The World Cup DH and 4-Cross events on 1st and 2nd June at Fort William have just got a major financial boost from the SportScotland SportScotland lottery fund industry site Bikebiz has reported.

When Fort William was named as a venue last December organisers said they needed £250,000. At the official launch of the events yesterday they announced that the event would receive financial backing from both the SportScotland lottery fund with £100,000 and Visit Scotland with £50,000. Course ‘consultants’ Steve Peat and Crawford Carrick-Anderson joined event organisers and delighted Scottish sports and tourist folk at the launch.

The two race formats will take place on the purpose-built tracks at the Nevis range Ski centre and are expected to attract up to 300 riders from 25 countries. Steve Peat is certainly looking forward to it. “To be able to ride in front of a home crowd is going to be unreal! I am so stoked that Fort William got the race.”

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of SportScotland, added: “We are particularly pleased that this prestigious event will be held at the The Off Beat Downhill Bike Track, at Nevis Range, as it was built with the help of the SportScotland Lottery Fund with the intention of providing the Highlands with a world class sporting facility.”

Willie Macleod, a spokesman for the other financial backers, Visit Scotland, said: “Cycling in Scotland is a key attraction for many outdoor enthusiasts…. We have terrain and landscape that leaves many of our rivals envious and allows us to cater for all levels of cyclist.”

The 2.6km downhill course will be based on the existing Nevis run, with modifications advised by Steve Peat, Crawford Carrick-Anderson and other top riders, but the 4-Cross (a new quad slalom event) will feature a totally new course designed by Kona’s Dual star Scott Beaumont.

The main events will be supported by a full ‘family friendly’ race village, but the event will be ticketed, so you’ll need to pay to get in. We’ll bring you full details of ticket availability and pricing as soon as they’re announced, but if you’re looking for nearby accommodation then we suggest you head for www.host.co.uk or www.visitscotland.com before everywhere gets booked up.