![\"Tahnee](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-23367800-1528087946.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Women\u2019s winner Tahn\u00e9e Seagrave from the UK at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William. Nathan Hughes\/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/span><\/p>\nIn the elite women\u2019s race, Tahn\u00e9e Seagrave, who was still chasing her maiden Fort Bill win, cut a despondent figure after Saturday\u2019s qualifying session. The prodigious speed which had won her three races in 2017 just wasn\u2019t there and in front of the British fans, it seemed a bitter pill to have to swallow.<\/p>\n
Frenchwoman Marine Cabirou was sat in a sweltering hot seat under blue skies when Seagrave rolled out of the start hut to set about her time. At each split, her advantage increased and by the bottom the lead was hers with only the overall leader Myriam Nicole and Rachel Atherton left at the top. Nicole was bitten hard by the Scottish track but survived intact enough to roll to the bottom and would be rewarded for her efforts with a second place finish.<\/p>\n
All eyes were on Atherton but within a couple of pedal strokes, it was all over. The crowd at the bottom groaned in anguish as the queen of downhill\u2019s chain flew from the rear of the bike. She wasn\u2019t done however and kept up her attack, tucking, pumping and hopping her Trek down the hill and into what would be a third-place finish. The old adage that you win titles on your bad days may yet prove itself to be true yet again.<\/p>\n Seagrave, on the other hand, was elated with her win in front of friends and family and can finally tick Fort William off the list of tracks she\u2019s yet to conquer.<\/p>\n In the men\u2019s race, qualifying had been a tale of two Americans. The points leader and victor of round one in Croatia, Aaron Gwin, had suffered a rear flat and as a result remained a potentially unknown factor. But it was the Santa Cruz Syndicate\u2019s Luca Shaw who made the ancient slopes his own by going fastest. Gwin\u2019s great rival and Shaw\u2019s teammate, Greg Minnaar, was out with a fractured arm. His quest for an eighth victory in Fort William would have to wait.<\/p>\n Once racing got underway it was Scotland\u2019s Reece Wilson who had the grandstand on its feet. One by one the world\u2019s best failed to topple his time and he\u2019d hold on for a credible fourth place finish.<\/p>\n Gwin was up at the splits and looking as though he was building into one of his now trademark domination jobs. But there was a sting awaiting in the form of the newly rock-infested woods section. The champ was shot over the bars and on to the deck.<\/p>\n Frenchman Amaury Pierron, riding the same Commencal bike as piloted by Wilson, had no such bad luck however and stormed home to take a well-celebrated and extremely popular debut win.<\/p>\n<\/a>Women\u2019s winner Tahn\u00e9e Seagrave checks on fellow British rider Rachel Atherton who crashed on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup course in Fort William. Nathan Hughes\/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Winner Amaury Pierron from France at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William. Nathan Hughes\/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Scotland’s Reece Wilson scored the result of his career with a fourth place at Fort William. Nathan Hughes\/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/span><\/p>\n