The UCI MTB Downhill World Championships return to Fort William for the first time since 2007, however there has been a UCI World Cup event held here every year since. Fort William is a firm favourite with the riders, with the long and challenging course, extreme weather conditions on the exposed hillside and huge crowds of passionate fans scattered down the track and in the finish arena.
At the 2022 World Cup, Nina Hoffman took Germany’s first ever victory in Fort William – topping a podium stacked with talent. Camille Balanche and Myriam Nicole are consistently on the podium at World Cup races, and 2022 World Champion Valentina Holl will be looking to repeat the feat in 2023 at Fort William.
In 2022, it was French dominance in the Men’s DH with Loic Bruni, Amaury Pierron and Loris Vergier locking out the World Championships podium on home soil in Les Gets. With the unpredictability of changing track conditions in Fort William and an almost 5-minute course riders will be tested to their limits and anything can happen. Home hopes will rest on the shoulders of 2020 World Champion Reece Wilson from the Scottish borders.
The Junior races are where British talent will be on show. In Les Gets 2022, young talent Jordan Williams took the World Championship title and the rainbow jersey, while in the girls there is now a steady stream of British riders featuring on the podium of World Cup races.
