Shimano BDS 2014: Round 2, Fort William - Race Preview

Over 70 Elite Men and over 15 Elite Women are signed up for Round 2 of the British Cycling Shimano British Downhill Series race at Fort William this weekend. This means over 12 World Champions are on the start lists from all categories at this UCI Category 1 event. International riders signed up include the likes of Sam Hill, Gee Atherton, Troy Brosnan, Danny Hart, Steve Peat, Josh Bryceland, Loic Bruni, Brendan Fairclough, Sam Blenkinsopp, Matt Simmonds and Marcelo Gutierrez.

Brendog racing against the rain at last year's Fort William race. Photo credit: Paul Cram.

The course for this weekend is 98% the same with the only differences being in the woods and the Shimano BDS race line missing the big drop. Entries are now sold out but spectators are welcome to attend for free, so come and watch the world's fastest downhill mountain bikers take on the famous Scottish descent! It goes without saying that the course has World Cup pedigree and will be physically and technically challenging. It's been raining all week in the Nevis Range area and the forecast for Saturday and Sunday is... rain! Looks like we could see a repeat of last year's exciting race that saw Danny Hart take the win with a time of 4:46.88.

Below sets out the key information for both riders and spectators attending the race this weekend. Further information is available on the dedicated Pinkbike Forum page, so if you have any questions before the race post them on the forum and if you have any photos and videos from the weekend, post them there as we'd love to see you showcase your work! Don't forget to check in Pinkbike regularly over the weekend to read the latest news from Practice and watch the official Shimano BDS Helmet Cam video presented by Fox Head on Saturday, and read the full race report soon after.

Shimano BDS in Fort William will act as a precursor to the UCI World Cup next month. Photo credit: Laurence Crossman-Emms.

THE VENUE
Nevis Range, Torlundy, Fort Willliam, Inverness-shire. PH33 6SQ. Scotland. Telephone 01397 705 825, email info@nevisrange.co.uk.

The Course
Length = 2.82km, Start altitude = 655m, Finish altitude = 100m, Vertical descent = 555m, Fastest time = 4:50 mins, Course rating (1-5 with 5 being very technical): Rating 4.

Parking
Please do not park in the section of the car park in front of the ticket office/entrance to the gondolas. When you drive into the venue and onto the car park main centre road, please turn RIGHT if you are not in the Pro Pits OR please turn LEFT if you are in the Pro Pits. Please note the Pro Pits is a pit area for pop up tents/race trucks. All other team/riders vehicles will have to be parked in the racers' side of the car park (on the right were you turn in). Parking will will be free. Please park responsibly.

Spectating
Spectating will be free. Please note there is a fee for spectators to use the Gondola service, tickets are available at Nevis Range directly to purchase on the day. No advance booking is required. See here for details on pricing and opening times.

Catering
There will be on site catering providing fresh hot and cold food and refreshments from 0900 to 1800 on Friday, 0800 to 2300 on Saturday, 0700 to 1700 on Sunday. Nevis Range have two cafes, one at the base station (which has free wireless) and one at the top of the hill by the start line. The mobile cafe will be open by the finish line.

RACE SCHEDULE
The track is open for anyone to ride tomorrow (7th May) and Thursday (8th May). Please pay Nevis Range directly.

Friday
0900 Venue open for team pits, parking and camping
1030 - 1515 The track is open for anyone to ride, please pay Nevis Range onsite, no need to book
1600 Course open for on foot inspection only. If you wish to use the gondola please pay Nevis Range
1600 Commissaire course walk
1800 - 2000 Race registration, please bring your valid 2014 BC/UCI Race Licence

Saturday
0700 Course open for on foot inspection only
0800 - 11:00 Race registration, please bring your valid 2014 BC/UCI Race Licence.
0830 Uplift open for marshals and medics.
0910 Uplift opens for all riders
0930 Open practice for all riders.
1800 Course Closed.
1805 Riders meeting.
1830 Last gondola down for marshals and medics.
1830 Course open for on foot inspection only. No transport to the top is provided or permitted.

Sunday
0730 Uplift open for marshals and medics
0810 Uplift opens
0830 Open Practice for all
1015 Last Uplift Leaves
1015 First Uplift for racing
1045 Course Closed
1100 Timed Seeding Run followed by one timed race run
1730 Podium for top five in each category
1800 Last gondola down for marshals and medics

Here's hoping that the weather forecasters are wrong! Photo credit: Laurence Crossman-Emms.

