Saracen British Downhill Series – Round 4 Llangollen – Preview
This weekend the Saracen British Downhill Series visits the Llangollen, Mid wales on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of June 2013 for a UCI Category 2 event.
The Venue:
O/S Co-Ordinates are Grid Reference SJ 231 405
Nearest postcode: LL20 8AR
From the North
Take the A56 to the A483 heading towards Wrexham then turn right on to the A5 the road (Maes mawr Road).
From the South
J10a off the M6 onto the M54 until J7 then onto the A5 towards Shrewsbury then head towards Oswestry keep on the A5 untill you see at MacDonald’s on the right hand side turn left still on the A5 towards Llangollen. The road (Maes mawr Road) to the the venue can be found on the left just past the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club. The route will be sign posted off the A5.
From Wrexham on the A539 enter Llangollen and turn left over the bridge at the Bridge End Hotel. Pass through the middle of town and turn left onto the A5 at the traffic lights. Follow the A5 for 1.5 miles and turn right onto Maesmawr Road. Follow the signs for Tyn Dwr Outdoor Activity Centre (UCLAN). Pass the entrance to UCLAN and the event field is ½ mile further on. Car parking if just after the finish field and camping is opposite. We have drinkable water but no open fires please.
Wrexham is the nearest major town. The nearest Motorway junction is Junction 15 of the M56 from the North and J7 of the M54 from the South.
From Oswestry on the A5 head for Llangollen. Pass through the village of Froncysllte and three miles later see the Llangollen Golf Club on the right below the road. After the bends following the golf club take a left turn approximately one mile before Llangollen onto Maesmawr Road. Follow the signs for Tyn Dwr Outdoor Activity Centre (UCLAN). Pass the entrance to UCLAN and the event field is ½ mile further on.
Car parking if just after the finish field and camping is opposite. We have drinkable water but no open fires please.
The £5.00 per vehicle charge will cover camping and parking. Racers will not have to pay this charge. Spectating will be free.
PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE RUNNING A ONE WAY SYSTEM IN AND OUT OF THE VENUE
The lanes around the venue are small country lanes which can be tight pleased drive with due care and attention and always respect the local community. There will be a 1 way system implemented please enter the site using Maes Mawr road this will be sign posted from Friday morning.
The Course:
Approximate fastest winning time around 2mins 10 seconds.
The start is 400 meters above sea level.
The finish is 90 meters above sea level.
310 meters is the total vertical drop and the track is 1.5 kms long.
Course rating (1-5 with 5 being very technical): Rating 5.
Man made obstacles are in abundance along the whole length of the course with several large jumps and berms.
The finish arena is large in size and will be surrounded by 200 crowd barriers.
Riders are advised to wear suitable protection, walk the course prior to riding and ride within their own ability level.
Squirrel Track head cam ridden by Devinci rider Gareth Weston:
Nearest Train Station:
Gobowen Railway Station in Oswestry Shropshire. SY11 3JS. Telephone 0845 606 1660.
The nearest ferry port is:
The Port of Holyhead, Salt Island,Gwynedd, North Wales. LL65 1DR. Telephone 08447 707 070
The nearest airport is:
Birmingham International BHX. Birmingham Airport is just off Junction 6 of the M42 and is linked into central Birmingham by the A45. If you are using a sat-nav system, the postcode of the airport is B26 3QJ.
Nearest Hospital:
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury. SY3 8XQ.
Telephone 01743 261000
Nearest Police Station:
Chirk Police Station. Holyhead Road, Wrexham, LL14 5HF.
Tel: 0845 607 1002
Nearest Showers:
Plas Madoc Leisure and Activity Centre. Llangollen Road, Acrefair. Wrexham. LL14 3HL. Tel: 01978 821600 Showers cost £1.00.
Organisation:
BDS Events.
Race Director: Simon Paton: si@descent-gear.com. Mobile 07968 229 359
Race Web Site: www.britishdownhillseries.com
www.facebook.com/BritishDownhillSeries
2013 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, please bring your valid 2013 BC/UCI Race Licence.
