Race Report - Shimano BDS: Llangollen 2016

The hallowed steeps of Llangollen were selected as the venue that was set to wrap up a year of racing within the British Downhill Series. A venue that grows yearly in facilities and history since its first race in 2009, it has since become an epicentre of North Wales riding since its inception as a ground-breaking venue thanks to the dedicated Martin Sands and the early volunteer dig crews. If anything, this venue guarantees steeps and turns, two things that very few downhill riders would turn their nose up at.


Round 6 offered one final race run for riders to give their all to determine the closely fought overall winners of the series. From the imposing and barren Highlands of Scotland to the grassy hillsides of Wales, riders have raced in all conditions and on a wide variety of tracks from fast and loose, to steep and tech, testing the capability of both themselves and their bikes.

The Track:
Despite the cold misty start to the day, the sunlight began to travel through the valley as morning practice got well under way. The morning dew was burnt off the hill, which along with rider traffic, returned the track to its dry and hard packed character of Saturday afternoon. The light moisture levels of the first hour likely helped bond the dirt together stopping it from breaking down further.

'The Squirrel' track is a tight bobsleigh run of fast flowing track consisting of 180-degree slingshot corners and fast straights aided by a healthily steep gradient. With very limited line choice and minimal pedalling it is one that requires accurate braking points and riding on the very ragged edge of control. With the fastest times being just over two minutes riders also can't afford to make any mistakes or risk being dropped back surprisingly far in the rankings. The key challenge is precise but loose riding that is finely balanced.


The track started off with four jumps that lead the riders down to the first berms from the newly constructed start ramp complete with rider prop for snappy race starts. Recently reshaped and BMX track in style the jumps required a strong pedal and pop but offered great flow and speed. This then prepared riders for 5 gradually tighter 90-degree turns, with one even allowing riders to drag a pedal mid turn. A short sharp pedal away riders dropped into a steep chute in which the track suddenly changed character. Floating from left to right berm, with brake timing being essential, riders were set up straight for the first drop on course. Turns begin to tighten and require more forceful technique and more brave berm railing was needed as the riders kept their speed off a drop through the following straight. A relatively open left-hand corner with a newly added jump led riders in to an off camber rooted section. This corner offered up to 4 main lines choices and saw the most variety of technique. Joel Moore impressed many with his mid line to drift option aboard his borrowed bike. Following this taking the lower line allowed riders to miss most of the roots in preparation for the steepest part of the course.


Oak tree junction left riders with some last minute changes in line choices. With three lines to choose from, each with their own advantages and disadvantages and setups. The berm at the bottom of this section that most riders were using gradually broke down during the course of the weekend. A thin tyre width section remained come race runs causing riders to have to manage their speed and commitment carefully after having dropped in. If this line was nailed at pace the reward was a big burst of pace for the next straight.


A small gap jump lead riders into the final series of corners. Entering a fast straight riders cranked into top gear approaching the hip jump. Many riders opted to go around the lip in order to add pedal strokes and remain low. Was this the faster of the two lines?

At high speed riders continued closer towards the bottom of the track, a number of lips could be tripled along the final straight with Marc Beaumont notably pull in off the move in his race run. Two final shaly berms slowed riders down before entering the first of the drops. Elite rider Ollie Morris drifted amongst the shale and left the lip of the drop one footed during seeding. Much to the surprise of the crowd and himself he was able to hang on.As wheels touched down two following drops launched riders towards the final field, with some such as Jack Reading managing to force pedal strokes between the features to add to the acceleration. A flat out sprint had riders across the finish line.

Seeding ended with the Strider race. Aspiring and enthusiastic racers from 2-5 year olds came whizzing down the field on their little Strider push bikes demonstrating the heart and energy of the future generations of cyclists.




Racing:
DMR Juveniles boys set the pace for race runs. British National Champ, Harry Barrett bagged another win with a 2:16,614, along with winning the overall title in his category. Following behind him by almost three seconds, was James Elliot. Chris Cumming was under a second way in third. Riding for Solidbikes, Luke Williamson's 2:22.028 gave him fourth place. Luke Mumford sat in fifth. In Super Alloy Springs' Youth boys. Riding for Atherton Academy, Kade Edward took his second win with two seconds fifty-five to spare landing a scorching time that would have place him well in Elite. Jamie Edmondson's time of 2:08.861 brought him into second. Following close behind him in third by under over a second, Henry Kerr. Adam Beaty's time of 2:09.060 secured him fourth. 2:12.657 had George Kerr on the Podium in fifth.


