Breaking news: Steve Peat is new downhill world champion

25 comments
By James Costley-White | Sunday, Sep 6, 2009 12.40pm

Britain's Steve Peat has finally achieved his career-long dream and been crowned world downhill champion.

His win at today's UCI Mountain Bike World Championship downhill event in Canberra, Australia means he will get to wear the coveted rainbow stripes for the first time.

The World Champs is the only win that has eluded Peaty in a racing career that has seen him at the top of the sport for more than a decade - he already holds the record for the most World Cup wins.

He beat Santa Cruz Syndicate team-mate Greg Minnaar by just 0.05 seconds with a time of 2:30.33 on the pedally course in Canberra.

Third place went to Australia's Mick Hannah (GT), while France's Fabien Barel (Mondraker) and Australia's Sam Hill (Specialized) rounded off the podium.

Britain's Gee Atherton (Animal Commencal), last year's world champion, will have been disappointed with a sixth place finish, almost four seconds off the pace.

In the women's race it was France's Emmeline Ragot (Suspension Center) who took top honours, with Britain's Tracey Moseley (Trek World Racing) 2.5 seconds behind. Last year's winner Rachel Atherton (Animal Commencal) hasn't raced this year due to injury.

The podium was completed by American rider Kathleen Pruitt, Britain's Fionn Griffiths (Norco) and France's Floriane Pugin (Iron Horse Kenda Playbiker).

Pre-race favourite, and 2009 World Cup winner (she's so far ahead that she can't be beaten with one round to go) Sabrina Jonnier of France (Rocky Mountain) came 25th after crashing.

Full story to follow. For full results see our sister site, Cyclingnews.com.

You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar and on Facebook at facebook.com/BikeRadar.

You might also like...

User Comments

There are 25 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 25 of 25 comments

Post a Comment:

You need to login or register to post comments.