THE TEN YEAR WAR
On the 26th August 16 years ago, Greg Minnaar beat a man who, to that point, had five World Cup series titles, five senior World Championship gold medals and sixteen World Cup race wins. Within a year that man, Nico Vouilloz, had added two more World Championship golds before suddenly departing from the sport. Minnaar simply went on and tackled the challenges of Peat, Hill and Atherton as they came at him.
On the 26th August this year Greg Minnaar goes head to head with Aaron Gwin in what will be one of the most enthralling battles in the history of the sport. That the south African is even in the game is testimony to his mindset, physicality and technical ability. Some have said his 29” wheel bike has made the difference but the real facts are that Greg has simply maintained his high level podium trajectory.
True, Minnaar now has an even more effortless nature to his style, a virtuoso who is inch perfect on track with a composure that appears rarely shaken and a focus that carves up mountainsides. This is the grand master serving up race runs that glide through the woods as elegantly as Roger Federer does on a tennis court. This is a fine tuned, well oiled race machine.