'It hasn't really sunk in yet that I have won the BDS overall, to not finish below 4th at all 6 rounds is just incredible and I can't wait to start training hard for next year's season In the youth category.' - Harry Barrett

In the Kore Grand Veteran men, Steven Felstead took first with a 2:34.994. Five seconds away in second, Richard Binns. Jerry Dyer's tie off 2:41.958 put him in third. Michael Waud followed in fourth. Leaving Mark Taylor in fifth. In Dainsese Veteran men, Madison Saracen Factory Team's Will Longden's time of 2:11.693 got him the top step on the podium, along with the overall win proving that long after professional racing he still occupied phenomenal speed. Andrew Tittley came into second six seconds off will's time. Richard Taylor's time of 2:20.505 placed him in third. Mark weightman came forth with a 2:21.438. James Davis came six seconds way in fifth. In Ns Bike Master men, taking the win by a tight 0.05 of second, Mike Taylor. Just about missing out on first place with a 2:10.775, was Neil White. Adam smith came third with a 2:11.201. Peter Wallen took fourth, leaving Jason Shill in fifth.


In Rachel Atherton's Junior women, fresh from World Champs Aston Tutt took the win by under three seconds giving her the overall win. Riding for the race venue based team One Gaint Leap Llangollen, Rosy Monaghan came second with a 2:36.173 putting her local knowledge to good use. Abbie Sloan came across the line in third. Leaving Cairn Bell in fourth, Securing a second place over all. Maya Atkinson took fifth with a 2:44.880. With her consistent results throughout the season she took third overall.


In Spank Junior men, Matt Walker returned after sitting the last round out in order allow his wrist to get fully recovered in preparation for World Champs. He's back up to speed crossing the line in first place with a 2:03.872 having beaten many Elite times. Wideopenmag's Charlie missed out the top step by under a second however he secured the overall win. James Purvis' time of 2:05.282 had him a second away in third. securing him second overall in Junior men. Conor Bate crossed the line in fourth with 2:08.739. One second away in fifth riding for FMD Racing, Kaos Seagrave. His consistent result gave him third in the overall.


'It feels awesome to win the overall title as it means you've ridden consistently well throughout the year, which is something I aim for in racing! ' -Charlie Hatton

In PRO Tharsis Senior men, Kieran Davies has been a roll this season resulting in taking yet another win with a 2:09.220. Josh Gleave slipped into second with a 2:10.079. Two seconds off in third, Josh Corbett. A 2:08.739 brought Damon Jones into fourth. Rayan Middieton to fifth with a 2:14.700. Next down X-fusion Expert men. Joel Moore held first place with a 2:05.056 sending his borrowed bike sideways everywhere possible. Lewis summers came second with a 2:06.947. Taking third under a second away, Lewis Boyce. Securing him the winning overall all. Dan Farley took fourth riding a now vintage 26'' wheeled Iron Horse Sunday and with very little time on the bike. This left Myles James in fifth.


Schwalbe Elite women's was quiet without Manon Carpenter who was out due to injury, but her consistent first places had already secured her the overall win. Riding for FMD Racing, Tahnee Seagrave went on to take the win by a whopping twenty-eight seconds putting in a clean run that beat many of the male fields Riding for Steve Peat Syndicate, Becci Skelton crossed the line with a 2:45.520 putting her into second. A second off in third, Jessica Greaves.


In Schwalbe Elite men. Riding for One Vision racing, William Jones came across the line in fifth with a 2:02.501. Steve Peat held the hot seat for a while with a 2:02.118, however, Marc Beaumont soon crossed the line pushing Peaty down into fourth. Marc's 2:01.52 put him in third following teammate Matt Simmonds 2;00.977 who looked incredibly powerful through the final sprinting straight. After successful seeding One Visions Racing's Jack Reading came into view of the spectators visibly giving absolute maximum sprinting down the field. Jacks monstrously long bike crossed the finish line taking the win with a tight 2;00.310! Moving Matt into second. Overall rankings had Matt Simmonds in first. followed by Marc Beaumont in second. Phil Atwill in third.


Overall Series Rankings:

Junior women
1. Aston Tutt
2. Cairn Bell
3. Maya Atkinson

Junior men
1.Charlie Hatton
2.James Purivs
3.Kaos Seargrave

Elite women
1.Manon Carpenter
2.Jessica Greaves
3.Lucy Drees

Elite men
1.Matt Simmonds
2.Marc Beaumont
3.Phil Atwill

Full Results Here

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MENTIONS: @TheHillsAreAlive / @BritishDownhillseries

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