The Nevis resort will be swapping skis for wheels as hundreds of aces on mountain bikes take to the track in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

Located just outside Fort William on the slopes of the 4,006 ft Aonach Mor, the course will host the contest over this weekend (June 5th and 6th), with top bikers clad in cycle gear lining up to take on the competition.

This week has seen a temporary stand built in the car park and other fixtures and fittings are rapidly being put into place as the cycling world focuses on the event.

Riders taking on the downhill race will descend 555 metres (1,820 ft), with the track having new features recently added, organisers have noted.

There is also the 4X contest, where riders race in groups of four over a course filled with features designed to test their skills like jumps and step-ups.

As well as being a world class mountain biking venue and a ski resort in the winter, the Nevis Range may also attract those in hiking boots as they take on the Munros, with Aonach Mor and its neighbour along the ridge, Aonach Beag, both being over 4,000 ft high.

Posted by Elaine Arthur