Race Report: British Downhill National Series Round 4 in Glencoe
Words: Nick Bentley
Round 4 of the Downhill National series took place this weekend at the Glencoe Mountain Resort, with new sections of track developed with the support of the Scottish Downhill Association. This new track brought new challenges to the riders, namely speed. With rapid lap times put down throughout practice and seeding and track conditions evolving throughout race day with the ever-changing weather, riders were kept on their toes with hints of the usual brutal Glencoe tracks with steep rocky descents, fast berms, smooth jumps and gravel sprints. With several of the elite riders already out in Andorra for the next World Cup round, the claim to the elite podium was wide open.
Time to kick back
I'm not sure what Joe Breeden was up to - maybe it's a secret new warm up, but it definitely worked
It's fair to say it was a little bit chilly on the chairlift
British Cycling Commissaires worked hard all weekend to make sure riding was fair and Kelvin does occasionally smile
The marshals had some amazing views to enjoy on Sunday
The top section of the track was the classic black DH
Sunday morning practice was another great opportunity for some trains with your mates
Jack Cartlidge testing out the edges of his tyres
Always time for a cheeky turn bar
Don't look back
Alfie Byers charging his way through the rocks
There's been so much work done by the SDA and Glencoe Mountain Resort to get this track race ready and boy did it pay off
The mud's not an issue if you don't touch it in what is the closest finish of the day. Joshua Wood rider 202 narrowly missed out on first place in the Youth Men's field by 3 thousandth of a second to Nathan Diwell-Wilson
Second place this weekend for Charlie Toomer
Only beaten by Reid Simpson by less than 2 seconds to take the win in the Juvenile Men's race
Mark Weightman took the win in the Grand Veteran mens field
Jay Thomson on the gas
Taylor Vernon back on the bike after some rough weekends on the World Series. A good result this weekend for Taylor taking home third
Drew Carters qualified first, finishing up fourth, a great weekend for the SteamPunk rider
The new motorway section has this cool kicker that's bigger than it looks, however, it didn't prove too challenging because it was so well-built. That is of course, if the head wind wasn't smashing into the riders
It's not a British National Downhill race without. photo of an Orange downhill bike
A red flag meant re-runs for these two young riders. It didn't seem to bother them too much, they were just focussed on sending the jumps even better next time
SDA Chairman Colin Houston worked flat out all race weekend making sure every event SDA run runs smoothly. It was a great weekend put on by the whole of the SDA team, supported by all the amazing marshals and volunteers without which National Series racing just doesn't happen
Patrick Martell on the gas into the fresh berm
Not content with just being Joe Breeden's race mechanic, Jon Stout also managed to race this weekend himself as well as being part of the Scottish Downhill committee, so he also had some work to do for the SDA throughout the race weekend. That didn't stop Stout taking 4th place in a highly competitive Masters Men's field. With Joe taking the win too - not a bad weekend for Stout
The motorway section mid-way down the track was great fun if there was no wind, but Glencoe is one of the windiest tracks in the UK so the riders aren't always lucky enough to send the jumps with the head wind we had for race day, but that doesn't stop some cheeky manuals being pulled
Unfortunately for Sam Harrison he ended up with a DNF this weekend
It wasn't dry all day Sunday - this is the Scottish summer afterall
A great third place for GT Viris' Katie Charlton
Layla Begley-Tracey squeaked into the top 10 in the Youth and Juvenile female class - not a bad effort for the Welsh Champ
This unfortunate rider had a mechanical but was determined to finish his race, but was great in making sure he was off the track to let riders through, whilst he was cheering everyone on
Fortunately the rocks stayed grippy in the wet
It wouldn't be Glencoe if there wasn't a few rock slabs
Once the freshly manicured motorway section mid-way was done, the riders had to do battle with a pretty technical, rock-strewn twisty section down towards the new fresh cut bit of track
Sebastian Sumner making short work of one of the many Glencoe rock gardens
Not that the riders had the opportunity to take them in, but the valley in Glencoe is one of the most beautiful places to ride a bike
The lower jump section was a fans favourite, unfortunately it was also the midges favourite place too!
Plenty of repair work done to the Glencoe red before we raced it for Round 4
Some days it just doesn't go your way, but that's racing
Glencoe is probably one of the most exposed track we race on in the UK
It's always a great feeling when you have a good run and make it to the bottom to find you're in the hot seat
The standout performance of the weekend of any rider came from Youth and Juvenile female winner Heather WIlson, who not only won her field but was the fastest female of the weekend by a good margin. The future of UK downhill seems to be bright with riders like Heather coming through
Saturday's rain left a pretty muddy track but throughout the day the conditions steadily improved, not that Glencoe typically suffers too badly from rain
Although we used the red downhill track this weekend, there was plenty of Glencoe brutality like in this track
Meghan Flanagan taking the elite win with Sophie Cade in second and Bethany McCully in third
Oliver Hood making good use of the freshly done jump section, a great result for Oliver finishing 8th in Junior this weekend
Not only elite win this weekend for Joe Breeden, but also the fastest time down the hill
Top ten result for Ciaran King this weekend
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Would be incredible if when the higher lift is finished the track is extended.
The secret to how good Glencoe is is that its built and managed by some pretty swift riders, it doesnt suffer too much from the rain and the general layout of the track is great with options for "fresh/straight" lines for racing like at the weekend.
I always say that Glencoe as a lot of what Fort William is missing (bold as I have always done well at Fort Bill compared to Glencoe).
Hats off to the SDA, they delivered again.