![\"ccs-41808-0-39770500-1397152300.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-41808-0-39770500-1397152300.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nMyriam Nicole<\/span><\/p>\n Nick Floros\u2019 revamped cross country course has been the talk of the event thus far amongst the vast majority of the discipline\u2019s riders with numerous backing the reworked track wholeheartedly<\/p>\n \u201cWow, am totally blown away with the new (MTB World Cup) track! Such a great job guys. Can’t wait to race!\u201d enthused South African competitor Renay Goustra.<\/p>\n \u201cImpressed with the changes made to the (MTB World Cup) course here in Pietermaritzburg. Rocks, roots and jumps, a great modern day track!\u201d added Cannondale Factory Racing\u2019s under-23 star, Anton Cooper.<\/p>\n Greg Minnaar<\/span><\/p>\n After the completion of Thursday\u2019s official course walk, the competitors weren\u2019t the only ones singing the new creation\u2019s praises.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat (Cross Country) course for the first World Cup; hard as hell, super-fun, & technically challenging at race speed,\u201d tweeted Simon Burney, UCI cross country technical delegate. \u201cOne of the best ever!\u201d<\/p>\n There was, however, some unfortunate news for the local MTB community as the host nation\u2019s top elite men\u2019s cross country hope, SCOTT Factory Racing\u2019s Phillip Buys who finished fifth with SCOTT-Odlo MTB Racing\u2019s Nino Schurter at the recent ABSA Cape Epic, was forced to withdraw from the 2014 World Cup series opener.<\/p>\n Julie Bresset<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOn our way to (MTB World Cup). Won’t be racing. Been fighting a cold the last few days, (but still) going for the vibe! (Everyone should) be in PMB this weekend!!\u201d tweeted Buys late on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n On the downhill front, the first indicator of competitors\u2019 form \u2013 albeit one that few would read much into \u2013 came from the timed training session and, using the opportunity to put his troublesome knee to the test, it was hometown hero and current World Champion Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) who posted the fastest time of the session.<\/p>\n Minnaar\u2019s second run of 4:10.899 proved to be nearly four seconds quicker than his nearest rival, Troy Brosnan (Specialized Racing DH) and Samuel Blenkinsop (Lapierre Gravity Republic).<\/p>\n Nino Schurter<\/span><\/p>\n The downhill course, while more subtle than its cross country counterpart, has also undergone tweaks and changes and the sport\u2019s \u2018man with the golden voice\u2019, international commentator Rob Warner, is excited by the alterations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe changes are small but significant! The new rock sections are really good and will also rule out anyone competing on a trail bike,\u201d chuckled the larger than life character.<\/p>\n Warner also shared his views on who will be in the mix at the 2014 PMB men\u2019s downhill clash come Saturday 12 April.<\/p>\n \u201cA couple of guys are injured, Steve (Smith) for one isn\u2019t here but I think Mick (Hannah) will definitely be one to watch. Gee (Atherton) too but you also can\u2019t ever write off a guy like Aaron (Gwin) and some people are saying that Greg (Minnaar) is actually pretty fit even after his knee injury last year, so it would be great if he was also a factor!\u201d<\/p>\n Tanja Zakelj<\/span><\/p>\n The women’s timed training saw Lapierre Gravity Republic’s Emmeline Ragot go fastest however it was GT Factory Racing’s Rachel Atherton’s absence which grabbed the attention of most.<\/p>\n Atherton, in South Africa but nowhere to be seen at Cascades, has been tucked up in bed for much of the past two days, leaving most wondering whether she will in fact take to the course at all this weekend, let alone put in enough runs ahead of Friday afternoon’s qualifying to be allowed to compete.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n