The 2016 British Cycling MTB Cross-country Series heads back to Wales for the second time this season as Fforest Fields hosts round four of this year’s competition.
Both the men’s and women’s competitions are finely poised with just two rounds remaining – setting up for a fantastic conclusion to this season’s event.
Elite men
National champion Grant Ferguson has only entered two rounds of the series so far, due to world cup duty, but has been impressive to take a first and second place this season.
But with the world championships later this month, Ferguson sits out the trip to Powys, offering an opportunity for Liam Killeen and David Fletcher to extend their leads.
Killen (Malven Cycle Sport) has been consistent throughout 2016, winning at Newnham Park and finishing second and fourth in the other two rounds to lead the series on 165 points.
Fletcher (Pine Cycles – Felt – Enve) is 18 points behind on 147, having secured three consecutive top-five finishes this year.
Ahead of Great Britain Cycling Team duty in the Czech Republic at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, Iain Paton will be in 100% me colours in Wales.
Paton was second at Newnham Park and currently sits seventh in the series standings on 102 points, knowing a good performance could see him overhaul international teammate Ferguson.
Elite women
Kerry MacPhee is leading the elite women’s competition after three rounds on 141 points, having finished fourth at both Newnham Park and Dalby Forest and sixth in the series opener at Pembrey.
The Rock and Road Cycles rider is in familiar territory, having lead the 2015 series going into the final round, when illness denied her the chance to be the overall winner.
Hot on MacPhee’s heels is Isla Short (Novus OMX Pro Team). Three top-ten finishes, including second at Newnham Park, put Short in second place on 136 points, with Velocity 44 Stirling’s Jane Barr in third on 124.
The red-hot favourite at Fforest Fields will be the rider currently in fourth place in the series.
Evie Richards (100% me) has back-to-back victories this season after dominating at Newnham Park and Dalby Forest.
The under-23 cyclo-cross world champion has also shone on the international stage – with consecutive silver medals in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in May – and will be looking to show her form ahead of the world championships.
Bethany Crumpton is another rider heading to the Czech Republic next month. The Boot Out Breast Cancer CC rider lines up in Wales, looking to follow up on third place finishes in the opening two rounds of the 2016 competition.
Event information
The fourth round of the 2016 British Cycling MTB Cross-country Series takes place on 11-12 June at Fforest Fields, Powys, in association with John Lloyd Racing Events Ltd.
Elite races take place on Sunday, with the women’s competition at 1pm and the men’s race at 3.15pm. Races last approximately 90 minutes, with riders taking a mass start before negotiating a series of 15-minute laps. Courses are designed to be spectator friendly and events are free to watch.
There is also age and ability-based racing across both days – for full details or to enter a future round of the series, see the event homepage. Start lists can be found here.
Want to start mountain biking? Check out our guide to getting involved.
How to follow
- Report and gallery will appear on the British Cycling website
- Updates will appear on Twitter @BritishCycling
