Fort William men's qualifying

The Kiwis strike!

By Seb Frost3:09pm, Jun 05th 2010

Qualifying times are hot off the press:

1) Minnaar - 4:39.46
2) Blenki - 4:40.06
3) Cole - 4:41.01
4) Gwin - 4:42.63
5) Matti - 4:43.76
6) Gee - 4:43.87
7) Needles - 4:45.06
8) Beaumont - 4:45.44
9) Kovarik - 4:45.76
10) Beer - 4:47.03
11) Peeeeaaattttyyyy - 4:47.40
12) Camellini - 4:47.45
13) Hannah - 4:47.61
14) Leov - 4:48.19
15) Stevie Smith - 4:48.40

New Zealand are on the rise with Sam and Cameron taking 2nd and 3rd today. An extra-impressive performance by Cole considering his 61st and 54th place finishes here in years past. The UCI live timing is acting up a bit, showing middle splits for both of these riders that render their final positions impossible. I'm assuming for now that it's the middle splits that are wrong, not the final positions. Both riders were shown to have 130kph speed traps for a while too... eek!

As predicted by dirt, Hill elected not to do his qualifying run, presumably pulling over after rolling through the gate - he started but never reached the first split.

Cathro was storming at the top, setting the fastest top split of the day despite his un-aero 6'7" frame on the exposed high-speed top section!

Sick Mick winner of the speed trap (60.483kph).

Full results

* These riders have opted out and wish not to share their rider history publically