Fort William to Host UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2006
Between Friday 26 May and Sunday 28 May 2006 the picturesque slopes of Aonach Mor, the Nevis Range and the Leanachan Forest will once again become the host venue for 400 world class riders from more than 35 countries who will compete in three of the most gruelling, high- speed events in extreme freesports - Downhill, 4 Cross and the Olympic discipline of Cross Country.
Mike Jardine from Rare Management, Organisers of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup events at Fort said: "It's going to be tough to build on the amazing weekend in September 2005 with the dream British double win on the Sunday. But every year the Fort William World Cup has got bigger and better, so in 2006 we'll have to keep pushing forward. We've got such a good team and the spectator support is so strong that I'm sure Fort William will once again deliver."
The 2006 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William will also be the final dress rehearsal for the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships, coming to Fort William in September 2007 - the first ever Mountain Bike World Championships to be held in the UK and the most important annual international mountain bike competition.
Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson said: "Fort William is a world class location for mountain biking – a sport that is going from strength to strength in Scotland. This year's World Cup event demonstrated that we are the best hosts for the world's top competitions and it is great news that the competition will be back in Scotland in 2006, one year before we host the World Championships."
David Williams, Chief Executive of EventScotland said: "EventScotland has been a key funding partner of the World Cup Mountain Bike competition at Fort William over the past four years. The event has grown in stature and popularity and the 2005 event has attracted crowds of over 18,000 as well as worldwide media coverage, which helped to profile Scotland as a leading events destination, from the 250 journalists that covered the event.
EventScotland is delighted to continue its association with the World Cup in 2006 which will provide a further opportunity to build towards the staging of the World Championships at Lochaber in 2007 which, in turn, will contribute to the celebration of the Year of Highland Culture."
As the crowds grow bigger each year, so too does the reputation of the event. From the building of the initial downhill track back in 1994, to the opening of the first ever World Cup standard Mountain Bike 4-Cross track in 2002, to the first ever triple UCI World Cup event in 2003, to the World Cup Finals this year and the World Championships in 2007, Mountain Biking in Fort William keeps building on its success.
Sarah MacLennan, Forestry Commission Scotland, added; 'These events help promote what a fabulous facility we have at Fort William. Mountain bike enthusiasts of all abilities visit our forest trails year round and relish the chance to compare how the world's best tackle the purpose built courses they ride. Forestry Commission Scotland is delighted by the continued success of the UCI World Cup events and are looking forward to welcoming spectators and competitors back in May."
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