Video: The Elite Men's DH World Champ Explains His Winning Run

Aug 30, 2021 at 1:34
by Pinkbike Originals  

Spoilers ahead! The 2021 DH World Champs in Val di Sole was one for the books and Ben Cathro caught up with the men's winner to discuss exactly what he did to take the win.

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80 Comments
  • 217 0
 The last time I was so pumped about a race outcome was when Peaty got his rainbow stripes. Greg is an absolute inspiration to anyone that loves bikes and we're lucky to have him in our sport.
  • 17 0
 I had a similar thought, which was that the last time I was this stoked was when greg won worlds in south africa!
  • 14 0
 I was there in person and actually had tears in my eyes. Congratulations and Thanks, Greg!
  • 7 0
 Same here. Really reminded me of Peaty’s.
  • 2 0
 Bloody amazing
  • 1 0
 I want a "Won't Back Down: The Greg Minnaar Story"
  • 207 1
 Lovely to see Ratboy enjoying his new career as an undercover mechanic
  • 12 1
 GOD SAVE THE RAT
  • 12 0
 Hilarious....I thought the same thing.
  • 1 0
 @pablopicasso1: *GOAT
  • 2 0
 @FreshKirk: Haha me too
  • 68 0
 Fckn poetic at the end Ben. Thanks for the video
  • 3 0
 Yes, Greg the mythical unicorn! Well said and quite appropriate.
  • 1 0
 Yup good little vid, thanks
  • 59 1
 Great to see Pinkbike's attention to not name winners on the front page, helping all those who haven't navigated the geoblocking Wink
  • 2 0
 Very good this
  • 1 0
 Double post
  • 1 0
 i was really happy to see this as well! Thanks Pinkbike for no spoilers in the title!
  • 35 1
 I'm so happy for Minnaar, too! He will stay for a while I hope! Man, I started gravity biking at 44 and I'm 56 now and love it! Probably I'd need a 3 min stop after each 1 min of run at Val di Sole lol , but... send it!
  • 33 0
 Please, get us a full interview. Hell, make it a 2 hr documentary.
  • 31 0
 Being an ‘old man’ myself and not one for gushing on the interweb i have to make an exception:

Minaar is a true inspiration! Long may he continue to be the GOAT.
  • 24 2
 Is Greg's mechanic Josh Bryceland?
  • 3 2
 i think its his brother? could be wrong though
  • 3 5
 @harvUK: Lyle Hyslop: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uibz0PvDoEc

Josh Bryceland was a Santa Cruz mechanic for a time, but Lyle is not related to him. Just a weird coincidence that they have similar sounding accents (to me, as a non-brit at least)
  • 8 0
 Can you imagine trying to understand the two of them having a conversation?
  • 3 0
 @swenzowski: When was Bryceland a mechanic for SC??
  • 3 0
 @mammal: shit that's my bad, just gave it a google and apparently I lied. Don't know where I got that from
  • 8 0
 @swenzowski: you had to google ratboy?
  • 3 0
 @swenzowski: Dafuq?
  • 3 1
 @GZMS: yeah could have sworn he wrenched for Santa Cruz for a short period of time, but I guess I was mistaken. My bad, as they say
  • 2 0
 @swenzowski: He rode for them from 2008 (because he was Steve Peats little grom project) until 2014, then he left DH racing. Maybe that's why his name rang a bell?
  • 1 0
 @mammal: oh for sure, yeah awesome pro rider to watch, and his worn out rear tires when he raced enduro were hilarious too. One of a kind
  • 1 0
 @vandall: and drunk
  • 12 0
 Looks weird to see Greg looking up XD Thanks for all the work Ben Cathro. Amazing weekend, unbelievable what Greg has just done.
  • 13 1
 I make tons of mistakes going downhill as well. Why am I not winning? Great to see Greg win!!
  • 5 0
 I know right, want to see lines that no one else is doing? Just put a helmet cam on me and I’ll make that chicken run look beast
  • 3 0
 Exactly my thoughts. Wrong lines, too old and too many beers at the finish line. Obviously that should do it.
  • 13 0
 Ben should be proud that he's the only rider Greg looks up to.
  • 3 0
 Is this a height joke? Razz

