COMMEZZADURA (VAL DI SOLE – TRENTINO), 2 AUGUST 2016 – UK’s ’Steve “Peaty” Peat, one of the greatest downhillers in the world, will officially round off his career on the occasion of the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike&Trials World Championship Val di Sole and organizers together with president Aldo Bordati and secretary Sergio Battistini in agreement with UCI, have decided reward him: the great champion will be the forerunner of the Downhill to be held on Sunday 11 September on the legendary Black Snake, which will end the double week of world competitions (Masters and Elite) held in Vermiglio and Daolasa.
42-year-old British athlete, from Sheffield racing with Santa Cruz Syndicate team, announced he is going to retire from competitions. 2016 is his last season of downhill races, a very hard discipline that puts both mind and body to the test. He has raced for over 20 years at international level (his debut as a Pro was in 1995 with Saracen team), and is one of the most iconic, powerful and beloved athletes in the world of the knobbly tyres.
Peaty leaves competitions with an impressive prize record: 17 World Cup victories (only South Africa’s Greg Minnaar did better than him), 52 world podiums with 3 Cups overall, two European Championships, nine British titles and the much coveted conquest of the World Champs gold in Camberra (Australia) in 2009, after coming close so many times… “King” Peat clinched six silver medals and the second-last in 2008 on the Black Snake in Val di Sole, during a memorable edition when fellow countryman Gee Atherton triumphed against the super favourite Australia’s Sam Hill who fell in the last bend and clinched the bronze.
Steve Peat’s extraordinary career must not be judged by the impressive numbers only: the British star has raced and won when the downhill legends were competing, i.e. French Nicolas Vouilloz and Cedric Gracia, as well as Greg Minnaar.
Even if he hasn’t been chosen in the British national team for the World Champs in Val di Sole, Peat continues to symbolize downhill in the UK and the reason is straightforward: he is the star who has paved the way to all talented and fast athletes competing today. Among the young athletes there is Josh Bryceland – his current teammate – whom he personally followed since his debut on the international competitions scene conquering the World Cup in 2014.
The race in Vallnord (Andorra), scheduled for this week-end will be the last at top world level. And as every respectable show man, his retirement will not pass unnoticed, for two reasons. The first due to the decision to run some Cup stages on his Santa Cruz V10 with a special decoration: after the “tartan” in Fort William and the spotted graphics in Lenzerheide (paying homage to Scotland and Switzerland), here comes the Spitfire style in Vallnord, recalling Second World War British fighter planes and the meaningful and moving logo “Last Orders”, a tribute to a man and an unrepeatable career.
The second reason is strictly linked to the DH World Champs in Val di Sole: His Majesty Steve Peat will be present as special forerunner in the most important event. Then at the end of the race (16.00hrs) he will be the star of Steve Peat Special Party. Another reason to be present in Val di Sole and not miss the chance of admiring a great man first and then a great athlete, an inspiration for all those who love gravity and not only, who contributed in a fundamental way to shape today’s downhill world scene.
Bio:
Steve Peat, nicknamed Peaty and Sheffield Steel
Born in Sheffield (UK) on 17 June 1974
Team: Santa Cruz Syndicate
Bike: Santa Cruz V10
Website: www.stevepeat.com
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