A week ago, Cycling South Africa announced the national team for the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at the end of August in Andorra. There was significant discontent from the Downhill community on the lack of riders selected. We spoke to eight top Downhill racers to find out what the problem is with the current selection criteria and how best to rectify it.
Words: Sean Badenhorst | Intro image: Sven Martin | Other images: Supplied
Downhill mountain bike racing is not a discipline that everyone can relate to. It’s a high-risk, low-error margin discipline that appeals to a very small segment of the general population. Well, it appeals to many from a spectator/fan perspective, but only a few that can actually compete. It’s essentially an extreme sport but it is also a discipline of the UCI and, while it’s a very European-based discipline, its appeal has grown globally, including in South Africa.
That our country has produced Greg Minnaar, the greatest male downhill racer of all time, has given many young South Africans inspiration as to what is possible. Despite Minnaar’s extraordinary success over more than two decades, South Africa has never developed a downhill racing culture and the discipline has always been very niche here.
Because of this, we don’t have any downhill tracks that compare to those in Europe. Yes, we hosted a few World Cups and the 2013 Downhill World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, but on a course that was considered somewhat pedally and lacking real ‘gnarl’ by most that competed on it. And that was with 26-inch wheeled bikes.
Consistency in Downhill racing is rare. Crashes, near-crashes, line-choice errors and mechanicals are never far from an ambitious rider as he/she charges as fast as possible into descents that are designed to challenge riders and equipment in every way. To have two good races in succession is impressive and to have three in a row is truly exceptional. To complete a full season without any significant injury is also considered fortunate.
In order for South Africans to have any real shot at being a Downhill racer, they need to be in Europe where there are appropriate Downhill courses and races. However, Cycling South Africa, tasked with supporting and growing the discipline locally, must create a National Cup Series and an annual National Championship, which are held on what courses are available. By comparison with European downhill courses, the South African courses are tame or short or both.
And here is where the challenge lies in terms of creating a selection standard which has led to the current contention.
Cycling South Africa has made it possible for a rider to earn the required minimum three points for World Champs selection just by racing in South Africa. But that rider needs to win the National Championships and win or place second the National Cup Series (best three of four races to count). Or finish second at the National Champs and win the National Cup Series. Most of the country’s best downhillers race the National Championships as it is compulsory for World Champs selection and is usually early in the year. But then they self-fund their trips to Europe to grow and compete at an international standard. Hoping for one good qualifying run at a UCI World Cup to reach one semi-final.
Last year’s World Championships saw 10 Downhill racers meet the CSA selection criteria. A solid sized team with four Elite men, two Elite women and four Juniors. This year’s team is only five-strong and includes one Elite male (Greg Minnaar), one Elite female (Frankie du Toit) and three Juniors (Ethan Hunter, Arielle Behr and Jenna Byrnes).
It should be noted that the qualifying period for the 2023 World Championships was from 29 July 2022 until 31 May 2023. The qualifying period for the 2024 World Championships is from 15 January 2024 to 17 June 2024 (CSA did extend to include the Les Gets World Cup in early July). CSA says the reason for the 2023 difference was that the 2023 World Champs was held earlier (early August as opposed to the usual late August), which gave riders fewer World Cup races in 2023 to use for qualifying.
Due to South Africa’s relatively high national ranking in Downhill, thanks to Minnaar’s consistent points-scoring at the highest level, the country has been allocated six Elite men’s slots for the Downhill World Championships. Cycling South Africa has never been committed to filling all of those slots. Well, certainly not the current/recent CSA commissions. The maximum slots offered by the UCI are seven and the minimum is three.
Cycling South Africa reiterated in this article that we published last week that only riders that achieved the minimum of three points according to the selection criteria, which they published on 15 December 2023, would be considered for 2024 World Champs selection.
Several riders, both in the selection running and outside of it, voiced their discontent on social media for what they considered an unrealistic selection criteria and CSA being short-sighted in not filling more of the available slots.
It should be noted that the World Championships is self-funded for those selected for the national team. It should also be noted that most of the Elite riders vying for national team selection for the World Championships base themselves (again self-funded) in Europe from May/June to August/September in an effort to compete in World Cup and other high-profile Downhill races.
The riders that responded to our communication were: Greg Minnaar, Stefan Garlicki, Johann Potgieter, Matt Lombardi, Rory Kirk, Ross Kew, Frankie du Toit and Beani Thies. Only Minnaar and Du Toit have been selected.
There were recurring themes from the riders, being:
Weighting of results
Riders say that the points allocation needs revision. Allocating only one point for reaching a World Cup semi-final (top 60) is too little. Allocating no points for SA Cup Series wins, only for top three in the full series, is considered too limiting.