But seriously, how tall is Cathro? I met Minnaar once and felt like he was a pretty tall dude, Cathro must be a giant.
  • 1 0
 @judge-shredd: yeah same here.
  • 2 0
 @judge-shredd: 6'7"
  • 5 0
 @judge-shredd: 7'6"
  • 16 0
 @judge-shredd: 6m 7cm.
  • 8 0
 As he pinged out of the last rock section you can see him buckle forward on impact and almost losing it, which explains why he was scared about the big jump seconds away Also, the commentary of Rob and Eliot when they see the rerun and realize how ridiculously fast and wild Minnaar is, is fantastic. Memorable indeed!
  • 9 0
 That isn't a big glass his mechanic is holding, he is just one of santas little small bike elves
  • 7 0
 I was so amped by the WC build up I got my enduro bike out and went to my local trails for two sessions this weekend. Came back covered in mud spatter and watched Greg win. What a weekend.
  • 9 0
 Greg's mechanic drinking Duvel beer, excellent choice.
  • 4 0
 They got inspired by the GT team.
  • 8 0
 considering that he won his first medal on an Orange 222, the fact that he has evolved with the bikes is incredible.
  • 2 0
 Yea didn’t he ride that crazy Honda thing for year’s
  • 1 0
 @Thunderbiker: yes, but that was from 2004-2007. He was on Orange and then Global Racing (which was racing Orange bikes) from 2000-2003.
  • 9 1
 We've come a long way since #cathrovision. Go Ben!
  • 1 0
 I think it was a missed chance to revenge the connect four game he lost against Greg.
  • 4 0
 At 36, and having just had another accident (smashed my big toe to smithereens at Ft William) I was contemplating whether it may be time to sell the big rig and stick to trail & enduro bikes........then I watched the World Champs yesterday!

Greg, you sir are a legend, you were before yesterday but now, well now your not only the GOAT but you give the rest of us old lads hope.
  • 9 0
 Old lads? What is it with the age thing? 36 isn’t old. I’m 49 and still ride like I’m 36.
  • 6 0
 @harrybel: yeah Buddy. Feeling "old" at 36 is clearly not a good sign. Cheers!!!
  • 1 0
 @danstonQ: Cheers
  • 10 3
 NEWS FLASH- Reports coming in that Aaron Gwin has retired.
  • 9 0
 A couple of years ago it seemed like everyone took it for granted that Gwin would overtake Minaar as the GOAT. Not so!
  • 7 0
 is this for real or is this some kind of joke?
  • 3 1
 Aaron Who?
  • 1 0
 @CaMKii: so true. Now what?
  • 2 0
 It would be greatly appreciated if we could get links to a Race replay for our sadly Geo blocked nations. All I could find was a crappy 10 minute SBS commentated highlight package that brushes over most of the good stuff.
  • 1 0
 Read pinkbike's annual internet safety briefing and watch it on redbull...
  • 5 0
 G.O.A.T.
  • 2 0
 "his" run? thx for the spoiler! now i know the winner of the men's DH was a male, and i DVR'ed the race.
  • 2 0
 Great vid Cathro big up the goat
  • 2 1
 Is Lyle Hyslop like Josh Brycelands frist cousin or something, brother with a different name?
  • 2 0
 Ben Cathro has a very nice way with words. Well done.
  • 1 0
 Always been my favorite rider since the G-Cross Days! always will be! Long Live the GOAT!
  • 2 1
 LUV IT...Minnar is a UNICORNSmile
  • 1 0
 I remember not so long ago when folks on here were saying it was just a matter of time before Gwin overtook him and became the goat.
I think those folks underestimate what an incredible and unique achievement it is to consistently maintain such a high level for so long.
(Goat)Unicorn for sure!
  • 1 0
 Good to see ratboy is still on the team -he's a good mechanic!
  • 2 0
 All hail the G.O.A.T. !
  • 1 0
 Good stuff Ben, on point as always. Thanks
  • 1 0
 Triple towers in this video
  • 2 0
 BOW DOWN TO THE GOAT
  • 1 0
 this only leaves me with more questions than answers…
  • 1 0
 That's great but can we get a video of Nino explaining his winning run?
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