2008 National Downhill Championships

 

Pics by Andy Whitehouse and Andy Dunwoody

 

Posted: 20 July 2008

 

Full Results (thanks to Pearce Cycles)

 

First pics and news from the 2008 DH Nationals from Llangynog near Bala, North Wales, which saw a win for Steve Peat in the Elite Mens and victory for Tracey Moseley in the Elite Womens race. Big news was Rachel Atherton who did not start the final following a serious crash in practice, which resulted in her being airlifted to hospital. However, she was back at the venue on race day, albeit on crutches.

 

 

Above: Rachel Atherton being stretchered away from the scene following a collision with a tree during practice (picture courtesy of Jamie Watts) and below, back at the venue on race day.

 

 

Peat was joined on the podium by a Bike Radar duo of Marc Beaumont and Neil Donoghue, who took Silver and Bronze respectively, in a tightly fought final that saw the top ten riders separated by less than 10 seconds.

 

In the Elite women's final, Moseley headed home over 8 seconds ahead of Halfords Bikehut's Helen Gaskell, with Katy Curd taking 3rd spot.

 

Josh Bryceland took top honours in the Junior mens competition with a searing run that would have seen in in second place in the Elite mens competition, leading home Sam Dale and Joe Smith.  The Junior Womens victory was taken by just over a second by Jess Stone, narrowly beating Monet Adams into second spot, with Bex Reilly 36 seconds back in third.  

 

Images from the day

 

Above: Peat cracks open the bubbly atop the podium, flanked by the Bike Radar boys

 

Above left: 2008 champion Tracey Moseley using every last mm of travel on her way to victory.

Above right: conspicuous by her absence in the finals, World Champion Rachel Atherton in flight just before the crash that put her out of contention.

 

Results

 

Elite Men

 

1 PEAT Steve Santa Cruz Syndicate 2:50.677
2 BEAUMONT Marc Team Bike Radar +4.548
3 DONOGHUE Neil Team Bike Radar +6.094
4 CUNNINGHAM Ruaridh Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense +7.153
5 SIMMONDS Matt Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense +7.494
6 DEACON Tom Ancillotti UK +7.805
7 SMITH Robert Santa Cruz/Reverse Components +9.040
8 BARNES Joe MTBcut.tv/Orange +9.114
9 JONES Ralph Dirt Magazine +9.369
10 CRITCHLOW Dan Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense +9.982

 

Elite Women

 

1 MOSELEY Tracy Kona 3:19.219
2 GASKELL Helen Halfords Bikehut +8.282
3 CURD Katy Giant +12.301
4 HORRIDGE Emily +21.360
5 NEWMAN Sarah Balfa UK +23.892
6 CANN Calamity Jayne CF3 +31.167
7 CANN Haby Blu CF3 +33.121
8 MAHONY Sue Psyclewerx +42.307

 

Junior Men

 

1 BRYCELAND Josh Santa Cruz Syndicate 2:54.016
2 DALE Sam Cannondale Factory Racing +5.958
3 SMITH Joseph Tomac Factory Racing +6.046
4 MALLER Ashley Knox +7.542
5 HART Danny Lapierre/Saab Soloman +8.124
6 BREWIN Gareth Descent-Gear/Santa Cruz +9.951
7 EATH Harry Derry Air Cycles/Morewood +12.189
8 WILLIAMS Marcus K-9 Industries +12.984
9 SCOTT James CycleJersey +13.502
10 KERR Bernard Marzocchi/Millyard Racing +14.623

 

Junior Women

 

1 STONE Jessica Trek/Extreme Medics Racing 3:53.614
2 ADAMS Monet Solid/Quad/Cwmdown +1.071
3 REILLY Bex Castle Douglas Cycle Centre +36.096