Preview: 2014 British Downhill Series

Dec 29, 2013 at 14:52

by Si Paton

The British Downhill Series (BDS) is the world's leading national downhill mountain bike series and attracts 320 of the world's fastest racers to Great Britain. The series is affiliated with both British Cycling and the UCI, offering a wealth of UCI points, £10,000 in prize money and £20,000 worth of prizes.

Finish area filled up over the weekend with everyone piling in. Drinks amp Food Stalls and Shops Pits and Riders they are all here this weekend - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com

The 2013 season saw 13 out of 14 of the UCI Elite Teams attend at least one round with riders such as; Gee Atherton, Steve Smith, Greg Minnaar, Loic Bruni, Sam Blenkinsop, Marcelo Guiterrez Villegas, Sam Hill, Danny Hart, Matt Simmonds, Nick Beer, Andrew Neethling, Markus Pekoll, Faustin Figaret, Brook Macdonald, Steve Peat, Marc Beaumont, Josh Bryceland, Brendan Fairclough, Joe Smith, Adam Brayton, Harry Heath, Bernard Kerr, Ben Reid and Cedric Gracia all putting in at least one appearance.

Greg Minnaar used the BDS for early practice of the Fort William track exactly one month before the World Cup.

Dates and Venues
Round 1 29/30 March Antur Stiniog, North Wales.
Round 2 10/11 May Fort William. Scotland.
Round 3 31 May/1 June Ae Forest, Scottish Borders.
Round 4 28/29 June Llangollen, Mid Wales.
Round 5 13/14 September Bike Park Wales. South Wales.

Sam Blenkinsop and the Lapierre International are already confirmed to race.

Entry Procedure:
The race is pre entry only and entries go live on the British Cycling website at 09:00 on Saturday the 4th of January at 09:00.
British riders must hold a British Cycling race license with a valid membership in either silver or gold and have scored 100 BC points in 2013.
International riders of all ages/categories are welcomed to enter the BDS via the British Cycling website. You must present a valid race license from your National Federation at race registration.

Race Categories and running order for both seeding and race runs:
Juvenile
Youth
Grand Veterans
Veteran
Master
Women
Elite Women
Junior
Senior
Expert
Elite

Enter the 2014 BDS by clicking here.

Santa Cruz Syndicates Steve Peat will be in the BDS house for 2014.

2014 Race Schedule:
Friday
13:00 Venue open for team pits, parking and camping.
15:00 Course open for on foot inspection only.
15:00 Commissaire course walk.
18:00 - 20:00 Race registration.

Saturday
08:00 - 11:00 Race registration.
09:30 Open practice for all riders.
18:00 Course Closed.
18:05 Riders meeting.

Sunday
08:30 Open practice for all riders.
11:00 Timed seeding run followed by one timed race run.
17:30 Last Elite racer down.
17:45 Podium.

The BDS spectators are second to none.

Madison Saracen Momentum Saracen British Downhill Series THREE - Innerleithen Scotland - Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com

The top flight women race the BDS, come and race with Rachel Atherton, Manon Carpenter, Floriane Pugin, Tahnee Seagrave, Fionn Griffiths, Emmeline Ragot, Emilie Siegenthaler, Casey Brown, Morgane Charre, Steffi Marth, Jess Stone, Alanna Columb, Traharn Chidley and Rachael Walker.

Toby on the mic here and also commentating on the live feed at the same time. Busy man but he can handle the pressures of standing around all day - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com

Toby Parodi is the voice of the BDS and will be in charge of the microphone at each round to inform and entertain you.

Big long sprint finish to really end your legs. Not the longest track but racing was fast and action packed top to bottom riders giving it their all - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com

The BDS welcomes all sponsorship enquiries, please contact the Race Director.

Race Director:
Si Paton: simon_paton@yahoo.co.uk
Click on the British Downhill Series Facebook Page for all the latest news.

Author Info:

si-paton

Member since Jul 26, 2006
361 articles

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31 Comments

19 2

nouser (Dec 30, 2013 at 2:31)

True world class racing... the amount of work Si has put in is staggering and he really deserves massive support for bringing the sport forward. Looking forward to 2014, with more prizes, sponsors and live feed.

lukegriffiths (Dec 30, 2013 at 7:18)

I've been out with injury for the whole of 2013 and it's depressed me some what as I've been racing since I was 12, the family and the atmosphere at these races are unreal! My whole teen years were spent racing these and I'm proud to say I'm back on the bike and hungry for these races next year. I for one and I think I speak for a lot when I say this, CANNOT WAIT.

