July 3, 2005 – The world’s top DH/4X mountain bikers headed south this week – way south. The World Cup DH/4X in Balneario Camboriu, Brazil marks the series’ first ever stop in South America.

Greg Minnaar (RSA, G-Cross-Honda) and Tracy Moseley (GBR, Kona-Les Gets) won the men’s and women’s downhill races, respectively and Roger Rinderknecht (SUI, Commencal-Oxbow) and Jill Kintner (USA, Yeti) were victorious in the four-cross events. Their achievements made them the first World Cup downhill and four-cross champions crowned on the continent.

Fifty-five men qualified for the finals, with Minnaar clocking the fastest run down the slopes of Park Unipraias’ Mount Aguada in a time of 2:25.21. Brazil’s Markolf Berchtold (BRA, Maxxis-MSC) used his home turf advantage to secure himself a podium spot with a second-place run. Mikael Pascal (FRA, Maxxis-MSC) cruised into third. Minnaar is running away with the series with 1,055 points. Nathan Rennie (AUS, Santa Cruz Syndicate) is in second with 657 points.

Moseley came out on top in the women’s downhill, plowing down the course in 2:48.56. Rachel Atherton (GBR, Animal Giant) was hot on her heels, flying into second place. France’s Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Intense) finished third. Jonnier leads the series by 30 points over Moseley.

Riders had a great view of the Atlantic Ocean as they battled it out on
the 250-metre four-cross course. Rinderknecht won the men’s event,
followed Cedric Gracia (FRA, Siemens Mobile-Cannondale) in third place. Gee Atherton (GBR, Animal Giant) pulled into third place. Despite a 13th-place finish, Michal Prokop (CZE) still leads the series.

Jill Kintner (USA, Yeti) ripped down the four-cross track fastest, ahead
of series leader Anneke Beerten (NED, Specialized). Austria’s Anita
Molcik (AUT, ARBO RSP) was third.

Results

Men’s DH

1. Greg Minnaar (RSA) Team G-Cross Honda 2.25.21
2. Markolf Berchtold (Bra) Maxxis-Msc 2.26.96
3. Mickael Pascal (Fra) Maxxis-Msc 2.27.11
4. Fabien Barel (Fra) Kona Les Gets 2.27.15
5. Cédric Gracia (Fra) Siemens Cannondale Mtb Racing Team 2.28.54
6. Gee Atherton (GBr) 2.29.02
7. David Vazquez Lopez (Spa) Maxxis-Msc 2.29.07
8. Nathan Rennie (Aus) 2.29.68
9. Andrew Neethling (RSA) 2.30.39
10. Antionio Leiva (Chi) 2.30.59

Women’s DH

1. Tracy Moseley (GBr) Kona Les Gets 2.48.56
2. Rachel Atherton (GBr) 2.50.29
3. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) 2.52.80
4. Scarlett Hagen (NZl) 2.53.23
5. Marielle Saner (Swi) Maxxis-Msc 2.53.33
6. Vanessa Quin (NZl) 2.56.20
7. Céline Gros (Fra) Team Morzine Avoriaz 2.56.51
8. Helen Gaskell (GBr) 2.57.53
9. Anneke Beerten (Ned) Specialized Factory Racing 3.00.30
10. Anita Molcik (Aut) Arbö Rsp Downhill Racing Team 3.01.87

Men’s 4X

1. Roger Rinderknecht (Swi) Commencal Oxbow
2. Cédric Gracia (Fra) Siemens Cannondale Mtb Racing Team
3. Gee Atherton (GBr)
4. Nathan Rennie (Aus)
5. Brian Lopes (USA)
6. Robin Baloochi (USA)
7. Robson Almeida (Bra)
8. Dan Atherton (GBr)
9. Lukas Tamme (Cze)
10. Kyle Strait (USA) Specialized Factory Racing

Women’s 4X

1. Jill Kintner (USA)
2. Anneke Beerten (Ned) Specialized Factory Racing
3. Anita Molcik (Aut) Arbö Rsp Downhill Racing Team
4. Julia Lasso (Ecu)