RIDER INFORMATION
Rider Registration
Rider registration opens on Friday from 1800 to 2000 and Saturday 0800 to 1100. Racer numbers will be available at the race office where all riders must sign on and present their valid National Federations race licence and membership. Failure to do so will result in a £10 fine payable to British Cycling. Once paid, the rider can then complete registration and compete in the event. Riders will be given one number board for the series. It is your responsibility to look after the number board. A lost number board will mean an immediate £5 cash charge for a replacement front number board and £3 for a rear number board. As will a number board that has a modified shape, sponsors logos removed or both. No defacing of number boards is allowed. The number boards remain the property of BDS Events until the end of your race season.

Uplift Procedure
Gondolas will transport both riders and bikes. Bikes will hang from their seats outside of the gondola, please ensure your seat and seat post are tight and up to the job. Please fill every hook on each gondola, failure to do so will result in longer queues. We will provide an uplift marshal at the pick up point. We aim to lift at least 200 riders per hour. The route is a circular uplift so the gondola has no need to stop. Those who have purchased a ticket to ride on the Friday can use that ticket in the afternoon as an uplift to walk down the track, after 1515. If you just want to purchase a gondola ticket on the Friday afternoon as an uplift for you to walk the course then your best bet is to get 12 people together at the same time with one person making the payment having collected cash from the others. This would give you a group rate of £9.50 per person. Gondola pricing and opening times for the week before the event, including the Friday are available here. Note, the race track used for the Shimano BDS race will be closed at 1515.

Race Regulations
The event will run under BC and UCI Regulations and Penalties. Please make sure you aware of the additional BDS rules by reading the information here.

Race Categories and running order for both seeding and race run
Juvenile // Sponsored by DMR // 13 - 14 years (riders must be in the year of their 13th or 14th birthday) // Running order 975-999
Youth // Sponsored by NS Bikes // 15 - 16 years (riders in the year of their 15th or 16th birthdays) // Running order 900 - 974
Grand Veteran // Sponsored by Nuflex // 50 and over // Running order 800 - 806
Veteran // Sponsored by Dainese // 40 - 49 years // Running order 700 - 749
Master // Sponsored by Marzocchi // 30 - 39 years // Running order 600 - 699
Women // Sponsored by Flare Clothing // 13 and over // Running order 525 - 549
Elite Women // Sponsored by Schwalbe // 19 and over // Running order 500 - 524
Junior // Sponsored by Outdoor Tech // 17-18 years (riders in the year of their 17th or 18th birthdays) // Running order 400 - 499
Senior // Sponsored by Spank // 19-29 years (riders in the year of their 19th birthday) // Running order 200 - 399
Expert // Sponsored by X-Fusion // 19 and over // Running order 100 - 199
Elite // Sponsored by Schwalbe // 19 and over // Running order 1 - 99

Could we see a repeat of last year's BDS? Photo credit: Pics4All

PRIZE MONEY AND POINTS
Mens UCI Cat 1
1st = €665, 2nd = €530, 3rd = €400, 4th = €265, 5th = €200, 6th = €130, 7th = €100, 8th = €65

Womens UCI Cat 1
1st = €530, 2nd = €400, 3rd = €265, 4th = €130, 5th = €65, 6th = €65, 7th = €65, 8th = €65

UCI Cat 1 Points
1st = 60, 2nd = 40, 3rd = 30, 4th = 25, 5th = 20, 6th = 18, 7th = 16, 8th = 14, 9th = 12, 10th = 10, 11th = 8, 12th = 6, 13th = 4, 14th = 2, 15th = 1. Note, for series overall positions, four out of five rounds count, including seeding points.

Other categories
For each remaining race category the top five will be invited onto the podium and will win a voucher to cash in at the end of the series after the last round.

Prize breakdown for each category*
1st = £100, 2nd = £80, 3rd = £60, 4th = £40, 5th = £20
*This excludes the Grand Veterans category who will receive prizes at each event and also excludes the Elite Male and Female categories.

Rose Bikes Biggest Winning Margin
£100 for the rider who beats the rest of the field in their category during their race run by the biggest winning margin (there must be 10 or more in the category). In the event of a tie, the rider with the fastest race time will be declared the winner. Prize money will be paid directly by the race organiser.

Ethic Watches Fastest Time of the Day
£100 for the rider who records the fastest time of the day in their race run. In the event of a tie, the rider with the fastest race time in seeding will be declared the winner. Prize money will be paid directly by the Ethic Watches.

Works Components Fastest Speed Through the Speed Trap
£100 for rider who records the fastest speed through the speed trap on the day in their race run. In the event of a tie, the rider with the fastest overall race time will be declared the winner. Prize money will be paid directly by the race organiser.

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Racing and Events Shimano