Scotland goes MTB crazy

2007 World Championships will draw thousands of mountain bikers to spectacular Scottish mountain setting

Scotland is already highly-rated as a mountain-bike destination but its profile is about to go stratospheric as the venue for the 2007 World Championships.

The International Mountain Biking Association has repeatedly rated Scotland as the best mountain-biking destination on the planet. The staging of the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in Fort William from 3 to 9 September 2007 underlines the country’s outstanding status.

The small town of Fort William sits at the foot of 4406ft Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, which has long been a magnet for ice-climbing afficionados from around the world. The mountain biking action is concentrated on the slopes of the adjacent 4006ft Aonach Mor. ‘Fort Bill’ is already a tried and tested MTB venue, having hosted rounds of the World Cup Competition for the last five years. Its courses are highly regarded but improvements are promised for the championships. When not in use for competition all are open for the public to ride.

Most spectacular must be the Downhill, served by the Aonach Mor Gondola, which plummets over 1700 feet in 1.6 miles. Competing riders will certainly not be able to take their eyes from the rocky trail but spectators can enjoy spectacular views over the sea-lochs and mountains to the islands of the Hebrides.

The cross-country course is based on the Witch’s Trail in Leanachan Forest and includes some fast, flowing sections and some that are highly technical; it's guaranteed to produce a worthy winner.

The 4-Cross course hosted the first ever 4X World Cup event in 2002; its bottom section coincides with the finish of the downhill course. The Trials events take place over a variety of terrain, some of it within the streets of Fort William itself.

It promises to be a fantastic event for spectators but the word is that anyone wanting accommodation in the vicinity should be booking now. And if you are coming, bring your bike, or hire one when you get here, as there are lots more fantastic trails both here and elsewhere in Scotland. Maybe I'll see you there.

The official World’s website is currently still under construction but should go live soon, and you can register for email updates.