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Greg Wins In Canberra, Leads Series

31.8.2008

Santa Cruz Syndicate's Greg Minnaar and Nathan Rennie top the podium in Canberra, Australia to the cheers of thousands of enthusiastic Aussie fans and Minnaar regains his lead in the UCI World Cup Downhill Series.

It was an action packed day for the Syndicate as Minnaar, Peat and Rennie swept the semi-finals in number 1,2,3 positionsSanta Cruz Syndicate’s Greg Minnaar and Nathan Rennie top the podium in Canberra, Australia to the cheers of thousands of enthusiastic Aussie fans and Minnaar regains his lead in the UCI World Cup Downhill Series.

It was an action packed day for the Syndicate as Minnaar, Peat and Rennie swept the semi-finals in number 1,2,3 positions, and the final was nearly the same but for a gust of wind blew Peat as he jumped into the finish stretch causing him to loose his speed and he placed 7th on this blustery, stormy day.

During practice Greg had this to say:
"There's not much of a hill, but they did a good job of building a downhill on what they've got. There are flat bits down at the bottom so there is no way to avoid them, but to hit it straight through will be hard on the legs. It's hard in practice. There's a lot of pedaling and the air is really dry and dusty so it's hard on the lungs. I think tomorrow it's going to be important to hammer the top and hammer the bottom. It's going to be hard and tiring, but it's going to have to be done by just pedalling as fast as you can at the bottom."

SEMI FINAL:

After raining all night the riders took to the track for practice and thought the rain had improved the track. With the sun breaking through the clouds the weather forecast said the rain would end at 10:00 am, but just the opposite happened at 11:20, 10 minutes before the men's semi-final the rain started drenching the track and the riders. It made the last pedaling section miserable as the guys slogged to the finish line. It was a Syndicate sweep of the top three positions with Minnaar taking top honors and maximum qualifier points for his efforts. Peaty came second with a 2:47.96 just .32 behind Minnaar's 2:27.64, and rounding out the top three was Rennie with a 2:49.48.

Greg says his run didn't start off very well and he found himself off near the tape in some soft mucky sections, but once he got back on line he got back up to speed. He said it killed his legs a bit. He carried on to the finish and lost his speed at the bottom jump, then looked at the finish line and tried to get there as quick as he could pedalling in a massive gear.

Minnaar was Magic today on this track winning both the semi-final and finals and taking over the series lead which was the goal coming into this event. Minnaar says of his win.

"I knew I made a lot of mistakes in the semi so I knew I could improve my time. What I tried to do is just save my legs for the bottom and I had a clear line to the bottom and I just got hard on the legs and went as hard as I could for the win, clean and simple!”

Semi Final Results:

1) Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) 2:47.64
2) Steve Peat 2:47.96
3) Nathan Rennie 2:49.48
4) Fabien Barel 2:49.85
5) Filip Polc 2:50.28
6) Gee Atherton 2:50.83
7) Sam Blenkinsop (Yeti/Fox) 2:51.17
8) Sam Hill 2:52.18
9) Dan Atherton 2:53.15
10) Bryn Atkinson 2:53.69

Downhill Final Results:

1) Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) 2:41.34
2) Nathan Rennie 2:46.02
3) Gee Atherton 2:47.00
4) Fabien Barel 2:47.64
5) Chris Kovarik 2:48.38
6) Andrew Neethling 2:48.67
7) Steve Peat 2:48.78
8) Jared Rando 2:49.19
9) Bryn Atkinson 2:49.39
10) Sam Blenkinsop (Yeti/Fox) 2:50.01

Text: Santa Cruz Syndicate

Video: http://freecaster.tv/1000006_1005474