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MINNAAR NO LONGER A BRIDESMAID, HE WINS MT. STE ANNE WORLD CUP DOWNHILL

June 26, 2008
Mt. Ste. Anne, Quebec

Santa Cruz Syndicate had a great romp at the UCI World Cup downhill at Mt. Ste. Anne, Quebec today with Greg Minnaar taking the win in the men’s race and becoming the new overall leader. Josh Bryceland took over the overall lead in the junior men and placed 15th overall in elite, and the Syndicate keeps the lead in the overall team classification. Steve Peat has been on every world cup podium this year and stood in 4th position today and Nathan Rennie had a solid run to finish 7th.

The week was short leading up to the race with just two days of practice before Saturday’s race but we managed to squeeze in the time to attend what is sure to be the first of many Freecaster Grand Prix Kart races on Thursday night. Steve “Old School” Peat qualified in the pole position with Greg “White Trash” Minnaar in 5th, and Rennie “The Beast” in 9th. Old School lead the first quarter of the race until he spun himself out, numerous times, and the Beast did the same. White Trash quickly took over the lead and held it for the 20-lap race in the wet for the win. It seems the kart win just got him started on a win streak and he carried it over to the downhill.

After winning the Freecaster Grand Prix Minnaar still had some Talladega Nights on his mind and says, “ ‘Here’s the deal, I’m the best there is, plain and simple. Just remember, if you’re not first you’re last.’” He took this to heart and stood true to his words in the downhill and said of his win, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner! It’s the first time I’ve won here. I’ve come second to Steve a ton of times, and Kovarik and Sam, and I finally got ahead of them. Winning at Mt. Ste. Anne feels great!” Syndicate mechanic “Ricky Bobby” says, “ I think winning the kart race helped. He was definitely shakin’ and bakin’ today. Steve was up there right with him on the podium. Hats off to Greg, he was awesome today.”

Kirt Voreis joined his mates this week to lend race support and film them racing. The boys didn’t let him down and we all enjoyed the reunion with Kirt since we hadn’t seen him since Sea Otter. He enjoyed the local pump track and hanging out with the local kids.

Practice went well for the boys at this classic race venue and proper downhill track. Peat describes the week, “Usually we get a wet day or two at Mt. Ste. Anne but it’s been wet here for the last month I think so the track is a lot different to what we’ve ever raced on. There are a lot of big ruts in the track. It’s quite difficult and it makes it a bit more physical so it’s quite good. Rennie says, “ The track’s very muddy up there. That’s basically self-explanatory. The lines keep changing, but never the less it’s a lot of fun. I’m having a blast as long as my arms can hang on. I just did a full run there and I was pretty buggered to be honest. The track is just awesome.”

Bryceland said, “ There’s a few flat sections which you don’t really notice in practice because you’re just rolling by, but when I did a full run now I thought this is going to be hard. There is so much variation with flat out turns in the open, which are so much fun, and the woods are tight and technical, its an awesome track. I’m having so much fun out there. My pants fell down in my practice run though because there’s so much mud clagged on them. I had to stop and pull them up. They had four runs full of mud stuck to them.

SEMI FINALS:

“When I was up at the top there were clouds coming in and I thought, hmmmm, it could rain at some point so I went a bit steady at the top and got into it and started going really well then I got tired so I backed off a little bit. I just put all my lines together so it felt good.” said Bryceland of his 21st place qualifier. My semi final was pretty cruisey. I’m not really fighting for points in the qualifier so I just wanted to save my arms for the final and it worked pretty well. I’m in the top ten with a 7th place, and my arms feel pretty fresh and I have plenty more in the tank, so I’m right where I want to be,” said Rennie.

Peaty came 5th in the semi and says, “ It went pretty good. I felt tired at the bottom woods, I just felt like I was hitting every hole rather than staying on top of them and riding them smooth. So I’ll just try and stay a little bit smoother in the final and I should have some time in the bag.”

