June 7, 2004 (Fort William, Scotland) – Slippery Scotland hosted the debut World Cup downhill event of the season and crowned Greg Minnaar (Team G-Cross Honda) and Anne-Caroline Chausson (Commencal-Oxbow) as the series leaders in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
Chausson also took top honors the day before in the women’s 4X event, while Guido Tschugg (Fusion Mtb Pro Racing Team) beat out the competition in the men’s 4X. The only Canadian competitor, Jordie Lunn (Specialized) was 49th.
The 2.66-kilometre downhill course was wet and included an equal mix of technical bits, pure speed sections and air opportunities.
Cedric Gracia (Siemens Mobile/Cannondale) placed second, over three seconds back from Minnaar. Australia’s Sam Hill (Intense) was close behind and battled it out for third, beating fourth place, Steve Pete (Team Orange), by a mere four-hundredths of a second.
The downhill qualifier saw 143 men duking it out for only 83 spots in the finals. All three Canadians, Dustin Adams (Giant), Mathieu Laurin (Iron Horse/Mad Catz) and Jordie Lunn (Specialized), qualified. Adams, who finished 12th, had the best North American result.
Normally, seeing Anne-Caroline Chausson (Commencal-Oxbow) in the top women’s spot is no surprise, but seeing her there at Fort William was new. Arguably the queen of downhill, Chausson had never before won on the Scottish World Cup course. That all changed yesterday when she beat out Sabrina Jonnier (Intense) by just over two seconds. Helen Gaskell (Halfords Bikehut) stopped the clock with the third-place time.
Downhill
Men
1. Greg Minnaar (Team G-Cross Honda), 4:10.24
2. Cedric Gracia (Siemens Mobile Cannondale), 4:13.60
3. Samuel Hill (Intense), 4:14.13
4. Steve Peat (Team Orange), 4:14.17
5. Mickael Pascal (Maxxis-Msc), 4:14.84
Canadians
12. Dustin Adams (Giant), 4:22.66
29. Mathieu Laurin (Iron Horse Mad Catz), 4:29.92
54. Jordie Lunn (Specialized), 4:37.04
Women
1. Anne-Caroline Chausson (Commencal-Oxbow), 4.53.20
2. Sabrina Jonnier (Intense), 4.55.32
3. Helen Gaskell (Halfords Bikehut), 4.57.86
4. Celine Gros (Team Morzine Avoriaz), 4.59.11
5. Vanessa Quin (NZL), 4.59.55
4X
Women
Final
1. Anne-Caroline Chausson (Commencal-Oxbow)
2. Tara Llanes (Giant)
3. Sabrina Jonnier (Intense)
4. Katrina Miller (Jamis)
Men
Final
1. Guido Tschugg (Fusion Mtb Pro Racing Team)
2. Samuel Hill (Intense)
3. Romain Saladini (Commencal-Oxbow)
4. Robin Baloochi (Sobe Cannondale)
Canadians
49. Jordie Lunn (Specialized)