It wasn't practice, it was survival for riders at the forth round of British Cycling's Shimano British Downhill Series at Llangollen, Wales. The track was set to test the bravest of the brave, and those courageous enough to cross the start line at today's practice were treated to probably one of the toughest technical national-level racing lines in the UK, possibly Europe. With many riders, including the Elites, comparing the top section of the track to the famous Champery World Cup track, it wasn't surprising that some riders, not quite feeling it, decided to take the uplift back down the track and head home after seeing their comrades crash out one after another in the first few sections. Even the lads from the Army Downhill Team - paid to go into war zones - were saying how daunting the top section of Llangollen was. Photographs and videos will never do it justice, so for those who haven't yet been, you'll have to believe us when we say that we've never seen so many riders go over the bars, plunge sideways into trees or straight up plough into other riders who had taken a tumble, past the tape and on the side of the track. A few carefully placed catch-fences saw some regular customers, but fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
 | I'm used to riding this stuff and I prefer it to a lot of the World Cup tracks we've been racing this year. For sure it's hard and just because I'm used to riding this kind of track it doesn't make it easier. You don't get many runs at a national weekend, so you're kinda straight in there. You think 'I've got to make this run count, I've got to get all my lines right'. I started off good this morning and got progressively worse all day. I'm trying to help some of the girls - this morning some of them were on dry tyres and had super high pressures and their seats really high. On a track like this, your bike set up is really important. I've made some big changes to try different things on mine, like trying flats for a while, but I don't really like them. You can't turn when you're in mid air, so you've got to keep your wheels on the floor which is easier said than done! - Rachel Atherton, GT Factory Racing |
| It's pretty crazy that people are packing their vans and leaving. Me and a few of my mates have been having a great time smashing turns, staying out of the crazy roots, and yeh, having good fun! In the top section, you definitely want to pick your braking points right, and you wanna be braking bloody hard. - Laurie Greenland, Trek World Racing |
The top section was covered in low cloud for most of the morning during practice, with visibility around 60 feet, making the first wooded section feel very claustrophobic. With pine trees towering over the track, riders took turns to face the dreaded first couple of drops. There was no quarter given as riders struggled to plant their bikes on the steep, slippery dirt in order to slow down before the following drop. Alongside this, treacherous slate rock was slowly being unearthed beneath the wet, greasy mud, making every rider's trip down a new experience, despite previous practice runs. Funnelling through the trees, riders had to make the most of what grip they had, to avoid hitting trees or exploring the track beyond the tape. Somehow, riders managed to catch their breath despite the intensity of getting through the first technical section, only to arrive at yet another steep, technical section where the mud was slick, though now dotted with lethal roots. There was no easy way for riders to stop as the track was a straight down run with no berms for riders to use to scrub speed.
| I haven't seen any steep bits yet! Yeh, it is a really tough track and it's a shame it rained yesterday because if it hadn't, then it would have been easier to ride for a lot of those people [who have decided not to race]. But it's a National, so it's the best of the best in Britain, and we've got to have some tough tracks. There are probably some bits on the track they could have taped differently to make it a little bit easier for general guys. It costs a lot of money to enter a National these days, so I feel sorry for some of the guys who've gone home. The track is starting to ride better and better. It's got a good groove in it now, but still you just have to be really confident to be able to ride it. In the top section, you've got to relax and let the berms catch you. There are a lot of little ruts and berms to catch on the track and you've got to control your speed coming in, let it go and then catch in the berms. I'd say the top of the track is a lot similar to Champery - it's steep and hard to do - but I've enjoyed it today, it's been quite fun, but you do have to have a certain amount of confidence and a certain skill level to ride stuff like this. - Steve Peat, Santa Cruz Syndicate |
| The track is wild, if you stay on you're doing good. Everyone's lining up at the top, hanging round Marshall Point 3 [the steepest section of the woods] and they're all cheering every rider on. It's a great feeling having the pro's cheering you! At one point I was following Matt Simmonds on the track and trying to keep up behind him was really fun! - Stuart Wood, We Love Mountains Downhill Team |
Once through the technical sections and out of the woods, the track traversed along the bracken-strewn hillside. The low cloud had burned away and with the sun coming out, it was a chance for people to remember that they were riding in the summer. The track here was wide open and scattered with booters and small drops, with plenty of line choices for the eagle-eyed. Many if the pros were exploring their options and finding a few sneaky lines that would gain them valuable milliseconds come race day on Sunday.
| They seem to be making track changes at the top. They're trying to fight a fire up there but it's wet and it's going to rut up, but it's good because I like it when it's like that. There are people everywhere, so it's pretty hectic. You've just got to avoid them! I just actually drifted into someone's wheels and used them as a berm! Sorry whoever that was! - Josh 'Loosedog' Lewis - Santa Cruz / Fox Head |
| The track is pretty greasy, it's bloody hard work but I love it, it's my favourite track of the year but the conditions are making it as tricky as it could get. I'm getting down alright but I imagine it's a struggle for a lot of the other riders. You're just sort of braking and you're getting quicker and quicker. You just gotta commit to the corners to change direction to then get on the brakes again. On the steep bits, you're just hoping the berms at the bottom are going to hold you. But the track is wicked, absolutely loving it! Then you get out of the woods and the bottom bit which is usually quite steep and gnarly is an absolute walk in the park - it's just mint! Coming back from the World Cup win, people have been great saying congratulations so it's really nice and I'm loving the support. - Josh Bryceland, Santa Cruz Syndicate |
A few switchbacks later, riders were able to relax and let go, before arriving at the final wooded section at full tilt, railing the last berm before a set of three booters. Flying out of the woods, riders found themselves in the finish area which ran across a field. For some it was sheer relief to make it down safely, but for others, they couldn't wait to get back on the uplift and bash out a few more runs before the end of the day.
| The track is slippery, proper slippery but it should get better, it's just taking the top layer off, the slime. Other than that, I reckon tomorrow will be fine. It's just this morning - always in the morning - it's bad. This track is probably the toughest and the most technical but that's good as a lot of the other tracks, I think, don't really challenge the top people. Fort William isn't that technical, it's just physical. You do the woods here and it's a lot slower and more technical, so when you get to the open, because it's so much wider, you notice the difference, so you don't worry so much. It doesn't feel as steep and you've got nothing crash into. - Brandon Love - Biketart |
| It's just carnage at the top. It's alright though. I think everyone's trying to look at the track before they commit too much. There aren't many [different] lines at the top you can do at the moment, but when you get into the open, it's really good. In terms of set-up , suspension wise there's not really much you can do because you're not going fast enough yet to make any difference, but pretty much you want to run a good set of spikes, with a good edge on them so you can slow down! - Joe Smith - CRC Nukeproof |
Tomorrow will be another test of courage, but with the track likely to be drier thanks to the forecast for clear weather, we'll no doubt see all riders going faster than they have been doing today. With a track like Llangollen, the Shimano British Downhill Series is showing what real downhill is about.
Obviously you haven't been watching the same WC races I have been for the past couple of years...
I should also add here that I'm not trying to discredit any riders either, a lot of my favourite riders are British - Peaty, Ratboy, Rachel, Manon, etc. etc. I do love you my commonwealth buddies!
m.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/British-Downhill-Series-Llangollen-Practice-Carnage,26235/Steel-City-Media,14510
Oh how I know I've felt this. TTC Goat trail in the rain!