Between Friday 26 May and Sunday 28 May 2006 the picturesque slopes  of Aonach Mor, the Nevis Range and the Leanachan Forest will once  again become the host venue for ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ (Dirt  magazine) - The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

At this multi-award winning competition 400 world class riders from  more than 35 countries will compete in three of the most gruelling  events in extreme freesports - Downhill, 4 Cross and Cross Country.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William has become an annual  pilgrimage for over 18,000 mountain bike fans and outdoor enthusiasts who descend upon the idyllic highland setting to watch the most  skilled, high octane, adrenaline fuelled mountain bike action ever seen in the UK. They come together to experience the electric  atmosphere and witness the ultimate challenges that determine who is quickest, fittest, brakes latest, corners fastest, jumps highest and  rides closest to the edge of their ability.

Every leading name in the world of mountain biking will be in Fort  William for the World Cup.  However, despite drawing the greatest  collection of international talent ever seen in the UK, it is the  British riders who will get the pulses racing and the crowds cheering loudest in their bid for that all-important World Cup win on home  soil.  Last year’s downhill winners Steve Peat and Tracy Moseley,  both legends of the mountain bike circuit, will be hotly pursued by  the likes of Rachel Atherton, Gold medallist at the 2005 Junior World Championships, and her brothers Gee and Dan.  Both Liam Killeen and  Oli Beckinsale will be back from Melbourne having competed in the  Commonwealth Games Cross Country.

Downhill is the ultimate test of speed, skill, nerve and machine  control with the top riders coming down a 2.6km long course that  drops 525 metres from top to bottom, in 4 minutes flat! 4-Cross (4X) is a short head to head race between four riders on highly demanding 300m long course of sharp turns, massive jumps and other testing  features.  It is not only a huge test of strength and cunning with  the best technical and fastest thinking rider hitting the finish line  first, it is also a hugely entertaining spectator sport. Cross  Country is the Olympic discipline of mountain biking endurance.   Riding 42.5kms on a demanding 8km loop in just under 2 hours; those most likely to make the podium will be the fittest, the most  adaptable and technically strongest riders - the most competent all  rounders!

This year’s round of the 2006 World Cup is also the final dress  rehearsal for Fort William for the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World  Championships in September 2007, the first ever Mountain Bike World  Championships to be held in the UK and the single most important  event in world mountain biking.

If the turbo-charged International competition isn’t enough the  weekend also offers the chance to witness The Scottish One Day Trial,  a major Mountain Bike Trials competition that showcases the  unbelievable feats that can be achieved by man and bike on a range of  seemingly impossible artificial and natural obstacles in the fastest  time. The buzzing Event Village at The Nevis Range contains the Team  Technical area where you can meet the world’s top riders, trade  stands offering all the latest mountain bike goodies, demonstrations, competitions, food and drink, support competitions and huge video screens covering all the action and live entertainment.

For further details on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William 2006, to register for e-updates and to book tickets visit the official website http://www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk.