Op eerste pinksterdag streden de dames en heren downhillers om de derde World Cup van het seizoen. Winnaar van vorig jaar, Greg Minnaar, was dicht bij een nieuwe overwinning in Willingen. Steve Peat liet echter zijn klasse zien en reed ruim een seconde van de tijd van Minnaar af. Bij de dames was Tracy Mosely voor de derde keer in drie World Cups de sterkste. Anneke Beerten werd verdienstelijk zevende. Ghostbabe Tanja de Bie reed haar eerste World Cup en eindigde in de halve finales als 35e.

Downhill thriller at the Ettelsberg: Peat wins third race of the UCI World Cup Downhill series 2006

Steve Peat (GBR) won the UCI Downhill Worldcup mens final at the T-Mobile BIKEFestival Willingen, gaining the lead in 1.58.30 minutes ahead of Greg Minaar (RSA/1.59.47 min.) and Gee Atherton (GBR/1.59.55). For this reason the british rider overtook the leadership in the overall ranking and displaced downward the former leader Samuel Hill (AUS) who is now placed third.

But the british dominance on the podium should be prolonged through the hattrick of Tracy Moseley (GBR/2.19.59) who couldn´t be beaten by her competitors. With her third win in the third World Cup she showed her extraordinary good form. After her reigning world champion Sabrina Jonnier (FRA) finished the race in 2.19.87 followed by another briton, Rachel Atherton (GBR/2.22.64).

The overall World Cup rankings reflect the same positions as shown in the race results. Tracy Moseley leads the rankings followed by Jonnier and Atherton.

The UCI Downhill World Cup Willingen gets more and more popular: the whole length of the racetrack was lined with crowds of thrilled spectators who watched the exciting race.

Former world champion Peat who celebrated his triumph with a beer in the finish area stated: „After the good qualification in the morning I was really confident. Because of the good weather the course was dry so I had to push the bike more firmly.“ Over 15.000 spectators watched the UCI Downhill World Cup at the Ettelsberg / Hochsauerland.