First World Cup win for an American man since Shawn Palmer in ‘99
PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
First year Bell Rider Aaron Gwin made his debut count becoming the first American to win a World Cup downhill in more than a decade, taking the opening round of the 2011 series in South Africa on Easter Sunday. Though his rapid rise to the top of the podium may have startled some, one guy likely not surprised is his trainer and fellow Bell guy—mountain bike legend John Tomac. Known for his rare combination of top-caliber BMX skills and a world class cross country motor, Tomac was one to watch on “pedaly” downhill tracks. If Gwin’s split times on the track’s pedal-heavy mid-section are any indication, Tomac has imparted the importance of such to his new protégé. Gwinny was also dialed on the track’s many tabletop, double and step-down jumps, keeping it low-and-fast where many competitors were going a little too big. While many chose to kick-out wide on the course’s penultimate step-down, Gwin kept it tight to the inside, eeking out a few tenths of a second that would prove critical.
When he hit the finish line, Gwin’s time was an astonishing seven seconds faster than then-leader Steve Peat’s, but a few riders later, a hard-charging Greg Minaar would come within three-tenths of a second, leaving the defending champ and home-country favorite in silver medal position. Great Britan’s Gee Atherton was third on the day at a deficit of nearly two seconds.
Another
Bell Rider—top-qualifier
Mick Hannah—was expected to challenge for the win, but crashed hard on the top section of the track, snapping his stem bolts and bruising his leg. Though a bit hobbled, Hannah is expected to be 100 percent for round two at Fort William, Scotland in early June.
Other
Bell finishers included New Zealand’s
Justin Leov 11 seconds back in 28th place and
Céline Gros who finished sixth on the women’s side, some four seconds behind winner Tracy Moseley.
If you’d like to see Aaron’s winning run, you can watch a replay from your home computer on Freecaster TV at this link:
UCI DH World Cup Elite men Pietermaritzburg on freecaster.tv
Aaron’s run starts at 106:39 in the webcast.
