Australian Mick Hannah burns a first mark in the South African dust. Rider after rider fails to match his time. Some ride faster split times than the Australian, but lag behind in the second half of the route. Then local hero and reigning world champion Greg Minnaar takes to the track. The third-placed rider in qualifying is ahead in the intermediate time, but he edges Hannah's time in the final meters. British rider Josh Bryceland is also unable to attack Mick Hannah's time due to a chain defect. American Aaron Gwin is the fastest qualifier on the track. He is ahead in both the first and second split times and finishes two seconds ahead of Mick Hannah. With his victory, the two-time overall World Cup winner ends his dry spell of the past year. Steve Smith (CAN), last year's overall World Cup winner, is not yet at the start due to injury.

Beer with a crash
Nick Beer gets off to a good start in the World Cup. Fourth place in qualifying and eighth place in qualifying give hope for a successful race. After all, the man from the Bernese Oberland achieved sixth place at the World Championships on the same track. Beer gets off to an explosive start. On the approach to the third bend, however, he briefly loses control and goes down. Despite the fall, Beer tried to minimize the damage, rode on the attack and finished the race in 30th place. "I wanted to risk a lot and attack. I then crashed in the second stone field because I suddenly had no more grip on the front wheel. I lost a lot of time there. I therefore missed my goal of riding onto the podium. It's a shame, I'm very disappointed," says Beer.

The second Swiss downhill specialist Noel Niederberger did not qualify. A crash in training cost the otherwise fast Swiss racer his chance. The reason is a knee injury which, according to team boss Claudio Caluori, is not serious. Niederberger should therefore be back at the start at the next World Cup stop in two weeks' time.www.uci.ch

Rankings World Cup 2014, Pietermaritzburg RSA, Downhill Men:
1. Aaron Gwin (USA)	0.03.59	+00.00
2nd Mick Hannah (AUS)	0.04.01	+00.02
3rd Greg Minnaar (RSA)	0.04.02	+00.03
4. Loic Bruni (FRA)	0.04.02	+00.03
5th Troy Brosnan (AUS)	0.04.02	+00.03
6th Sam Blenkinsop (NZL)	0.04.03	+00.04
7th Sam Dale (GBR)	0.04.05	+00.06
8th Neko Mulally (USA)	0.04.05	+00.06
9th Sam Hill (AUS)	0.04.06	+00.07
10th Gee Atherton (GBR)	0.04.06	+00.07
29th Nick Beer (SUI)	0.04.12	+00.13