![\"2013E6SteveSmith.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-10589500-1377952656.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nSteve Smith of Canada set the early standard as he went fastest in the downhill official timed runs at the UCI MTB and Trials World Championships 2013 at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Photo: Darren Goddard\/Gameplan Media<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Smith\u2019s 4.03.021 run proving his blistering form of late has far from deserted him and he will almost certainly be one of a handful of riders to consider themselves serious title contenders ahead of Sunday\u2019s action.<\/p>\n Despite smith going fastest, the vast majority of the interest around the timed session was around local Pietermaritzburg boy and defending World Champion Greg Minnaar who, after a relaxed middle section, posted the third fifth time, giving him good confidence before the real showdown takes place on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to try get a feel of how the top section feels because obviously I need to be as quick as possible, particularly at the top. I took it easy for most of the rest of the way down and then gave it a bit of a spurt towards the end again,\u201d explained Minnaar.<\/p>\n \u201cIt obviously wasn\u2019t a full run but it was good race practice before tomorrow,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Defending World Champion and local PMB boy Greg Minnaar had a solid downhill official timed run at the UCI MTB and Trials World Championships 2013 at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Photo: Darren Goddard\/Gameplan Media<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Audio Interview with Greg Minnaar<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/thehubsa\/greg-minnaar-interview<\/a><\/p>\n Despite the timed run not counting towards riders\u2019 seeding, start order \u2013 or anything else for that matter \u2013 starting one\u2019s run is compulsory in order to qualify to take part in the final.<\/p>\n \u201cThe timed run definitely isn\u2019t a priority for many of the guys so you really can\u2019t read too much into things and it probably means even less here in Maritzburg than it does elsewhere because the course is so physically demanding and so most of the guys would be looking to keep themselves for tomorrow\u2019s race \u2013 when it all counts,\u201d explained the man widely regarded by many as \u2018the voice of downhill\u2019 \u2013 Rob Warner.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving said that though, it does give you a few clues and it is great to see Michael Ropelato up in second considering he\u2019s running 29 inch wheels!\u201d<\/p>\n Whilst the likes of top men\u2019s stars Aaron Gwin (USA), Samuel Hill (AUS) and Brook MacDonald (NZL) all holding their cards very close to their chests and posting the slowest, second slowest and fifth slowest times respectively, there was far less mystery in the women\u2019s session as almost all of the pre-race favourites put in respectable runs.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n