June 19, 2006 – The competition was tough at the third NORBA Downhill of the series, with world class riders vying for the win. Former World Champion Greg Minnaar (RSA, G-Cross/Honda) churned out the fastest time in the Pro Men’s competition, completing the 2.4-kilometre course in 3:19.99 minutes. World Cup powerhouse Sam Hill (AUS, Monster Energy/Iron Horse) of Australia couldn’t quite match the flying South African’s speed and had to settle for second place, 0.67 seconds in arrears. Finland’s Matti Lehikoinen (FIN, G-Cross/Honda) finished third.

Canada’s Andrew Mitchell (CAN, Team Cove Bikes) careened into the top 10 with a 10th-place run.

In the Pro Women’s competition, it was international superstar Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Monster Energy/Iron Horse) who was queen of the mountain, beating out Australia’s Tracey Hannah, (AUS, Edge Cycles) by nearly three seconds over the course’s 457 vertical meters. Kathy Pruitt (USA, Luna Women’s Team) rounded out the top three.

Two Canadians duked it out in the final: Micayla Gatto (CAN, Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) was 16th and Caroline Milot (CAN) finished 18th.

Downhill
Pro Women
1. Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Monster Energy-Iron Horse) 03:57.20
2. Tracey Hannah, (AUS, Edge Cycles) 2.71
3. Kathy Pruitt (USA, Luna Women’s Team) 4.30
4. Bernardita Pizarro (CHI, Bear Naked-Cannondale) 4.46
5. Melissa Buhl (USA, KHS) 14.41
6. Lisa Myklak (USA, Morewood Bikes) 20.67
7. Jackie Harmony (USA, Brodie-Cactus) 21.43
8. Amy Laird (NZL) 24.75
9. Joanna Petterson (RSA, Morewood Bikes) 26.60
10. April Lawyer (USA, Maxxis) 4:24.15 0:26.95

16. Micayla Gatto (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 35.92 18. Caroline Milot (CAN) 38.84

Pro Men
1. Greg Minnaar (RSA, G-Cross-Honda) 03:19.99
2. Sam Hill (AUS, Monster Energy-Iron Horse) .67
3. Matti Lehikoinen (FIN, G-Cross-Honda) 1.59
4. Jared Graves (AUS, Yeti-Fox) 5.84
5. Brendan Fairclough (GBR, Team Orange) 6.31
6. Andrew Neethling (RSA, Mongoose) 6.98
7. Bryn Atkinson (AUS, G.T.) 7.41
8. John Kirkcaldie (NZL, Maxxis) 7.41
9. Duncan Riffle (USA, Honda-Iron Horse) 9.42
10. Andrew Mitchell (CAN Cove/SRAM) 11.15

25. Charles-Alexander Dube (CAN, Giant Canada) 22.70
53. Jonathan Pilon (CAN, Sentiers Plain Air) 42.58
DNF Connor MaCleod (CAN, Cove Bikes)
DNF Luke Kitzanuk (CAN, Giant Canada)