International vs Local
Riders understand the need for a local series, but say it needs to not clash with the international races.
Selection period
If the season can’t be split for local and international racing, then the selection period needs to be extended to include European races the previous year (after the World Champs qualifying deadline – usually end of June or July).
Selection of the national champion
Since there is so much emphasis by CSA on riders contesting the national championships, riders say that the national champion should be included in the World Champs team selection.
Protea colours
Riders understand that the awarding of Protea Colours needs to be based on excellence. Most of the Elite riders have already earned Protea Colours and a re-award isn’t considered a big driver.
World Champs is a showcase race
Because nations are limited in how many numbers they can send to the World Champs, South Africans have a better chance at a higher finish than at a World Cup. Unlike a World Cup, there’s no semi-final, with the top 80 Elite men in qualifying going into the final, a feat most South African Elite men with international racing experience can accomplish with a smooth qualifying run. One good final run at World Champs can help build a rider’s international racing confidence and profile, which can help attract sponsors. Even minor sponsor support can make a difference to Downhill racers.
Downhill knowledge/experience on selection panel
The riders raised the point that there is no knowledgable downhill representative on the CSA selection panel. There was a representative that resigned in March. He was replaced by a Downhill representative that is new to administration. They feel someone with current experience/knowledge of the international Downhill racing scene is needed in this position – or needs a stronger voice – to ensure selection criteria is realistic and achievable.
We have summarised responses from each of these racers:
GREG MINNAAR
Minnaar was on his way to Canada and apologised for not having enough time to really analyse the criteria properly. This is what he was prepared to say though:
It seems unrealistic to achieve three points racing the national series and also try to compete internationally. You either have to race in South Africa to earn the points but then limit your European experience and try and race World Champs. Or go to Europe and try achieving the selection criteria there. It also seems like this should have been brought up long ago. Bringing it up now isn’t ideal either.
There definitely needs to be a selection criteria because riders need to take the World Champs seriously. But there does need to be criteria that allows a reasonable shot at achieving the qualifying standard.”
STAFAN GARLICKI
Everyone on the podium (top three) at SA Champs should score more points (currently it’s 2, 1 and 0.5 points for the top three). The winner should get automatic World Champs selection and second and third should get more points than what is currently offered as that is the one local event everyone attends.
National Cup races should offer points for each, not only the full series. There’s little incentive to race them otherwise, especially if you are going to be overseas racing too.
Anyone that qualifies for a World Cup semifinal is capable of winning SA Champs. Therefore, European events – should offer more points-scoring incentives. It’s currently very difficult to race in Europe and score enough points in this selection period.
CSA should consider European races after June for selection points. The European season only really gets going after June and by then the selection period is finished. There is actually no incentive to race in Europe after June if they don’t consider offering points for those events.
If CSA wants more importance placed on South African racing, then flip the season. Start it in November and run it until February or March. We can’t have a clash of the local series and World Cup events like there currently is.
If you have the slots, fill them. Or most of them. It does no harm. The riders have scored at least two points and have proven to be able to compete at the World Champs. There should be the option to select others that haven’t reached the three points.
JOHANN POTGIETER
The points system is good, but it needs to be adapted.
CSA wants South Africans to do well at World Champs. But if you are overseas doing World Cups, it makes it even harder to qualify than if you stay at home. In my opinion, if you are a South African and you qualify for one World Cup semi-final, that should be automatic World Champs selection.
Theo qualified at two World Cups but missed SA Champs. He was invited to compete at Red Bull Hardline Tasmania, which carries no qualifying points but is one of the most prestigious downhill races in the world. Theo could get a top 30 or even top 20 at World Champs.
There needs to be some discussion about changing this current selection criteria. Riders get no support from CSA but are expected to qualify at World Cups in Europe, which is expensive. The World Cups are in different countries. It’s not that simple to even do five World Cups, never mind do well in all of them.
MATT LOMBARDI
CSA chose the World Champs team purely on their selection criteria. Unfortunately, the criteria are too tough to achieve. There needs to be a revision of how points are awarded. Riders travelling to Europe need to be able to score more points than is currently offered. Otherwise what is the point of travelling to Europe to race at races that are similar to World Champs?
There also needs to be some subjectivity. If we have six slots for Elite men, don’t just send one rider that met the very difficult criteria. Consider the riders who just missed it but who have shown their ability. They aren’t chancers, they’re experienced racers who just didn’t meet the criteria for various reasons.
