Dirt

South African Greg Minnaar first won the Downhill World Championship in 2003, but had to wait another nine years before he repeated the feat in Leogang-Saalfelden, pipping Brit Gee Atherton by a mere 0.5 seconds. The wait for his next victory at the event was not so long – he defended his title in 2013 in Pietermaritzburg, and, in doing so, became only the third rider to win a men’s downhill World Championship title on home soil.

Greg has also experienced great success in the World Cup over his long career, being crowned overall champion in 2001, 2005 and 2008, finishing second in four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012, and third in 2006 and 2013. In total, he has appeared on a World Cup podium over 50 times, capturing 16 downhill wins as well as one 4X victory.

Greg first started cycling on a BMX at the age of four, but his real love growing up was motocross. It was only his parents’ purchase of a bike shop in Pietermaritzburg that turned him on to mountain bikes, and he made his World Cup debut in 1999.

Now in the 16th year of his pro career, and riding for the Santa Cruz Syndicate team, Greg continues to show strength, determination and consistency in races around the world. As well as his impressive performances in the World Cup, he was also crowned downhill champion of the NORBA points series in 2003 and 2004.