We’re here at Fort William for the opening round of the 2013 UCI Downhill World Cup and having witnessed some utterly incredible riding today we can safely say that this is going to be an exciting season if you’re a fan of DH.

Today was practice day for the riders as well as a timed training session at the end of the day. Mick Hannah of Australia and Rachel Atherton were fastest in timed training today, although with many of the top riders taking a relaxed approach to the timed session things are likely to change somewhat at the top of the results sheet come tomorrow’s qualifying. Mick and Rachel will no doubt be up there, but the likes of Aaron Gwin (who was down the sheet today) will be looking to put in a solid effort and make their mark ready for the main event on Sunday.

The track here is looking as tough as ever with huge holes opening up into turns, on straights and pretty much everywhere else in between. Speeds are high with little in the way of wind to slow riders on the wide-open course and the sun is even out, something that can seem like a rare occurrence for a mountain bike race in the Highlands of Scotland if the previous events here are anything to go off! The forecast is dry all weekend and we’re looking forward to cheering the world’s fastest mountain bikers, as are many thousand other spectators.

Here’s a look at the riding from today courtesy of photographer Andy Lloyd and an on-board run with Hutchinson UR’s Tracy Hannah. Stay tuned for more tomorrow!