The 2017 Welsh Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships are taking place on Sunday 18 June at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells promoted by John Lloyd Racing Ltd and The Bulls.
Builth Wells is a firm favourite on the mountain bike cross country calendar, holding both Welsh and British national series events in recent years.
The Bulls Cycling Club is based at the Royal Welsh Showground, and has a strong mountain bike core, from youth to senior members. John Lloyd Racing Ltd has decades of experience in hosting elite mountain bike competitions, and will produce an enthralling championship event this summer.
The Course
The exciting new 4km course will embrace the mid-Wales landscape in Powys, with tight and twisty single track sections. The terrain and trails will challenge riders to produce a worthy Welsh champion on the day.
From the holding pen you can expect the race to go explode along the first climb as the red mist descends in the battle for the Championship jersey. At the top of the long gravel climb, riders will join ‘John’s Roots’, a legendary wooded section with gnarly single track.
Although descents are not steep, they will run fast and if unprepared will catch competitors out especially. The infamous rock garden will test Championship contenders with short, punchy ascents between the tiers resulting in sliding action with the off-camber climbs.
Not to be forgotten, there a number of vantage points producing a good, spectator-friendly course. The new Launch Pad is set to be a favourite for riders and fans alike as they enter the finish arena in style.
With a predicted surge in temperatures going into the summer, we could expect a sizzling race. The area is exposed, so be prepared to keep hydrated but Welsh weather can be unpredictable, although assured the course will hold out in all weather conditions.
The course will be enclosed within the Royal Welsh Showground, and offer a preview to the final round of the HSBC UK National Cross Country Series in August.
Event Information
The elite women’s race will begin at 11.50am, whilst the elite men will race at 2.00pm. There will be non-championship races for Under 6s, Under 8s and Under 10s from 10.00am. Youth and Juvenile championship races will start from 11.45am.
There will be chip timing at the event, using the Welsh Cycling Transponder Team.
The Royal Welsh Showground is at the heart of Wales and offers a number of facilities, including dedicated showers and toilet facilities, free hard standing parking and on site catering throughout the day.
Enter
The Welsh Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships is an open event and incorporates round four of the Welsh Mountain Bike Cross Country Series.
To be eligible for the Welsh Championship title, competitors must fulfil the following criteria:
- Born in Wales
- Parent born in Wales
- Lived in Wales for five years consecutively prior to the date of the event
How to follow the race
Follow Welsh Cycling on Twitter for race updates throughout the day, and share your race day photos using #MTBSkillsWales and #WelshChamps
Results will be published on welshcycling.co.uk after each race.