First place qualifier Minnaar said, “ The semi final was hard because the course is faster as it’s drying up. You need to push it hard because of points so I was glad that I managed to put a run together. I did make a couple of mistakes which I know I need to improve and I can improve. I think I was just a bit tense, nervous I think, and hopefully I’ll be more relaxed for the final and smooth things up and be quicker.”

RACE RUNS:

Bryceland’s run started off well, “I was going good through the open turns at the top, I was just carrying my speed. I was going through the woods and got a bit excited and went left on a right-hander into the tape and lost a bit of time then, but I didn’t let it phase me. I was so tired and just hung on and did a big whip for the crowd at the bottom. I got 15th so I’m happy with that and now I’m the junior leader.” Peat said, “We’ve just raced and I got 4th. I made a mistake on track. Gee and Sam only just beat me. I’m pretty pissed off about that, but Greg won so it makes it a little bit better. Wicked for the Syndicate as we won the team overall which we should’ve been doing at ever race all year. Rennie stepped it up.”

Rennie was happy with his result, “I wasn’t expecting a huge result. I’ve been pretty tired on the track all week. I tried to concentrate on not getting arm pump. As it turns out I had a decent run, but two mistakes at the top put me back a little bit, but it’s Mt. Ste. Anne and it’s hard, and for the longest, hardest track it’s not too bad of a finish.”

Up next the Syndicate travels a few hours to the next world cup in Bromont, with high hopes to hang onto all the leader jerseys that we bagged today.

DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS:

1) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:30.57
2) Sam Hill 4:32.30
3) Gee Atherton 4:32.83
4) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:33.53
5) Fabien Barel 4:37.25
6) Sam Blenkinsop 4:38.34
7) NATHAN RENNIE (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:40.12
Julien Camellini 4:41.74
9) Justin Leov 4:42.35
10) Aaron Gwin 4:42.64
15) JOSH BRYCELAND (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE 4:48.10

Semi Final Results:

1) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:39.07
2) Sam Hill 4:39.51
3) Gee Atherton 4:40.10
4) Chris Kovarik 4:40.55
5) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:41.69
6) Fabien Barel 4:45.76
7) NATHAN RENNIE (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:47.22
Julien Camellini 4:47.25
9) Justin Leov 4:47.54
10) Brendan Fairclough 4:47.59

Thanks to the Syndicate Sponsors

Santa Cruz Bicycles
SRAM
RockShox
Truvativ
Avid
Maxxis
DT Swiss
WTB
Crankbrothers
Lizard Skins
Clif Bar
Troy Lee Designs
Chris King
Five Ten

source: Kathy Sessler

‘Val Di Sole, Italy
June 21, 2008

Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Josh Bryceland brings home the gold at the UCI World Championship Junior Downhill race today at Val Di Sole. Steve Peat is the bridesmaid once again placing second in the elite men’s downhill to Gee Atherton’s first place run. Gee was the man to beat all week and this race was his to lose, and he pulled through with a run as stellar as his practice had been all week. Sam Hill was on a winning time, over 6 seconds faster at the second split time and gaining speed on the last section when he slid out and crashed in the second to last corner throwing away the win. His time was still good enough for a bronze medal. Greg Minnaar followed them all in for a fourth place finish.

Josh was happy to win saying, “I just had a smooth run and held it together and it came together perfectly. It was mint, I’m so happy.” Josh’s dad and mechanic, Iain Bryceland embraced Josh at the finish and says, “He was in a Slovenian hospital six weeks ago being told he needed surgery and that his season might be over. Up at the top of the hill Josh was just cool as a cucumber and he said to me, ‘Don’t worry dad, I’m in the zone.’”

An emotional Rob Roskopp said, “I’m happy for Josh that he got the monkey off his back from last year. To win with that big of a gap is total domination and he is deserving of it.” Rennie comments, “It was great to see Josh win. We all had faith in him and he did it in great style and it makes up for last year. I’m really happy for him.” Peat chimes in, “It’s about time!” Josh’s time of 3.23.55 would have placed him 10th in elite men.

