National champions' jerseys are up for grabs this weekend as the HSBC UK | National Downhill Championships take place in Wales.
Rhyd-Y-Felin plays host to the championships, with a course full of with huge jumps and tight berms set to challenge riders in their pursuit of the national titles.
Elite men
World champion Danny Hart will head to Wales looking to add the white, red and blue national champion’s jersey to his rainbow stripes.
The MS Mondraker Team rider topped the podium at the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Italy in September last year and is looking to win back the national title that he last claimed in 2015.
His main challenge may come from defending champion Greg Williamson.
The Cube Global Squad rider just pipped Hart to the title 12 months ago in Llangynog, Wales, beating him by only 0.375 seconds in a thrilling effort.
Eight-time national champion Steve Peat completed the podium at Revolution Bike Park in 2015 and the legendary Santa Cruz Syndicate rider would love to add to his palmares in Rhyd-Y-Felin.
Two other riders enjoying successful seasons on the world stage will be keen to transfer that form to the national championships.
Both Matthew Simmonds (Madison Saracen Factory Team) and Charlie Hatton (Intense Racing UK) are in the top 25 of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup standings after five rounds and both will have an eye on a podium finish this weekend.
Elite women
World champion Rachel Atherton continues her recovery from injury at the HSBC UK | National Downhill Championships.
Atherton's world cup winning streak came to an end following a crash at the Fort William round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - but the defending national champion took second at Lenzerheide earlier this month and will be raring to go this weekend.
Fresh from her maiden elite UCI Mountain Bike World Cup win earlier this season, Tahnee Seagrave heads to Wales looking to secure the national title.
Seagrave finished second behind Atherton last year but the Transition Bikes / FMD Factory Racing rider will look to push the defending champion all the way.
Manon Carpenter will look to top the podium once more and will be relishing the chance to race in her home country.
The 24-year-old is a former national champion and is just one place behind Seagrave in fourth in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup standings.
Jessica Greaves has had a consistent season on the domestic circuit and the Intense Racing UK rider is currently fourth in the HSBC UK | National Downhill Series standings after three rounds.
Sophia Paull and Aston Tutt (Madison Saracen Development Team) are also well placed in the top ten and will be among those competing for medals in Rhyd-Y-Felin.
Schedule
Sunday 23 July
8.45am - Practice
11am - Seeding runs
2pm - Finals
How to follow
- Report and gallery will appear on the British Cycling website
- Updates will appear on Twitter @BritishCycling
