Pietermaritzberg World Champs 2013

The World Champs is the big one. One 4 minute chance that every racer has to prove him/herself the fastest in the World. Add on top of this the national pride that is at stake and it makes for one very important race run. The bragging rights and prestige that the rainbow stripes bring you for the rest of your career puts you in the league of legendary cyclists across all disciplines. Manufacturers also go all out to win, expect to see prototype gear across the field and, of course, custom colour schemes!

Last year's World Champs were at Leogang in Austria. They came on the back of a season dominated by the unflappable Aaron Gwin, but it seems the American may suffer from the same curse as Steve Peat as he failed for the second year in a row to carry his form onto the biggest stage in Downhill Racing.

First he was scuppered the conditions in Champery

Then a prototype brake failure in Leogang

Didn't stop him having fun though!

Steve Peat was also in contention until he had a crash on a pro line most riders chose to avoid.

Gwin and Peaty's losses were Minnaar's gain however, as the South African stormed to victory ahead of the rest of the field.

Lightening fast in Leogang

The moment of victory!

This year, it seems that the UCI are not quite as anti-enduro as first thought, as the World Champs are heading to South Africa, more specifically Pietermaritzberg. Pietermaritzberg has been on the World Cup circuit since 2009 and has always been criticized for long pedalling sections and a lack of technicality. It does have some interesting features though including:

MASSIVE table tops

blink and you'll miss it rock gardens

and a super fast finish section which meanders from one side of a valley to another before ending in the showstopper final hip:

The Contenders

Greg Minaar: The current World Champion will be looking to dominate on his home patch this weekend. He will be hoping the extra support can push him on to the top step he has been so close to all year.

Gee Atherton: There's not much to say about Gee that's not already been said this year. His blistering and relentless consistency mean it is foolish to count him out of any race.

Stevie Smith: Stevie seems to be coming into form the more ridiculous his moustache gets. He has picked up his second World Cup win and dominated Crankworx in the past couple of weeks and this is the current state of his facial faux pas, be afraid world... very afraid.

Jared Graves: He may seem like a wild card but his enduro experience will stand him well. He will be among the fittest guys in the field and photos of him using single crown forks in practice shows that he intends to capitalise on this.

Peaty: He won his only World Champs on a Canberra track that was also criticised for being too pedally. Could this be the final jewel in the crown of a sterling career?

Podium Predictions:

1: Greg Minaar
2: Gee Atherton
3:Jared Graves
4: Stevie Smith
5: Mick Hannah

Women

 ... it'll be Rachel