In the elite men’s race Peaty had a good run but made a mistake. His feet blew off and it took awhile to get them back in. He was satisfied with his run and as he sat in the hot seat he was hoping for a little luck and had some when Sam wadded it up. But his luck ran out when Gee came across the line. He was happy for Gee but disappointed with his result. He has been the silver medalist four times in his career. He says, “I’m stoked Gee won but I wish it had been the other way around.” Bryceland comments, “I’m gutted for Steve. I wanted it so bad for him and after Sam fell I thought he had it. It’s not over, he’s got a few years left and there’s a chance for the old dog yet.”

Greg Minnaar was not pleased with his run. Over coming his injury from the week’s practice he started smooth and fast. He says, “I wouldn’t say I’m happy. I knew it would be a tough race and I did just what I didn’t want to do and that was losing rhythm. I battled to get back in to a rhythm and I knew I had lost time so I went faster to make time up but it was the wrong thing to do. I’ll be back next year and I’ll focus on the world cup’s now.”

Rennie did not have a good run. It started off fine and he felt good, but right after the first split he hit a tree, carried on and got arm pump, had a hard time holding on and just didn’t hit his lines and he finished 21st.

Practice recap:

Practice on Friday and Saturday was a mixed bag for the boys. Minnaar wadded it up in a gnarly section and strained his neck badly, and race morning
Brycleand bent his ISCG mount. The mechanics noticed this as Josh was napping before the final and they made the decision to swap everything off of his race
bike and build up his number two bike and they didn’t tell Josh as not to distract him from his race. Josh had a hunch, but didn’t ask, as he really didn’t want to know. After some therapy, Minnaar’s race morning practice went well and he hit all his lines. On a practice run through a rocky section Rennie was overheard calmly talking to his bike saying “come on little machine, you can do this.”

Roskopp said this about the track, “It’s a course no one will have a perfect run on. It’s a boxing match, that’s what that course is. The person who is fit and makes the least mistakes will win. They were doubling things up, like super cross and the consequences are so big in those sections. Josh found a few new lines on Friday and was pretty happy about it. It’s his race to lose.”

Some fun was had the night before the race with Bryceland and Rennie getting new race hair cuts. Rob Roskopp shaved off Rennie’s V-drive Mohawk to the
skin, leaving the just the sides and Iain Bryceland calls it the Ren-Hawk. Bryceland shaved the middle of his V-drive out and we call it the Miami Slice. Looks like the Miami Slice paid off.

DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS:

1 Gee Atherton 3:12.12
2 Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:14.74
3 Sam Hill 3:15.27
4 Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:17.34
5 Fabien Barel 3:17.92
6 Justin Leov 3:17.96
7 Mickael Pascal 3:20.12
8 Julien Camellini 3:21.31
9 Fabien Pedemanaud 3:21.46
10 Ivan Olego Moreno 3:26.86

21 Nathan Rennie (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:31.73

Junior Downhill Results:

1 Josh Bryceland (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:23.55
2 Sam Dale 3;31.06
3 Remi Thirion 3:32.13
4 Aari Barrett 3:32/47
5 Brook Macdonald 3:32.77
6 Danny Hart 3:33/71
7 Yannick Colomb 3:35.23
8 Shaun Connor (Santa Cruz/SRAM) 3:36.24
9 Rhys Willemse 3:37.40
10 Boris Tetzlaff 3:39.58

source: Kathy Sessler

June 19, 2008
Val Di Sole, Italy

The downhill seeding race for the UCI World Championship Downhill took place today in Val Di Sole, Italy under blue skies, which is typical of this region, but it didn’t seem that way early in the week with light rain showers wetting the track. Racers played it easy and some played tactics in the seeding run as all riders are qualified and no points are given for the seeding run, so not much was on the line. Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Greg Minnaar placed second in the elite men’s category and said, “I battled to find a rhythm, but it’s still early now and we have training tomorrow and Saturday. I should be able to find my rhythm then and give it some stick in the final,” said Minnaar.

Josh Bryceland’s injured knee didn’t give him any trouble and he placed second in his seeding run in the junior category. Steve “Old Spice” Peat celebrated his birthday this week and is still giving the field a run for their money. He ran it smart in the seeding run cruising in for a 7th place finish with everything working well and according to plan.

