MTB

Brosnan Takes Silver at Fort William

One of the biggest races of the downhill season didn't disappoint. The usual largest and rowdy crowd came out once again to battle the weather at Fort William which marks the second stop on the UCI World Cup Downhill season. With TLD athletes in the Elite Men's, Junior Women's and Junior Men's categories there were plenty of riders to root for.

Mitch Ropelato & Vali Höll hanging in the gondola

Friday

Friday marked track walk and the first day the riders were able to ride the course. The conditions were traditional, wet and windy but that didn't hold our guys back from having some fun on their bikes!

Raw clips from practice at Fort William
Mitch surfin'
Jack Moir looking good in his custom white TLD Ultra Adidas kit
Vali Höll on the warm up bike

Saturday

Saturday was weeding day. Serious time began, and qualifying times were set for the race order. Vali Höll was the fastest qualifier in the Junior Women's category by nearly 16 seconds and Troy Brosnan clocked the third fastest time in Elite Mens.

Troy Brosnan, full send in his D3 Helmet
Luca Shaw pedaling for 15th in qualifying
Vali Höll in her custom TLD Sprint world champ kit
Sram/TLD Racing looking official at in the pits

Sunday

Nothing left to do Sunday but race! The wet and windy conditions continued on Sunday to make the tough Fort William track even more difficult. Troy Brosnan was one of the last riders down the hill, but it was worth the wait. Brosnan steamed down the hill, taking lines no one else did all day to land on the podium with some second place silver! Vali Höll followed suit to take second in Junior Women's after a quick tip over in the mud and Vali's Sram/TLD Racing teammate Lucas Cruz grabbed fifth in the Junior Men's final to get on the podium. Factory Canyon's Troy Brosnan now leads the series overall through two rounds by 20 points!

Yes!
Vali Höll flying!
Lucas Cruz take 5th in Junior Men's
Luca Shaw fighting the elements on his Santa Cruz Syndicate rig