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<\/a><\/p>\nSpecilized Racing DH rider Aaron Gwin was the fastest man down the Cascades MTB Park’s downhill track on Friday during qualifying and was happy with his run but feels he can get better for the final on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n The American national champion has a successful history at this venue and is in the right space heading into the final with the two Santa Cruz riders breathing down his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels good to be top but that run didn\u2019t feel good,\u201d Gwin mentioned. \u201cThere is always a burn but it was a smooth run with a couple of bobbles that I know I can clean up so I\u2019m just trying to keep the train rolling here.\u201d<\/p>\n Having just come out of a long winter in the northern hemisphere Gwin is having to budget his time and energy in the opening event of the 2014 World Cup and giving himself a chance in the final on Saturday is the most important element on such a physically demanding course.<\/p>\n Evil Vengeance Tour team rider Pajuelo Antonio Ferreiro tests out one of the dusty berms on the Cascades MTB Park’s downhill course during the men’s qualifying runs on Friday<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling good and the bike is awesome this week so I am very happy.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that it\u2019s all about trying to save your legs for this one and throw it down when it counts. We have been putting in the work and so if I can put in the run that I know I can I think I will be really happy,\u201d the 26 year old explained.<\/p>\n Defending men\u2019s downhill World Champion Greg Minnaar came through the timed runs on Thursday as the fastest but was outgunned by the American and his teammate Bryceland but the South African is feeling strong and is happy with how he went.<\/p>\n \u201cMy plan was to come here and be as competitive as possible and that\u2019s the way I came into it and it\u2019s been a good start to the season but Saturday is going to be a different race but so far I am pretty happy with how it has started.\u201d<\/p>\n An under the weather Rachel Atherton still impressed as she managed to fight her way to second in qualifying on a hot and dry day at the Cascades MTB Park<\/span><\/p>\n Minnaar, who is on the mend from a serious knee surgery, is still in the mix on his home track with the third fastest time and with the hometown support it is never a safe bet to write Minnaar off even without a full offseason.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just racing, I\u2019m not really worrying about the injury. I have taken all the precautions that I can and now I\u2019m just struggling with time on the bike, I haven\u2019t had as much time on the bike as everyone else and up top I am a bit slow but I have got fitness and determination so that will get me down!<\/p>\n \u201cYou say you not going to put pressure on yourself coming into the event but you want to race and win so you have to forget about everything and just focus on that race,\u201d a focused but tired Minnaar added after qualifying.<\/p>\n Hutchinson UR hero Mick Hannah ended well off the pace after he suffered a mechanical at the top of the course and had to settle for a more relaxed run down the course as he automatically qualifies for the final due to his UCI ranking.<\/p>\n Madison Saracen Factory Team rider Manon Carpenter was the fastest women down the hill as she powered her way to the fastest qualifying time in the women’s downhill<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn the top section I must have clipped a rock or something and had no rear brake going into one of the scarier little turns so I just hung on to it and got myself to a stop and then just cruised down slow and tried to stay out of the way of people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a mechanical so there weren\u2019t any mind games or anything and I have been doing my own times so I know how quick I am so it\u2019s a good thing that nobody knows the times we can do!\u201d he mentioned light-heartedly.<\/p>\n Another Pietermaritzburg resident excelled in the men’s qualifying with Tiaan Odendaal of Green Team coming in as the second fastest South African and 34th overall ahead of the final on Saturday.<\/p>\n Santa Cruz Syndicate youngster Josh Bryceland produced a stellar run during the men’s downhill qualifying to come in second behind Aaron Gwin<\/span><\/p>\n Women\u2019s Downhill World Champion Rachel Atherton of the GT Factory Racing team was on a drip 24 hours prior to her getting onto the track for the women\u2019s qualifying and still managed to come in second place behind fellow Brit and Madison Saracen Factory Racing rider Manon Carpenter with Emmeline Ragot claiming the third spot.<\/p>\n \u201cWe flew into South Africa a week today, giving ourselves enough time to recover, and I guess I just picked something up on the plane,\u201d Atherton said. \u201cI just got steadily sicker as the days went on and over the last couple of days I have been really feverish and pretty sick so the doctor put me on penicillin and antibiotics trying to get me right for tomorrow\u2019s race.<\/p>\n Having missed the practice session yesterday the question of whether the World Champion was going to be able to compete in the first World Cup and now that she has been able to finish a run she is just trying to keep herself in the points and doesn\u2019t expect too much from the event.<\/p>\n South African downhill mountain biking hero and Santa Cruz Syndicate star Greg Minnaar showed little sign of the knee surgery he had in the off-season as he qualified in third place for the men’s downhill<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI feel a lot better than I did but one days practicing isn\u2019t great for the World Cup but as long as I can get out there and try and ride down it is going to be a saving points race for me because I\u2019m not feeling good for a win.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the start of the season and to have this in the first race is pretty devastating but it is going to be a pretty good challenge!\u201d she added determinedly.<\/p>\n The pace-setter, Carpenter, had to battle the heat and a tricky course in her run but managed to get down unscathed and claim the rite to the final rider out of the gate in the final on Saturday.<\/p>\n Lapierre Gravity Republic rider Emmeline Ragot provided a solid showing of herself to end in third place in qualifying behind the two British girls as she rests up before the big final on Saturday<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI had a tough start at the top and worked hard across the middle even though I didn\u2019t want to kill myself too much because of tomorrow but it was alright \u2013 pretty dusty though!<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to know about your time until you look at the splits because you don\u2019t know who has put the effort in in the middle but I\u2019m very happy with my run and I can get it back tomorrow, hopefully,\u201d a tired but satisfied Carpenter mentioned.<\/p>\n The junior men\u2019s downhill qualifiers was marred by the withdrawal of the second ranked and MS Mondraker Team rider Innes Graham during the practice session on Thursday but otherwise the junior qualifying went according to the script with the top riders qualifying for Saturday\u2019s final as Luca Shaw from SRAM\/TLD Racing ended in the fastest time of 4:19.081 and was five seconds faster than Lapierre Gravity Republic team.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n