Nathan Rennie, sporting a new Troy Lee Designs race kit for practice, looked like his former self as he was charging sections and riding confidently, although admittedly not every run was perfect and getting loose and hitting tress was part of the game for most. His seeding run went to plan as he coasted down. He said, ” I’m in a reasonable position going into the final. I walked the track after the seeding run and I have some work to do. Everything is sweet.”

Practice has gone well all week for the lads, yet this track is brutal exacting it’s toll on the equipment. The test event here in May had the mechanics prepared for bike carnage saying this track was the hardest on equipment of all the tracks. Syndicate wrench, Doug Hatfield explains, “We keep smashing stuff, it’s one thing or another, but we have back up parts now. It’s a tough track, there’s no other track quite like it. It’s steep with big rocks with lots of bottoming out going on.” The mechanics have their work cut out for them as they toil into the late evening each night, and with hopes of great performances this weekend it keeps them going.

Cross fingers, and we’ll see what Saturday brings!

SEEDING RUN RESULTS:

1 Gee Atherton 3:24.81
2 Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:28.52
3 Justin Leov 3:29.95
4 Sam Hill 3:32.32
5 Sam Blenkinsop 3:35.72
6 Mikael Pascal 3:36.85
7 Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM) 3:38.59
8 Brendan Fairclough 3:38.75
9 Chris Kovarik 3:40.54
10 Julien Camellini 3:42.83

13 Nathan Rennie (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM)
3:43.70

JUNIOR SEEDING RUN RESULTS:

1 Remi Thirion 3:43.69
2 Josh Bryceland (Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM)3:44.18
3 Brook Macdonald 3:48.58
4 Aari Barrett 3:49.03
5 Shaun O’Connor (Santa Cruz/SRAM) 3:52.66

source: Kathy Sessler

PEATY 2ND, HILL DOMINATES TEST EVENT

Val Di Sole, Italy
May 4, 2008

The organizers did a brilliant job putting together this test event in the heart of the Val Di Sole region in Northern Italy, and the pleasant weather this weekend helped make the event a great success. The test event was a great way to prepare for World Championships for both the racers and the organizers. The Syndicate boys were pleased with the downhill track and feel it is worthy of a championship race. “The course is great with fast parts ripping through the trees, and it has a lot of rocks and sniper roots all over, and quite a few steep parts. They’ve done a nice job putting the course together and the sections link up with a nice flow,” said Rennie.

The semi-final run was held to determine start order, with everyone qualifying. There were some surprises from practice to semi-finals as riders tested the track at a racing pace. “I just wanted to ride smooth and tried to get on the lines I had seen in practice. I got half of them, and missed half of them. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to stay on the lines, or on the track, even,” commented Minnaar. Peat just rode steady hitting his lines but said, “I felt like I was riding like a girl in some sections.”
Rennie said, “My run was a shocker, I mucked up the top rocks then another section so I just cruised down for an earlier start.” Josh Bryceland’s run was not “mint”, as he didn’t hit many of his lines, but he was pleased and surprised with a good finish time. Sam Blenkinsop posted the fast time of 3:29.82, while Peat just beat Minnaar to set the three top positions with 3:30.01 for Peat and 3:30.88 for Minnaar.

The finals saw Bryceland having a fantastic result with a time of 3:29.37, which held up for a 6th place overall finish. Fabien Barel then set the mark to beat with a time of 3:26.92 to take the hotseat. Just ten minutes later Hill was smashing it up with the crowd cheering him as he neared the end with an obviously smoking fast run. His finish time of 3:19.42 had people gasping! Peat gave it a go and was the next fastest finisher at 3:24.60 to take second place. Barel’s time held for 3rd, with Florent Payet in 4th with a 3:27.77, and Justin Leov rounding out the top five with a 3:28.67

Minnaar suffered a mechanical that left him in 8th position, and Rennie had a crash that put him off the pace, he finished 59th. They were both happy at least that these things happened in a test race, and not at a race that counted for more. Minnaar said the course was a lot faster in the final than the qualifier as the clouds moved in and eliminated shadows making it easier to see the track conditions. On his run, Peat delighted the group of team mechanics as he set out of the start by pumping his fist in the air saluting them. Syndicate mechanic, Doug Hatfield said, “You had to see it, you could never replace that moment, what a great salute Steve gave to us. We were pumped!”