RORY KIRK
CSA’s Downhill selection criteria for 2024 was unrealistic and almost unattainable.
The fact that the last National Cup race was held on the 17th of June and clashed with a World Cup race in Italy, meant that the top SA riders were effectively excluded from competing at this event.
As a self-funded privateer, I could not afford to return to South Africa for this race during the World Cup season. After already changing my Europe departure date because the third National Cup, held in Karkloof, was postponed by two weeks.
If I had participated in the final SA Cup race in June, I would have likely secured my position at the top of the SA Cup Series log, thereby earning 2 points instead of 1, which would have increased my overall score and given me the 3 points required.
ROSS KEW
The people behind the selection process don’t have a clear understanding of our discipline of racing. The weighting of national races compared to European racing is a definite issue. Our national race series isn’t even comparable to the first 20 seconds of a World Cup track. Back home, instead of talking about line choice, we talk about whether we should race a Downhill or an Enduro bike because the tracks are so flat and straight forward.
Our national series doesn’t get us ready for the big show, so we come overseas to get as much experience as possible and build our skill levels on actual downhill tracks instead of staying home and racing the national rounds. But this then means we don’t get points to qualify for World Champs, a major race that we all aspire to. The guys overseas putting in the time, effort and money aren’t here for a Sunday cruise, we are here to start our careers in the case of me and Rory, or continue with already successful careers, like Theo and Stefan.
FRANKIE DU TOIT
If they keep the criteria as is, it should have different tiers. A for those that met the criteria, B for those who almost met the criteria and C for the rest. It seems like a waste not to use the six slots we have for Elite men. It’s not like these riders are new to international racing and won’t give their best at such a prestigious event.
The weighting on the current criteria isn’t good. Technically, the only safe way to qualify is to stay in SA and race the national series and hope you score three points. But this is counterproductive for them trying to gain international experience and get faster to be more competitive at World Champs. There needs to be some flexibility where selectors look at the context of each rider in contention and not just go on whether they scored the three points or not.
For example, Junior racer, Pieter Venter is fast, but he crashed at the first National Cup race then had bad luck at National Champs. Then, at the World Cup in Les Gets, he got held up behind another rider in his qualifying run. He’s a rider with great potential and if the selectors were at the races or in touch with the racers in contention (there aren’t that many to keep track of), I feel like they would have seen that. That’s just one example.
BEANI THIES
There needs to be consistency between the different years. Last year we had a longer qualifying period but this year it was shorter.
There needs to be some consideration for the racers that have just missed the qualifying. The choice of one Junior male when the others are within half a second of him or had bad luck when there are three slots that can be filled, isn’t ideal.
Some of our Elite men are so close to qualifying for a World Cup semifinal. And Theo has qualified twice this year. These are impressive performances in Downhill racing. What does it achieve by not looking at each rider that was close and offering them the opportunity? Most of us Elites have our Protea Colours already. That’s not what the riders are necessarily after. They’re after the opportunity to race at the World Champs, which is a major event.
There also needs to be points available at each National Cup race, even if it’s a half a point. The current format isn’t conducive to more than a handful of riders being in contention for qualification. If you have a bad day at National Champs and one bad run at a National Cup round, you are out of qualifying contention.
Riders agree that there’s undoubtedly a need for a qualifying criteria. But it must be adjusted to make it more practical for more riders to achieve the required standard. Rather have more riders qualifying for selection than so few. Selectors don’t have to choose everyone for the World Champs, but can then consider each rider on his/her merits.
As has been pointed out by CSA, riders were given from 15 December 2023 to challenge the 2024 World Champs selection criteria before the 2024 qualification started in mid-January 2024. But no riders did. Neither did any of the provincial gravity associations. Western Cape Downhill did query the selection critera on 8 March 2024, but were informed that it was too late to make any changes.
While CSA’s intentions are sound, the lack of a Downhill racing representative on the CSA commission leaves the remaining members, who are not in tune with modern Downhill racing, to default to pure points-scoring to finalise the World Champs team selection. There’s currently no room for nuance.
This article and the previous one, were written with the intention of giving both Cycling SA and the country’s top Downhill racers, a neutral public place to discuss what has turned into a negative scenario. If it’s not contested, or at least communicated, there is unlikely to be any change for the 2025 World Championships selection criteria and the continuation of the negative cycle between riders and CSA. Nobody really benefits from that.
We look forward to reporting on something more positive later this year when next year’s World Champs selection criteria are published. Ultimately, it’s important for CSA to listen to the riders they represent and for the riders to communicate with CSA and be more attentive to any documents that relate to them.
