THE outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in Great Britain in 2001 had dire consequences for the economy due to its adverse impact on agriculture and tourism.

Yet it was also partially responsible for the birth of an international event that has since gone on to become a popular and profitable fixture in the sporting calendar in Scotland.

It is debatable if the Fort William UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, which will be staged for the 12th successive year next weekend, would ever have come into existence without it. The event was the brainchild of Lesley Beck and Mike Jardine, founders of Rare Management, shortly after the opening of the downhill mountain bike track on Aonach Mor.

The pair were heavily involved in promoting skiing at the time; Beck had been a competitor in the Winter Olympics while Jardine was a former chief executive of the British Ski and Snowboard Federation.

Crawford Carrick-Anderson, a mutual acquaintance who was a member of the British downhill mountain biking team at the time, suggested they turn their talents to a sport escalating rapidly in popularity.

"Crawford was the one who first raised the idea with us," recalls Jardine. "When the downhill track at Fort William opened he was the one who said to us: 'Hey, you could have a World Cup event here'."

Public funding for their ambitious and groundbreaking initiative proved to be quickly forthcoming. "It was very fortuitous that it was just after Foot and Mouth," explains Jardine. "A lot of effort was being made to get people to come back and visit the country."

Still, the initial bid that Beck and Jardine submitted to the UCI, the governing body of cycling, was rejected. It was only after a World Cup event in Japan fell through later that year that they were actually given the go-ahead. With less than two months to get ready, it was understandable if the first staging of the competition was somewhat makeshift in places.

"We didn't have a lot of time to prepare," remembers Jardine. "The grandstand behind the finishing line was three feet off the ground and held about 40 or 50 people. The winner's podium was essentially three pallets stacked on top of each other.

"But we had a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of can-do attitude. Everyone was really up for it and wanted it to work. It turned out to be pretty successful. We even won an award for the best downhill event on the circuit. From then on we have tried to develop and improve upon things to keep it up there."

Indeed they have. The event next weekend will be contested by 175 male and 40 female downhill racers from 28 countries around the globe and will be watched by about 20,000 spectators over three days. It bears little, if any, resemblance to the inaugural one.

Jardine says: "The finish arena is really impressive this year. We have a grandstand there that will hold more than 750 people. We also have the biggest outside LED screen in the world. It is 100 square metres. We also have 14 cameras dotted around the course."

On a clear day, Ben Nevis, Loch Linnhe, Loch Eil and the islands of the Inner Hebrides provide a breathtaking backdrop as competitors hurtle down a track that descends about 2000 feet in just under two miles at terrifying speeds. It can be a captivating spectacle.

Not to mention a lucrative one. The local economy benefits to the tune of £2 million. "Outdoor recreation and tourism feel the immediate benefit," says Jardine. "The World Cup shows up Fort William in particular and Scotland in general as great mountain bike destinations."

The leading competitors, the likes of Gee Atherton, Danny Hart and Greg Minnaar in the men's event and Rachel Atherton, Manon Carpenter and Sabrina Jonnier in the women's competition, may not end up being challenged for a podium place by any Scots next weekend. Nevertheless, the event has been directly responsible for many taking up the sport and hopes are justifiably high for the future. "The World Cup has encouraged a big growth in mountain biking, particularly in downhill," says Jardine. "The highest placed Scot we have had was Greg Williamson of Inverness, who finished 17th one year. But we have definitely got downhill riders coming through Scottish cycling as a consequence.

"Ruaridh Cunningham, who became the World Junior champion at Fort William in 2007, has been beset by injuries. We are hoping that, sooner or later, we will get a Scottish rider who will feature high up."

Not that it detracts from an event Scotland should feel proud of. "It is great from the crowd to have local riders to get behind," enthuses Jardine. "But the spectators are brilliant, really supportive of everyone. It is a great day out, a full-on, impressive international event."