Saracen BDS: Round 4 Llangollen - Atherton Streak Continues
The weekend's riding has boiled down to today. Race day here at the Saracen BDS Round 4 in Llangollen, North Wales and it looks like we are in for a blast! Uplift running like a well oiled machine, track is dry, dusty and flat out, and the crowds have gathered to see what these boys and girls can bring to this hillside.
Off the back of two winning World Cups, top contenders, the Athertons, will be looking to stand upon the podium, but they won't be getting their without fighting off some of the best young talent the UK has to offer, including the likes of Joe Smith, Inners Graham, Brendan Fairclough and Manon Carpenter, who will be eager to end the Atherton killing spree.
2013 Signed Steve Peat Race Jersey Auction for Nightingale House Hospice
Photography: Laurence Crossman-Emms // www.laurence-ce.com
Off the back of two winning World Cups, top contenders, the Athertons, will be looking to stand upon the podium, but they won't be getting their without fighting off some of the best young talent the UK has to offer, including the likes of Joe Smith, Inners Graham, Brendan Fairclough and Manon Carpenter, who will be eager to end the Atherton killing spree.
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 Finish area filled up over the weekend with everyone piling in. Drinks & Food, Stalls and Shops, Pits and Riders, they are all here this weekend. |
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| Once again the uplift was running like clockwork. Barely no queues. Take note people, this is how you uplift. Same again next time please! |
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| Great to see British downhill races pulling such a crowd. Great turn out and pits were buzzing. |
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| Suns out here at Llangollen and the trails are dusty as anything. Prime riding conditions. |
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| Nothing beats a good race with loud fans. These boys going wild all day at the riders...the louder the better! |
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| Colourful Fox Gloves making for some interesting shots down through the the track. So much colour just bursting out on of these, can't help but take notice. |
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| Toby on the mic here and also commentating on the live feed at the same time. Busy man but he can handle the pressures of standing around all day! |
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| Big long sprint finish to really end your legs. Not the longest track, but racing was fast and action packed top to bottom, riders giving it their all. |
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| Bar and Catering company, The Sun Trevor, were on field to accommodate your hungry and thirsty needs this weekend, with beers, ales and freshly baked pizza...sorted. |
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| Off of the back of his horrific looking crash at Val di Sole, Taylor Vernon was only really here on a cruiser, but still managed to grab himself 2nd place. Spot on job considering he is still injured. |
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| Managing to pip Rachel in seeding, Manon Carpenter had a lot on her mind come race run, she wanted this badly. |
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| Must have been these boys screaming Mike Jones down the hill that he was able to put down such a stormer, placing him 1st in Junior and 7th overall in Elite. |
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| Putting down one of his best results this season, Brendan Fairclough secured himself 3rd place. |
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| What a birthday for youth rider Brad Swinbank, getting to ride his bike all day and topping it off by coming away with a 3rd place finish |
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| Jack Geoghegan pinned off the last drop taking first place in seeding in Expert mens but was unable to pull it together for his race run. |
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| A tidy run from Joe putting him 5th overall, but he is still finding it difficult not standing on that top spot. 110% effort from him at every race, his time will come! |
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| Gee Atherton once again on form this weekend, taking first place seeding and the first on his race run. Seriously impressive riding putting 2 seconds into 2nd place team mate Marc Beaumont. |
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| And there it is, Elite men's podium. Gee Atherton, Marc Beaumont, Brendan Fairclough, Matt Stuttard, Joe Smith. |
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| Rachel once again gracing that podium top spot and continuing the Atherton streak. Rachel Atherton, Manon Carpenter, Jess Stone, Veronique Sandler, Rachael Walker. |
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| Champagne surprise! An over the moon Gee Atherton celebrates back to back World Cups and Nationals, the overall is but only in his grasp! |
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| Martin, Owner and operator of the downhill track and Onegiantleap Llangollen lost a dear friend the end of last year to cancer. He always wanted to go to a race at LLangollen but never made it. Martin is raising money for Nightingale House Hospice by auctioning off this donated and signed Steve Peat jersey...get involved people! Link to the eBay page below. |
2013 Signed Steve Peat Race Jersey Auction for Nightingale House Hospice
Photography: Laurence Crossman-Emms // www.laurence-ce.com
Author Info:
Member since Aug 28, 2009
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GT & Atherton has not much of winning records last season with old Fury. Since Atherton are world class rider and no doubt about it, the team get back to drawing board to review their weapon... and they've come out with new Fury as well as new technology (DH specific I-Drive system), and they smashed the field.
.. but this kinda not happen in Spesh
She would have beat Rachael today if it wasn't for that.
She lost a lot time going down hard, but still came 2nd.
Next time maybe?
It used to be full of butch lezzers with cankles, lol
Times are a changing'!