13 1

Tombola27 (Dec 30, 2013 at 0:03)

North Wales in March eh?!?!?!

18 1

jor4s FL (Dec 30, 2013 at 0:18)

The first snow BDS !

normski38 (Dec 30, 2013 at 2:59)

That will put hairs on ya chest mate.......

Chadles (Dec 30, 2013 at 1:39)

Ae Forest is not in the Scottish Borders, it's in Dumfries and Galloway

S-Va-Dijk (Dec 30, 2013 at 4:08)

but it is only just over the boarder is it not ?

3lfd3wd (Dec 30, 2013 at 16:44)

Nah it's not Dijk, it's north of Dumfries, further from the border

timpegasus (Dec 30, 2013 at 3:53)

More like Scottish and Welsh series, British includes England and NI. Still fantastic series tho Si

way2fast4u FL (Dec 30, 2013 at 11:40)

I know! I live in the South East and the nearest one is about 5 hours from my house. Such a shame, as they're great races.

betsie (Dec 30, 2013 at 12:31)

Try living in the North of Scotland, the long drive to wales, takes £200 to £300 per race just to enter and drive there and back! Then the price of buying holidays from work. You are talking up to £500 to race in Wales... might be a series for those who can afford it, not the fastest! AE is pretty much on the border, a good 5 hours south from here. Lucky we have over 10 tracks within 30miles of here for the rest of the year.

downhillnirvana (Jan 3, 2014 at 11:02)

Its the 2014 Celtic series Tim

timpegasus (Jan 4, 2014 at 2:59)

Ha nice one Rich

anarchistx (Dec 31, 2013 at 10:13)

For us, these races are the best and super organised, along with the Pearce Cycles rounds we are pretty spoilt in the UK with awesome support for our sport, let alone the growing number of grassroots races with PORC, Aston Hill, Gravity Project and FOD. The best atmosphere at the BDS and riders and spectators get on so well with each other. The BDS has helped my Team progress so far and now we are looking at entering a couple of World Cups. Keep it up Si, Toby and the Team! Can't wait for 2014!

ChrisBrown1981 (Jan 3, 2014 at 8:33)

I just wish I was a) good enough to enter b) rich enough to enter and c) had a bike good enough to enter.....once I've sorted that Masters Cat. here I come :-)

dabble (Dec 30, 2013 at 4:45)

Great stuff, looking forward to this years coverage and hopefully get to spectate at a couple.

pb67 (Dec 30, 2013 at 4:58)

Only 5 rounds??not a lot for a britsh series I realise it's cost saving but would have liked to see more epically with the great variety of tracks we have here now and also are the uplifts trailers going to be better?

conorjm10 (Dec 30, 2013 at 17:00)

Going to race a couple of rounds this year and its fair to say i cant wait to experience it!

pinner15 (Dec 31, 2013 at 6:06)

Only bad thing about the bds is the uplifts and the cost of the race £70 is abit much for 2 days riding it could be more justifiable if the uplifts where quiker meening you would get more runs in

mrbojangles123 (Dec 31, 2013 at 8:05)

I'm a British citizen but i live overseas and don't have a licence :/ do i get a British licence or a Cypriot one?

darrenb15 (Mar 28, 2014 at 0:29)

Can we watch this then?

Someone want to share a link please

callumfraser (Dec 30, 2013 at 3:03)

great work, but missing the uk races

was going to watch, live stream for me instead then

si-paton (Dec 31, 2013 at 11:05)

Sam Hill confirmed for Fort Bill and Ae Forest! Also pencilled in for Bike Park Wales.

huwey (Dec 31, 2013 at 11:16)

Hope he comes to Antur Stiniog- it's only down the road from me! In fairness to the lad- it's a lot of travelling back and forth from his home near Perth!

si-paton (Dec 31, 2013 at 13:55)

Tricksta, either will suffice!

will-oddy1 (Jan 1, 2014 at 12:12)

love all the English track rounds.....

kademega (Jan 2, 2014 at 12:00)

love the bds!!!!!

Below threshold threads are hidden

6 11

shakeyakey (Dec 29, 2013 at 23:36)

And by 'British' you mean Wales and Scotland?

IllestT (Dec 30, 2013 at 0:53)

Well you could call it the National Points Series..... oh wait

mikecawsey (Dec 30, 2013 at 1:39)

Are Wales and Scotland not part of Britain? UK is OK by me.

shakeyakey (Dec 30, 2013 at 15:00)

Sigh... The point I was making was surely to be thr 'British Downhill Series' it should it encompass all three parts of Britain ie Wales, Scotland AND England?? Shame that out of 5 rounds a track couldn't of been sorted in England.