On the weekend of June 8, the Downhill World Cup will enter its third round in Fort William. After an injury, overall World Cup winner Steve Smith returns to the racing action. Alongside World Cup leader Aaron Gwin, the group of favorites is large.

Fort William is one of the oldest and undoubtedly the most popular venues for the Downhill World Cup. The 2.8-kilometer course on the Nevis Range challenges the athletes both physically and mentally. However, it is the atmosphere that makes this World Cup so special. During the main races on Sunday, the air burns with the crazy Scottish fans as the fastest riders plunge down the mountain in around four and a half minutes. Gee Atherton was the fastest last year and the Brit is also one of the top favorites this weekend. The American Aaron Gwin, who leads the World Cup standings after two races, and World Champion Greg Minnaar (RSA) are also among them. In addition to the big riders, there are a good handful of Brits who definitely have a chance of making the podium or finishing in the top ten.

The return of Canadian Steve Smith will be watched with interest. Last year, Smith won the overall World Cup in impressive style ahead of Gee Atherton. This year, however, the Canadian had to miss the first two races after injuring his ankle during training. From a Swiss perspective, hopes are pinned on Smith's team colleague Nick Beer. So far, the Swiss champion has been poorly rewarded despite his top form. After a crash in the first World Cup race and a too-safe ride in the second, Beer sits in 18th place overall. Nevertheless, this is complaining on a high level, as the Bernese still has a good starting position for a good overall result in the overall World Cup.

Noel Niederberger has fond memories of the race in the Scottish Highlands. Niederberger won the junior World Cup race there a year ago. He started his first elite season with high hopes, but things turned out differently. "At the South African World Cup, I crashed in a rock field during training and tore my posterior cruciate ligament," Niederberger looks back and lowers his expectations: "I've been able to ride a road bike again for three weeks, but I've only been riding a mountain bike again for a week. My goal is therefore to secure a place in the top 60 and gain speed so that I can attack again a week later in Leogang."

England versus France and an endurist in the juniors
In the women's event, world champion Rachel Atherton is the heavy favorite to win. Together with Manon Carpenter, who is six years younger, she is the British downhill powerhouse, as both athletes are tied for first and second place in the overall World Cup rankings. Lurking behind them are the two Frenchwomen Myriam Nicole and Emmeline Ragot.

Emilie Siegenthaler wants to respond to her two disappointing World Cups. After a road trip with the Gstaad-Scott team, she will start the race stronger and with a new downhill bike. "I feel really good and am looking forward to riding on the difficult track. I want to finally confirm my good basic speed, which I've had since the start of the season, with a good result," explains the multiple Swiss champion. Carina Cappellari is another Swiss rider at the start of the Downhill World Cup in Fort William.

The big favorite in the junior category is Frenchman Loris Vergier, who leads the overall standings. Alongside him, American Luca Shaw is also among the contenders for victory. However, the main focus is on a downhill novice. Martin Maes from Belgium is a completely unknown quantity. In enduro racing, however, the young Belgian is already challenging the world's best riders. He regularly ranks among the top 10 in the Enduro World Series, where he has already ridden several best times in individual stages and left downhill greats such as Fabien Barel and Jared Graves behind him. The management of the "GT Factory Racing" team - where Maes is under contract - is convinced that Maes can also ride to the top in downhill and is therefore putting him on the big-stroke bike for the first time. Even though the junior race will not be shown on Red Bull TV, it is still worth following the live timing.

The Swiss junior riders are not yet able to keep up with the front runners. Of the three national riders, Mike Schär has the best chances. With a good day, the Zurich native could secure a place in the top 10. The chances of Joel Andrey and Roger Keller are difficult to assess. Andrey will certainly have to regain confidence after his elbow injury at the end of last season. Keller is still completely inexperienced on the international stage.www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk
www.redbull.com/bike

Excerpt start list UCI Downhill World Cup Fort William
Men
1.	Aaron Gwin (USA)	SPECIALIZED RACING DH
2.	Gee Atherton (GBR)	GT FACTORY RACING
3.	Sam Blenkinsop (NZL)	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC
4.	Neko Mulally (USA)	TREK WORLD RACING
5.	Josh Bryceland (GBR)	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE
6.	Loic Bruni (FRA)	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC
7.	Michael Hannah (AUS)	HUTCHINSON UR
8.	Troy Brosnan (AUS)	SPECIALIZED RACING DH
9.	Sam Dale (GBR)	MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM
10.	Sam Hill (AUS)	CHAIN REACTION CYCLES.COM / NUKEPROOF
11.	Greg Minnaar (RSA)	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE
12.	Steve Peat (GBR)	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE
18.	Nick Beer (SUI)	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING
19.	Danny Hart (GBR)	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM
23.	Brendan Fairclough (GBR)	GSTAAD-SCOTT
28.	Brook MacDonald (NZL)	TREK WORLD RACING
81.	Steve Smith (CAN)	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING
86.	Noel Niederberger (SUI)	GSTAAD-SCOTT
110.	Felix Klee (SUI)
113.	Maxime Chapuis (SUI)
148.	Lutz Weber (SUI)
160.	Pascal Tinner (SUI)
Women
1.	Rachel Atherton (GBR)	GT FACTORY RACING
2.	Manon Carpenter (GBR)	MADISON SARACEN FACTORY TEAM
3.	Myriam Nicole (FRA)	COMMENCAL / RIDING ADDICTION
4.	Emmeline Ragot (FRA)	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC
5.	Tracey Hannah (AUS)	HUTCHINSON UR
12.	Emilie Siegenthaler (SUI)	GSTAAD-SCOTT
23.	Carina Cappellari (SUI)
Juniors
1.	Loris Vergier (FRA)	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC
2.	Luca Shaw (USA)	SRAM/TLD RACING
3.	Aiden Varley (AUS)
4.	Taylor Vernon (GBR)	GT FACTORY RACING
5.	Neil Stewart (GBR)	FMD RACING
19.	Mike Schär (SUI)
32.	Roger Keller (SUI)
34.	Martin Maes (BEL)	GT FACTORY RACING
38.	Joel Andrey (SUI)	SC INTENSE