After 16 years on the circuit, 17 World Cup victories, 50 podiums and 4 World Championship Silver medals Steve Peat finally stood on the top step of the podium at the World Championships in Australia yesterday.

For the Sheffield rider the rainbow jersey has been the one missing title from his collection and with retirement on the horizon the big man was desperate to take the title.  Such was his focus that many of his rivals had him picked out as the man to beat on race day.

The jersey stays with the UK for 2009.  Last years champ Gee Atherton managed a disappointing 6th with former World Champs Hill 5th, Barel 4th and Greg Minaar 2nd (only a tenth of a second behind Peat).  Mick Hannah was sandwiched in third, rounding out the podium.

Many of the riders were riding lighter downhill bikes than usual.  Insiders told us that Atherton for example was running an air rear shock for weight, equipped with a handlebar lockout!

1 Steve Peat (Great Britain) 0:02:30.3
2 Greg Minnaar (South Africa) 0:02:30.4
3 Michael Hannah (Australia) 0:02:31.0
4 Fabien Barel (France) 0:02:31.2
5 Samuel Hill (Australia) 0:02:33.0
6 Gee Atherton (Great Britain) 0:02:34.3
7 Nathan Rennie (Australia) 0:02:34.3
8 Justin Leov (New-Zealand) 0:02:34.3
9 Chris Kovarik (Australia) 0:02:34.4
10 Steve Smith (Canada) 0:02:34.5

In the woman’s race there was a surprise winner as odds on favourite Sabrina Jonnier wiped out in the race finishing last leaving the door pen for compatriot Emmeline Ragot to surprise herself and the crowd and pull on the rainbow jersey.  Brit Tracy Moseley was second 2 and a half seconds down with Kathleen Pruitt finishing third much to the delight of the Americans.

1 Emmeline Ragot (France) 0:02:50.0
2 Tracy Moseley (Great Britain) 0:02:52.5
3 Kathleen Pruitt (United States Of America) 0:02:54.9
4 Fionn Griffiths (Great Britain) 0:02:56.8
5 Floriane Pugin (France) 0:02:57.4

Video courtesy of MTBCut