Fort William will host a downhill World Cup event for the first time since 2019 ©Getty Images

Fort William will host an International Cycling Union (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup for the first time since 2019, with two days of competition taking place in Scotland.

Organisers had been forced to cancel the event for the past two years as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The regular Downhill World Cup venue is set to return as the second of eight competitions this season.

British riders Reece Wilson and Matt Walker will have achievements marked at the event, with the pair enjoying success during the 2020 season.

Wilson was crowned downhill world champion, while Walker secured the overall World Cup title in the reduced four-event season.

Wilson and Walker will be among the British squad for the home World Cup event, with the duo seeking success in the elite men’s competition.

Britain will have high hopes in the women’s event with six-time World Cup champion Rachel Atherton and Tahnée Seagrave set to compete.

Seagrave finished on the podium at the first World Cup of the season in Lourdes behind winner Camille Balanche of Switzerland and France’s reigning world champion Myriam Nicole.

All three will line-up again in Fort William.

Men’s world champion Greg Minnaar of South Africa and France’s Amaury Pierron, winner of the event in Lourdes, will also feature in Fort William.

Competition will begin tomorrow with qualification races.

Elite and junior finals will be held on Sunday (May 21).