Saturday
07:00 Course open for on foot inspection only. No transport to the top is provided or permitted.
08:00 – 11:00 Race registration, please bring your valid 2013 BC/UCI Race Licence.
09.00 Uplift opens for all riders
09:30 Open practice for all riders.
18:00 Course Closed.
18:05 Riders meeting.
18:30 Course open for on foot inspection only.
Sunday
08:00 Uplift opens.
08:30 Open Practice for all.
10:15 First Uplift for racing.
10:45 Course Closed.
11:00 Timed Seeding Run followed by one timed race run.
17:30 Podium for top five in each category.
Entry procedure, distribution of identification numbers:
The race is pre-entry only. SOLD OUT
Racer numbers will be available at the race office located in the finish arena. Riders must sign on and present their valid racing licence. Failure to produce a valid racing licence will mean an instant £10.00 cash administration charge that will go straight 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 their responsibility to look after it. A lost number board will mean a £5.00 charge for a replacement as will a number board that has a modified shape and sponsors’ logos removed.
No defacing of number boards. The number boards remain the property of BDS Events until the end of your race season at the BDS (£5.00 to replace your number board).
Note:
For series overall positions, four out of five rounds count, including seeding points.
Race Categories and running order for both seeding and race run:
Juvenile Pro-Tec 13-14 years of age.
Youth – SixSixOne – 15-16 years of age.
Veteran – Madison Clothing – 40-49 years of age.
Master – Madison Clothing – 30-39 years of age.
Women – Shimano -13 and over.
Elite Women -Schwalbe – 19 years and over.
Junior – Fox 17-18 years of age.
Senior – Kore – 19-29 years of age.
Expert – Shimano -19 and over.
Elite – Schwalbe – 19 and over.
Juvenile – Riders must be in the year of their 13th or 14th birthday.
Youth – Riders in the year of their 15th or 16th birthdays.
Junior – Riders in the year of their 17th or 18th birthdays.
Senior – Riders in the year of their 19th birthday then the Senior category is the appropriate aged based category. See below for how riders can attain Expert or Elite status.
Master – For riders aged 30 to 39.
Veteran – For riders aged 40 to 49.
Grand Veteran – For riders aged over 50
Prize Money:
The fastest 8 riders overall from the Male Junior, Senior, Expert and Elite will receive prize money and UCI points in accordance with the UCI rule book.
The fastest 4 riders overall from the Female Junior, Senior and Elite will receive prize money and UCI points in accordance with the UCI rule book.
All prize money will be paid directly by British Cycling to the riders.
Mens UCI cat 2
1st 300 euros
2nd 230 euros
3rd 165 euros
4th 130 euros
5th 105 euros
6th 90 euros
7th 80 euros
8th 65 euros
Womens UCI Cat 2
1st 265 euros
2nd 200 euros
3rd 130 euros
4th 65 euros
Race Regulations:
The event will run under BC and UCI Regulations and Penalties. Please make sure you aware of the rules.
The BDS has the best safety record in the history of mountain bike racing in the U.K.
Friday 16:00 we will hold a course inspection with the UCI Commissaire, Chief BC Commissaire, Head Marshal, Head of Course Maintenance and myself. Any recommendations will be implemented immediately.
BDS rules incorporate those laid out in the current BC and UCI handbook of 2013.
Juvenile and Youth you must wear the following body armour:
Full Spine
Elbow pads
Knee pads
For riders that do not wear them (Disqualified)
Uplift Procedure:
Tractors and a mixture of mini buses and trailers will be used to transport riders and bikes up the hill. Riders will be separated from their bikes and will be required to wear their helmet on their head at all times. We will provide an uplift marshal at the pick up point. We aim to lift at least 200 riders per hour.
Ride.io team edit from the 2012 Llangollen BDS
Ride.io – Halo BDS Round 6 Llangollen Team Edit from Ride.io on Vimeo.
Race Timing:
www.sportstimingsystems.co.uk the UK distributor for Tag Heuer.
Results will be posted in the main arena on completion of each event and online by Monday 12:00 after the event.
