After racing to victory at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William last weekend, South Africa’s downhill maestro Greg Minnaar said fear was his friend in the adrenalin-laden sport.
“It is an instinctual reaction to be harnessed and used to your advantage,” said the Pietermaritzburg native, who added that he never really considered his profession as dangerous.
“I’ve ridden bikes all my life and have confidence in my ability. Fear can make you focus with precision and it helps you make those all-important split-second decisions.”
Greg Minnaar, centre, said fear was his friend after winning the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup downhill event in Fort William, Scotland, over the weekend. Photo: facebook.com/Fort-William-Mountain-Bike-World-Cup
Now 35, Minnaar said his approach to racing had changed very little since he started competing.
“I know I’m not that strong when it comes to speed, but I know my execution on the final run is what really makes a difference for me.
“I’m a strong finisher and for some unknown reason I always seem able to pull it together in the final stretch,” said the triple world champion who notched up his 20th World Cup race victory – and 70th podium – in Scotland.
Despite being a strong closer, he said his focus in the start chute in the minutes leading up the start of a run was make or break.
“When I’m waiting, I visualise what I need to do and where I need to be. I’m sure this mental process is a large part of my success.”
Minnaar took his first world title at the age of 21 in 2003 in Switzerland and added two more titles in 2012 (Austria) and 2013 (South Africa).
“My win in Scotland is up there among some of my proudest achievements as I really had to work hard for it.
“I didn’t expect such a great margin of victory because the rain had started coming down by the time I raced. The conditions didn’t make it easy and I thought it would slow me down a bit.”
The Santa Cruz Syndicate rider said, while his equipment played an important role in getting him to the finish, it was by no means the deciding factor in his success.
“You can have the best bike around, but if you can’t get it to the finish line then what’s the point?”
His run at Fort William elevated him to the top of the World Cup standings – two points ahead of Columbia’s Marcelo Gutierrez – and he said he would target the overall win again to add to his three previous successes in 2001, 2005 and 2008.
“It would be great to take another title, but you never know what can happen in a season.”
Minnaar, who is regarded by many as the greatest downhill racer of all time, said he was satisfied with everything he had achieved in his career.
“When people refer to me as the best I never really know how to react. I get quite embarrassed and often shy away.”
