So, it's the penultimate round of the 2017 British Downhill Series at the infamous Llangollen. This much-loved venue with both riders and supporters brings a new challenge this year in the form of a brand new track crafted by Brian Mundy of the RidePortugal team. With an open day for the builders to show off their handiwork and the riders to get a bit of sneaky pre-race practice in a few weeks previously, its fair to say excitement levels were peaking!
With the rain hammering on the drive from South Wales to the track on Friday night and the weather forecasters promising more of the same over the weekend, no doubt everyone was wondering how the brand new track would hold up in the appalling conditions. On arrival at the venue, however, the sun was shining and luckily it was a sign of things to come.
On the track-walk, riders would find a variety of features and terrain. From big doubles and fast, open sections straight out of the gate where they could really get the hammer down lead into some tight turns on some super slick mud. Although, this was merely a warm up for the most the most technical section, a steep and slippery gully that caught more than a few riders out, after this there was a few more tight, slick corners and before the final motorway section full of big jumps, deep berms, and fast straights all the way to the finish line.
Saturday morning started with heavy rain which cleared quickly, that meant a leisurely start to the day as riders were waiting for the track to dry and nobody wanted to be the first down the hill. Once things got going though riders were loving the track with smiles for miles across all of their faces! Some riders loved it more than most with one trooper putting in more than 12 runs on Saturday alone!!
After a solid day of practice, it was all down to business on Sunday as riders dialled in their lines ready for seeding and race runs. With the track getting dryer and dryer times were falling. This could only mean one thing, a close and exciting race for all the supporters who made it out on race day.
With the Elite Women, the first major category down the hill all eyes were on Tahnée Seagrave as the only world cup regular racing everyone expected her to take the win, maybe by not such an incredible margin of 26 seconds which was by far the biggest winning margin of the day.
In the Junior Men's race though it was a different story; with the top three, Kade Edwards, Joe Breeden, and Matt Walker all coming in on the same second! With Joe Breeden an agonizing 0.097 seconds off first place and the fastest time of the day.
Elite Men's downhill racing seems to be cursed this season from world cups to nationals events all being a wash out where the weather is concerned. This race was no exception, the only plus side was it was a fair race for all involved as the rain started before the first man left the start hut. The rain didn't stop the best in the business setting the track alight with close racing though, only two-seconds separating the top three! Adam Brayton set the fastest time of the day with Alex Bond making a well deserved return to national podiums slotting into second place; and continuing an outstanding first year in elite with consistent top results Charlie Hatton crossed the line in third.