Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) has won the 2008 the UCI downhill mountain bike World Cup. The South African finished fifth at the World Cup finals in Schladming, Austria, on September 13 to inch his way by two-time defending champ Sam Hill (Monster-Ironhorse) 1354 points to 1293.

Minnaar came into the Schladming finals with a slight edge on Hill, whose dominance of downhill racing dates back to his world title in September, 2006. Hill won the opening race of the 2008 World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia, on May 10 and the fifth World Cup in Bromont, Canada, but spent much of the season nipping at Minnaar’s heels.

Minnaar, the 2003 world champion, took over the World Cup lead after winning the third round of the season, held June 7 in Fort William, Scotland. The South African then won World Cups in Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec and Canberra, Australia, to solidify his lead.

In Schladming, both Minnaar and Hill posted less-than perfect runs. Hill needed nothing short of a race win to take the lead from Minnaar, whose fifth-place finish seemed to leave the door open for the Australian. But Hill faltered in the finals with a slight bobble, and slipped to second on the day.

Winning the race was Kiwi Sam Blenkinsop (Yeti-Fox), who became the first New Zealander to win an elite downhill World Cup.

“It's such a relief you know, because you come here with the leader's jersey on your back, so it's almost yours, and you know that so much can happen in this sport that could take it away,” said Minnaar. “Even though I knew I had it when I crossed the line and only five guys were left to come down, I still couldn't quite believe it.”

The victory signals a return to the top for Minnaar, who spent most of the 2007 season dealing with a dislocated shoulder. The South African saw his chances at Mont-Ste-Anne and at the world championships in Fort William, Scotland, ruined by the injury. Minnaar underwent surgery in the off-season to repair the injured wing — a decision that paid off.

“After last year where the shoulder was a major problem for me, and in Brazil where some sharp object sliced my tire open on track in the final, after getting the fastest split and knowing I could have won the series that year, this is a great feeling,” Minnaar added.

Winning the women’s World Cup was current world champion Rachel Atherton of Great Britain. Atherton (Animal-Commençal) dominated the series, taking four of seven victories and dethroning reigning World Cup winner Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis) 1553 points to 1335.

Atherton needed to post a fourth place or higher in Schladming to take the series. The Brit took home the title in style, winning the Schlamding race by a whopping 13 seconds ahead of Floriane Pughin of France.

Final UCI World Cup standings

Men
1. Greg Minnaar (SA), Santa Cruz Syndicate, 1354 points
2. Sam Hill (Aus), Monster-Ironhorse, 1293
3. Gee Atherton (GB), Animal-Commençal, 1207
4. Steve Peat (GB), Santa Cruz Syndicate, 1099
5. Sam Blenkinsop (NZ), Yeti-Fox, 794
6. Fabien Barel (F), Subaru, 717
7. Nathan Rennie (Aus), Santa Cruz Syndicate, 620
8. Justin Leov (NZ), Yeti-Fox, 614
9. Chris Kovarik (Aus), Chain Reaction-Intense, 608
10. Julien Camellini (F), Chain Reaction-Intense, 505

Women
1. Rachel Atherton (GB), Animal-Commençal, 1533 points
2. Sabrina Jonnier (F), Maxxis, 1335
3. Tracy Moseley, Kona, 1272
4. Emmeline Ragot, Suspension Center, 898
5. Floriane Pughin (F), Playbiker-Ironhorse, 852
6. Fionn Griffiths (GB), Norco, 798
7. Mio Suemasa (Jpn), MS-Intense, 687
8. Claire Buchar (Can), 539
9. Anita Molcik (Aut), 504
10. Myriam Nicole (F), 406