Wonderful Willicombe wins again

Wonderful Willicombe wins again

Navigation:
Home » Mountain Bike (MTB) » British MTB Series » Four Cross Series

Published: 24 June 2018
Written by: Andy Whitehouse
Images: 5311 Media

Dec Willicombe produced when it mattered as he claimed his second successive HSBC UK | National Four Cross Series triumph in Afan.

Willicombe, who celebrated his first-ever elite men’s victory when he topped the podium at Fort William, in Scotland, in round three, plucked another result straight from the top drawer as he repeated the feat in South Wales.

That was only after he struggled through the qualifying rounds but Willicombe came to the fore to get the better of Duncan Ferris, Will Evans and Grant Hill in the A Final.

“I’m very happy with the win since I didn’t have the best time in the motos,” said a victorious Willicombe.

“I had some bad gates and had to work to get to the finals.

“[In the A Final], Grant had a puncture coming into the rock garden, so I was able to get past. He was leading until that point – his gates are insane.

“But once I was on the front, I was able to hold the lead.

“It was a tough course – the top section was very slippy and the rock garden has so many lines, which was tough to ride, and the pro line was also tough on us.”

Where’s there’s a Will, there’s a way

A classy line up in the Elite A Final concluded a fine day’s racing on arguably one of the most technical courses on the British Cycling | National Four Cross Series.

After being pitted against Ferris and Evans, who are no strangers to competing for honours, Willicombe took full advantage of some good fortune to cross the line first.

As the race approached the rock garden, Hill suffered a puncture and dropped off the pace, his race over.
Willicombe made the most of Hill’s misfortune and attacked off the front, with Ferris and Evans unable to catch the eventual winner.

In the Pro Elite B Final, Dave Roberts who took the win, holding off the challenge of Charlie Currie.

Wherry’s untouchable once again

Repeat success also arrived for Megan Wherry, who dominated the field to romp to her third win of the series so far.

Easing through her qualifying motos, Wherry had the measure of the course and nailed the lines perfectly to construct a clean sweep on the day.

Courtney Abbiss had a good day out on the Afan hill to take a well-deserved second-place but Wherry was unassailable.

Results

Men’s elite

1. Dec Willicombe

2. Duncan Ferris

3. Will Evans

4. Grant Hill

Women’s elite

1. Megan Wherry

2. Courtney Abbiss

3. Rachel Powis

4. Mel Nice

Gallery

HSBC UK 2018 | British 4X Series Round 4 Afan