Wireless communications will be used. The riders will start from a covered area with hand rail and will cross a laser beam to start the timing. The finish line will use laser beams again to capture the rider crossing the line. A large T.V screen will show the results live at the finish line.
Live split timing will be provided at the step down section into the open field. Provisional results from each category will be printed and displayed within five minutes of the category finishing.
Medical:
www.remotemedicalservices.co.uk will provide full medical cover both on course (In a 4×4 vehicle) and from an identifiable Base Station in the event arena. Five medical personnel ranging from a doctor to paramedics.
Camping:
Camping will be available onsite, running drinking water will be provided. Please note no fires.
PA System:
A full Public Announcement Facility will be on site with announcements throughout the day. Toby Parodi the voice of the BDS will be on hand all weekend. A Notice Board will also be on display in the Race Office/Rider Registration area for displaying information regarding the event.
Catering:
Providing fresh hot and cold food and refreshments from 18:00 on Friday to close of play on Sunday. There will also be a licensed bar on site.
Toilets:
12x Toilets will be provided, a disabled toilet, male urinal and women-only facilities. All will be serviced on Saturday evening and re-stocked throughout the weekend.
Media:
Live feed from the commentator, from 13:00 to close of podiums with a wide range of interviews, pit chat, bike checks and helmet cams of the track as well as the timed race runs for all categories.
All results posted online by Sunday 18:00 of the race.
The award ceremony will take place ten minutes after the last rider has completed their race run and will be located in the finish arena area. Race office, press conference and race meetings will be located in the large marquee.
UCI Commissaires:
Diamantides Evangelos.
British Cycling Commissaires:
Kelvin Hoy.
Course Marshals:
15 x marshals will be in place on course both Saturday and Sunday throughout training. Each marshal will be easily identifiable by wearing a high visibility vest and will be supplied with a working two way radio, a whistle, red and yellow flag and a supply of refreshments. We aim to ensure all our marshals are aged 21 or over and fit and able.
The marshal briefing will be carried out by myself at 08:00 on the Saturday morning at the registration tent.
Dave Liggins and Mitch Collins – Course Maintenance.
Jonathon Wragg and Conrad Hackett – Support Team.
Additional Information:
Accommodation:
Tyn Celyn Farmhouse 200 metres from track 01978 861117
Bridge End Hotel Llangollen 01978 860634
The Britannia Inn Llangollen 01978 860144
Wynnstay Arms Ruabon 01978 822187
The Hand Llanarmon DC 01691 6000666 ****
The Druid Inn Llanferes 01352 810225 ***
Tyddan Llan Llandrillo 01490 440264 *****
Manorhaus Ruthin 01824 704830 ****
Wynnstay Arms Ruthin 01824 703147 ****
Greenbank Llangollen 01978 861835 ***
Cambrian Llangollen 01978 861418 ***
Four Poster Llangollen 01978 861062
Hillcrest Llangollen 01978 860208 ***
Oakmere Llangollen 01978 861126 ****
Bron Y Graig Corwen 01490 413007 ****
Y Llwyn Llandrillo 01490 440455 ****
Trawscoed Mawr Corwen 01490 460472 ***
Tyn Dwr Hall Llangollen 01978 860659
Tyn Y Wern Llangollen 01978 860252 *****
Gales Wine Bar Llangollen 01978 860089 ***
Plas Derwen Corwen 01490 412741 ****
Eyarth Station Ruthin 01824 703643 ****
Pentre Mawr Ruthin 01824 790732 *****
Petrol Stations:
From the South
A5 Gledrid Services, Saint Martins, Shropshire SY11 3, United Kingdom
A5 Oswestry Service Station, Mile End Service Area, Shrewsbury Road, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 4JA
From the North
Rhostyllen Service Station, Wrexham Road, Esclusham, Wrexham LL14 4,
Shell UK Mold Road Ruabon Wrexham LL11 2AD.
Watch this video showcasing all the action form the British Downhill Series at llangollen in 2012…
Ride.io – Halo BDS Round 6 Llangollen from Ride.io on Vimeo.
Ride.io will once again be bringing you coverage over the weekend with our video edit, headcam footage, race report & much more.