Aussies on top in world mountain biking

6 Sep 2010, 3:17 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Australian is firming up as a world leader in mountain biking, claiming more gold than any other nation in the world championships in Canada.

Australian is firming up as a world leader in mountain biking, claiming more gold than any other nation in the world championships in Canada.

Sam Hill and Troy Brosnan took out the men's elite and junior downhill world titles on the final day of the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne on Sunday.

Compatriot Caroline Buchanan secured the rainbow jersey in the women's four cross on Saturday, with Jared Graves also taking silver in the men's four cross.

Hill has battled back from both a knee reconstruction and three snapped shoulder ligaments this year to claim his third world title, with the West Australian also taking out the honour 2006 and 2007.

Hill clocked 4min 37.93secs in the cold and wet conditions, 2.63 seconds faster than Canadian silver medallist Steve Smith (4:40.56) and South African bronze medallist Greg Minnaar (4:40.93).

"I don't know what it is, but this is where I do well," said the 25-year-old of the Mont-Sainte-Anne course, where he won world cups in 2007 and 2009.

After a less than an ideal build up due to injury, Hill said his confidence was fairly low going into the worlds.

"To come back from all that and be able to win today is really great.

"I still get a bit of pain when I ride. I'll take some time off now and get fully healthy."

And the future of Australian mountain biking looks just as bright, with 17-year-old Troy Brosnan, the youngest in the team, winning the junior men's downhill.

Brosnan (4:50.71) was the second last starter and sped to a narrow victory by just six hundredths of a second ahead of silver medallist Neko Mulally (4:50.77) from the United States.

"I couldn't believe it when I came across the line," said Brosnan. "I don't think it's sunk in yet."

"At the start of the season, I was training back home. My manager said I should do the full world cup circuit and in it I got the leader's jersey a few times, which gave me some more confidence."

"I've taken everything from every race this year and put it together, and it worked."

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