The weekend was wrapped up with Peaty taking Gold. The course was super rocky and filled with buck jumps with lines continuously changing as practice wore on.
After taking a bit of time off to prepare, Nathan came into World Champs having put in a considerable amount of training looking strong and focussed, which paid off in the end. Having a little off during practice, Rennie ended up with eight stiches in his hand and having to do a bit of iceing a few days before race day, but this didnt stop him from pulling in a top 10 result. The big man finished up 7th overall with a time of 2.34.31 being the third fastest Australian down the track behind Mick Hannah and Sam Hill. Mitch Delfs had a clean run finishing up 27th overall with a time of 2.39.58

This is what Fraser Britton from Transend Magazine had to say:
Kenda Morewood riders Nathan Rennie and Mitch Delfs were both representing their home nation of Australia at this weekend’s Mountain BIke Downhill World Championships. Rennie is making his return from a knee injury that saw him miss 2 World Cups, and he served notice that he is well on his way to recovery with a 7th place finish, only 3.98 seconds back on an extremely physical course. Delfs wound up 27th, but not before throwing a one hander to salute the crowd at the infamous “Triple Threat” area of the course in front of hundreds of fans.

Riding one off, custom Australian themed Morewood Makulu’s, both riders stormed the course all week, looking strong and helping to set the pace. Rennie went down hard mid week, cutting the back of his hand wide open and injuring the tendons. A few stitches later, and the big man was back on track.

“I think there was plenty of doubters out there. Being inside the top 10 and getting 7th is great. I think being 7th at any World Cup or World Championship race is huge. If there was any doubters out there, their full of shit and everyone knows that/. I’ve got seventh at a few World Championships now, I’d like to do a bit better, but I had a few problems during the week.

The only reason the hand injury hurt was lack of practice time and not being 100% comfortable on my bike. Still, I know this track to a T and felt good. I’m just happy the season is over for me.”

There may have been doubters, but few riders had as big a fan club here in Stromlo as Rennie. Rennie’s Army was out in full effect, and it could only have helped push him down the course as a deafening roar seemed to follow him from top to bottom, right into the hotseat.

Delfs had an off day but still managed to pull down a good result. ” This isn’t a course that really suits me. I prefer the gnarlier tracks on the World Cup. I was still able to throw a one hander and get the crowd pumped and it was great to be able to race in front of my family and friends here at home in Australia.”

Delfs now rests at home for a few days and then heads back to Europe for the World Cup finals in Schladming, Austria, a course that suits him extremely well.

Results were as followed:
1st Steve Peat(GBR) 2.30.33
2nd Greg Minnaar(RSA) 2.30.38
3rd Mick Hannah(AUS) 2.31.02
7th Nathan Rennie(AUS) 2.34.31
27th Mitch Delfs(AUS) 2.39.58

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