Race guide: HSBC UK | National Cross Country Series round four - Phoenix Bike Park

Race guide: HSBC UK | National Cross Country Series round four - Phoenix Bike Park

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The 2018 HSBC UK | National Cross Country Series heads south this weekend for the crucial fourth round in Suffolk.

The action takes place at Phoenix Bike Park where titles could be decided on Sunday.

About the competition

The HSBC UK | National Cross Country Series is a five-round competition which takes place between April and August, with a rider’s best four scores from the series counting towards their overall total.

The series opened at Sherwood Pines, with the second round taking place at Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire.

After round three in Glentress Forest in Peebles last month, Phoenix Bike Park hosts round four this weekend in Suffolk.

The final round of the 2018 series takes place in Wales at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

Elite men

Grant Ferguson is on the verge of winning his first HSBC UK | National Cross Country Series title since 2013.

The CST American Eagle rider has won the last two rounds and could wrap up the series with a victory in Suffolk even with one more race remaining.

Ferguson currently has 169 points, 36 clear of his nearest rival Alexander Welburn (trainSharp Club) who will also be in action this weekend.

One point behind Welburn is Jason Bouttell (KTM UK Factory MTB Team), while Tom Bell and Christopher Rothwell (BW Cycling) complete the top five - all three will take to the start line at Phoenix Bike Park.

Great Britain Cycling Team’s Frazer Clacherty, representing Silverback OMX Pro Team, will make just his second appearance in the series of the season, keen to add to the second place finish he took at Dalby Forest.

Elite women

Kerry MacPhee leads the way in the women's standings at the 2018 HSBC UK | National Cross Country Series

Kerry MacPhee currently leads the standings in the elite women’s competition and is boosted by the absence of round three winner Isla Short.

Short has topped the podium on two occasions so far in this series but does not take to the start line in Suffolk.

MacPhee has 164 points from the opening three rounds and her nearest rival is Amy-Jo Hansford.

The Mud Sweat n Gears CC rider sits second on 141 points and will pose a threat at Phoenix Bike Park.

Sophie Wright (Renvale RT) will also head to Suffolk full of confidence after taking second place in the CiCLE Classic last weekend - part of the HSBC UK | National Women’s Road Series.

Start list

Schedule

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.

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