared to last years BDS.
  • 1 0
 DH 29ers, really? Come on, DH is fun!
And don't tell me 27.5s and 26s are slow.
  • 1 0
 Twenty Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
  • 1 1
 And the haters gonna hate , hate , hate , hate , hate,
  • 2 2
 Did Gwinn not ride?
  • 3 1
 this was considered a "warm up race"... so no, gwinn did not make it out there. the actual race is i think next month.
  • 1 4
 @patch92: thanks man! I didn't see the warm up til now, so this did not count for the WC?
  • 1 1
 @torj: i dont think it counts toward overall WC points
  • 4 1
 @torj: this was a round of the British National series that just so happens to use the majority of the WC track that'll be used in a few weeks, that's the only reason so many WC riders were there. It's not a 'warm up' for the WC. There's no WC or even UCI points on offer at a BDS race.
  • 1 0
 @gibbon-on-an-orange: really no UCI points!? In the most competitive national DH series in the world (arguably obvs)?

That's nuts.
  • 1 0
 @alexhyland: that was certainly the case as of last year dirtmountainbike.com/news/no-uci-points-at-the-2016-british-downhill-series.html
I haven't heard anything to suggest that it's been changed for this season.
'Nuts' would be an understatement, especially given BC's excuse in the Dirt article.
  • 1 0
 @gibbon-on-an-orange: actually the reasoning does make some sense to me (at least for the men's class), it seems British downhillers are a victim of their own success. The main takeaway I'm getting is the often repeated opinion (at least round these parts...) that the UCI is a bullshit roadie club that mountain biking should have as little to do with as possible!
  • 1 0
 @alexhyland: Yes I agree on that, but, while the World level competition is governed by them, I'd like to see one of the most competitive feeder series at least earn points in order for you to access the top level.
As much as I dislike the FIA, it would be like GP2 drivers not earning points towards the Superlicence required for F1.
  • 3 0
 @gibbon-on-an-orange: It was a UCi Clase1 event.
  • 1 0
 @si-paton: Cheers for clearing that up. Does that go for every BDS round then or is it just a select few?
  • 1 3
 29er won today, get over it!
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