World champ heads to Albany

Five-time world champion mountain biker Sam Hill will headline a star-studded line-up of competitors who will race through the city’s streets in the inaugural Albany Urban Downhill event next month.

About 25 purpose-built ramps, stairs and jumps will be placed on Watkins, Gray, Rowley, Earl, Spencer and Frederick streets for riders to negotiate before heading across Stirling Terrace, in what is believed to be the first event of its kind in Australia.

WA-bred Hill, 28, was a two-time Union Cycliste Internationale World Downhill Champion in 2007-08, and won the 2010 world championship in Mont Saint Anne.

He also won the 2007 and 2009 UCI Elite Men’s Downhill World Cup.

Event director David Marshall said having a rider of Hill’s calibre in Albany was a massive coup for the competition.

“He is in WA infrequently … it’s (going to be) good to have him down,” he said.

“Sam is hungry for the win. Riders will have the chance to race against him and spectators will be amazed by his flat-out speed and bike-handling skills.”

Hill is currently competing in Europe and said the Albany event sounded “awesome”.

“I will only just be back from racing in Europe, but am happy to come down and talk to the schools and race,” Hill said.

He confirmed he would settle for nothing but a win in the inaugural race.

“I just always want to win, and I’m not really happy with anything else,” he said.

Challenging Hill will be Perth 17-year-old Jackson Davis, who was recently selected for the 2014 Junior World’s Team and has been competing overseas.

Former Albany local Sarah Booth will also compete in this year’s event and Marshall said it would be fantastic to see her back home.

“It is great to have a couple of women in the event and a spread of ages and people,” he said.

In another boost for the fledgling event, it was announced last week the Albany Urban Downhill would receive funding through Tourism WA’s 2014-15 Regional Events Scheme.

Mr Marshall said the funding gave everyone confidence heading into the future.

“Because of the complexity of the event being in street, hopefully we will build on it next year,” he said.

“Albany is prime real estate for mountain biking, with the elevation right in town.”