The Syndicate will stay on in Italy for a few days testing new Black Box products with SRAM before heading to the first UCI World Cup next week in Maribor.

TOP TEN MEN DOWNHILL FINALS:

1) SAM HILL (MONSTER IRON HORSE) 3:19.42
2) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:24.60
3) FABIEN BAREL (SUBARU) 3:26.92
4) FLORENT PAYET (SUBARU) 3:27.77
5) JUSTIN LEOV (YETI) 3:28.67
6) JOSH BRYCELAND (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:29.37
7) SAM BLENKINSOP (YETI) 3:29.40
8 ) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:29.58
9) FABIEN PEDEMANAUD (TEAM PYRENEES/ MOREWOOD) 3:30.04
10) PASQUAL CANALS FLIX (MASSI) 3:30.85

DOWNHILL SEEDING RUN RESULTS:

1) SAM BLENKINSOP (YETI) 3:29.82
2) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:30.01
3) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3.30.88
4) SAM HILL (MONSTER IRON HORSE) 3:31.00
5) FLORENT PAYET (SUBARU) 3:31.23
6) JUSTIN LEOV (YETI) 3:33.15
7) DAMIEN SPAGNOLO (SUBARU) 3:33.53
8 ) MICKAIL PASCAL (MSC BIKES) 3:34.25
9) JOSH BRYCELAND (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:34.49
10) JULIEN CAMELLINI (CHAIN REACTION CYCLES) 3:34.66
14) NATHAN RENNIE (SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES) 3:38.47

THANKS TO THE SYNDICATE SPONSORS:

Santa Cruz Bicycles
SRAM
RockShox
Truvativ
Avid
Maxxis
DT Swiss
WTB
Crankbrothers
Lizard Skins
Clif Bar
Troy Lee Designs
Chris King
Five Ten

source: Kathy, Santa Cruz Bikes

####

World Championships Test Event - Downhill Finals

11th Chris KOVARIK Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense
12th Julien CAMELLINI Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense
30th Matt SIMMONDS Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense
42nd Ruaridh CUNNINGHAM Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense

Sam hill showed everyone why he is the current World Champion and the man to beat come the real race on the 21st June. The course looked super rough for the riders and the bikes. Riders had to be really strong to hold onto the bike and also really fit to be able to go at 100% all the way down the very steep and challenging course.

Chris over came a few bike set up problems for the final and had a descent run to place 11th but also post a good time with a lot more left come the real race. He said he had a descent run and was finally happy with the bike set up. Chris hasn’t rode anything steep with roots since the final World Cup last year, so this was a very valuable test event for him and the team.

Julien had a mechanical early on in his race run and made him pretty nervous all the way down but still managed a great time, so he has a lot more to offer also come June. Juliens hard training over the winter is definitely going to pay off for him and he is very happy with his bike.

Matt had a decent run but struggled a bit with his lines. We got here late because we had to wait for a shipment of parts the riders missed course walking inspection and while the other guys walked the track on Saturday evening, Matt was racing 4X.

Ruaridh was looking great on the course, but unfortunately caught his pedal on a root whilst hopping up onto a high line and flipped over the bars and landed on his back. He jumped back on quickly but then plowed straight into a tree head first. Even with all this Ruaridh still managed a 3.42 only 12 seconds off the top 10! So this is amazing form for him so early on after his winter knee injury.

All the guys now know what they need to work on for the start of the World Cup series in Maribour next weekend. This has been a great weekend of testing and getting the bikes set up properly. We head off to Maribour tomorrow for a bit of training and recovering before Thursdays practice.

Thanks to all our sponsors.

source: Nigel Page - Team Manager - ChainReactionCycles/Intense