Greg Minnaar says he will be happy if he is on the podium, and after Champery and his current position in the world cup overall he wants to take every race as it comes. Could he take this one? Today he is cruising, still picking his lines and taking it easy, and is also nursing an old injury on his shoulder, having to have it strapped up before practice starts. He recently popped it out walking the course in Champery, he slipped and went down, dislocating his shoulder in the process.

Riders who look fast to me today are: Sam Hill. The new forest section with its berms are fast and suit his style, same too with the fast open corners on the upper and middle sections. Sam is a cornerer and Mont Sainte Anne has plenty of them in all shapes and sizes. Steve Peat is smooth and in control, two wheels on the ground in most places and his pedalling ability on the lower sections will pay off come race day. Steve knows how to do well on this track.

Marc Beaumont was pinned on his second run yesterday, pinned all day today. Proof that small riders can do well on this track, third here in ‘05 he could be up there again this year. Brendan Fairclough, similar style to Steve Peat, corners are his forte. He says pedalling is not, but race day will decide that. He says he has been out on the cross-country bike doing some training! Matti Lehikoinen is loose as hell every time I saw him. Seems to be spraying his way down the hill. Mickael Pascal medalled here back in ’98, he too knows how to ride this course and he was flat out everywhere I saw him today. And Rennie, a big rider typically suited to this type of track. Seems relaxed and was sucking down a few Stellas after practice with Peaty. There are plenty of others…

It’s a tough one to call. I think riders who can stay relaxed and fresh for race day will be the ones gracing the podium.

Hey just to help you out, here’s list of things said on this trip:

Pinner’s, generally are those riders who you might label as people who would seemingly be unable to do anything else other than pin a track.

Pedallers have a history of doing well on this track and with only one of the previous winners on this track winning on flat pedals, the statistics favour the pedaller. Although some of the changes to this year may indicate a change in the way the track is riding.

Someone who spray cans their way down the track, i.e. a sketchy motherf–ker. Some of the spray will hit the target, the rest misses completely (Ivan Oulego Moreno is a perfect example). In most cases none of the spray will hit the target ending up in a big mess of spray on the side of the track. Calculated sprayers will do well on his track. The words of Ben Reid.

Really there is no place for sprinklers in the world of downhill. The only time a sprinkler will do well is if the pedallers, pinners and sprayers all over–cook their speciality. If you combine a sprinkler with a sprayer, you might be on for something good.

The words of been Ben Reid every time we leave the petrol station a few miles outside the town as he presses the ‘traction control ‘OFF’ button. You must remember that its not every day you get to drive a 3.5lt rear wheel drive Dodge Charger. Dry tarmac…sideways!

Did you mention the bit about the rims?

Mont Sainte Anne is hard on wheels. Lets just say if you had a certain rim you bent the shit out of it, but did not puncture. If you had the other kind of rim, you kept is reasonably straight, but had more of a chance of a puncture.>>>