Riders descend on Albany

Local riders hoping to upstage three of Australia's downhill mountain biking stars will have the added financial incentive this weekend for the second edition of the MCB Construction Albany Urban Downhill.

Close to 100 elite riders from Perth and the Eastern States will converge on the city for the event regarded as the only of its kind in the country where riders race through trails and suburban streets.

While junior world champion Tegan Molloy, 2009 under-19 downhill champion Holly Baarspul and World Cup competitor Jackson Frew are expected to battle it out for first across the line, the small contingent of local riders are not to be discounted.

Travis Fage was the first local in last year's race in 11th position and will be one of the best Albany chances, along with Ben Halsall and Bobby Cooper, according to Albany Urban Downhill director Chris Idle.

Idle said the first local rider across the line would pocket $1000 and he was hopeful of fine weather across the weekend, predicting similar entry numbers to last year.

"I reckon similar to last year, probably around the 80 number; it's really hard to judge with an event like this because you get a last minute rush," he said.

"The big growth I think this year will be spectators and with the kids event as well. The wind looks calm at the moment. Showers are fine but when you're jumping and spending a lot of time in the air, the wind really throws the riders off."

The course begins at Padre White Lookout taking riders through Mt Clarence and onto Hill, Grey, Rowley, Earl and Spencer streets before the finish line on Stirling Terrace where riders must negotiate a steep wall ride and a double car jump.

Idle said the course had been designed as spectator friendly and expected most to congregate around Spencer Street.

"I think we will get a lot more spectators from Perth this year just from the amount of riders that went home and talked about and took their photos, videos and helmet cams and stuff like that and went back to Perth and showed their mates what happened and everyone went 'oh that's actually a really awesome event'; it was so unknown the first time," he said.

"Even the couple of east coast riders we have had, they have made comments on Facebook and even that has given us a more national profile … hopefully that will result in more coming over the next year."

Up to 40 riders are expected to compete in Saturday night's trick competition at the Town Square, which will also be the location for a children's event during the afternoon.

There will be opportunities to meet pro riders Frew and Molloy on Saturday morning at Passmore Cycles and Bob's Bikes before racing starts on Sunday at 10am.

Presentations will be at 4.30pm.

Registrations close at midnight tonight.