PEATY RULES LISBON DOWNTOWN, SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW!!...
“I smoked Nathan by 2.642983853 seconds on a one minute track! And I dedicate this win to Rob and Lepa. The boys did good cuz they had the three b’s leading up to this race (beach, beer, bikes…)”.
What can we say other than Steve Peat rules the downhill in Lisbon as he wins the downtown event for the 6th year in a row, obliterating the nearest competitor by 2.624 seconds, and that is teammate, Nathan Rennie. If you could say this was a great romp for the Santa Cruz Syndicate, you would be correct. It was brilliant that Santa Cruz Bicycles owner, Rob Roskopp was on site to witness the brilliant moves of his team into first and second place at this amazing downtown race!
The lead up into this event following the World Cup race in Vigo, Spain, just last weekend was one of relaxation and training. After Vigo, many of the top racers went to the sleepy town of Lousa, Portugal, to relax and train before heading south to Lisbon for the annual Lisbon Downtown Race. Riding tourist bikes to the riverside watering hole, Nathan Rennie and the Syndicate staff enjoyed the day relaxing with the Honda Team. The next day was spent shuttling downhill runs on the awesome local track, with many of the local mountain bike fans in awe of their heroes coming to honor their home track. On to Lisbon, where Friday was spent having a leisurely day at the beachside town of Cascais, Portugal.
It all happens on Saturday at the Lisbon Downtown with practice, qualifier, and race all on the day. With the ladies watching out their windows peeping through their laundry, and dogs running amuck, Steve Peat posted the fastest qualifying run at 1:42.29. Greg Minnaar was second at 1:43.23, and Nathan Rennie had a solid run coming in third with a 1:43.90. Peat said he really didn’t think it felt like a great run, and Rennie said he over braked in a lot of places and both concur that you learn something each and every run on this course.
The final was a huge buildup as the qualifiers were run in reverse order and the Syndicate riders were stacked at the top. Filip Polc was in the hot-throne until Rennie flew down with a 1:42.282, unseating Polc. Minnaar was next up and had a crash on the course, then the crowd waited for the last rider, Steve Peat. The crowd roared as the amazing tactician maneuvered his way through the cobbles to blast into first place, yet again, besting Rennie’s time by 2.624 seconds. Santa Cruz Syndicate is stoked to rule Lisbon with a first and second place finish at this prestigious downtown race!!
The master, Steve Peat says, “I smoked Nathan by 2.642983853 seconds on a one minute track! And I dedicate this win to Rob and Lepa. The boys did good cuz they had the three b’s leading up to this race (beach, beer, bikes…)”.
Rennie says, “ I’m quite happy with my run, although I crashed 3 times….hold on….no…that’s only the number of seconds Steve beat me by! I’m 3000 euros happier and it makes up for last week in Vigo!”
The boys head off to Ae Forest in Scotland next week for the NPS British National, then Wheels of Speed in Germany.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Santa Cruz Bicycles
SRAM
Rock Shox
Truvativ
Avid
Kenda
DT Swiss
WTB
Crankbrothers
Lizard Skins
Clif Bar
Troy Lee Designs
Chris King
Five Ten
Final top five:
1: Steve Peat: 1:39.658 SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE
2: Nathan Rennie: 1:42. 282 SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE
3: Filip Polc: 1:42.444
4: Samuel Hill: 1:42.543
5: Matti Lehikoinen 1:42.563