If you want to see Britain's Olympian cross country and world-beating downhill racers in 2009 then there's only one chance - the National Championships at Innerleithen this weekend. Read Luke Webber's preview now and keep it locked to British Cycling Online for all the latest news live from the race throughout the week.
This weekend riders are readying for Britain's biggest domestic mountain bike race - the National Championships. At Innerleithen the courses are being prepped, tape set in place and riders arriving in the hope that come Sunday they will be pulling on a coveted National jersey and British Cycling will be there in force covering all the action from all the races.
This week though is all about what could happen - still to come we've got a look back at previous winners, including historic video footage, exclusive pre-rides of both downhill and cross country tracks and the latest from the favourites -but first we've got to see who those favourites are and who might be on the box come Sunday.
DOWNHILL
Not since 2000 have the National Championships visited Innerleithen - in the year that Steve Peat took the win. Some nine years on and he is still the favourite thanks to an extraordinary 2009 season. With two World Cup wins and sitting second in the overall, current form places him above current World Champion Gee Atherton. Atherton has been having a good 2009 with solid podium placings, but is missing that all important ‘W' so far.
Steve Peat at the 2008 World CHampionships
Gee Atherton - Valnord, Andorra 2008
Josh Bryceland, Val d'Sol, Italy
But on the tight trails of Innerleithen a smaller rider could have an advantage, so don't rule out Marc Beaumont, or top young riders Josh Bryceland and Bredan Fairclough.
For the Elite women's race the favourite is Tracy Moseley who should retain her title. But after several big crashes in the World Cup series and a lack of recent results her form is an unknown and both Helen Gaskell and Ffionn Griffiths will be eager to take the win. One notable missing name for the second consecutive year is Rachel Atherton. Stretchered from the course in 2008, 2009 is no better as she continues rehabilitation from a collision with a pickup truck, an injury sustained while training in America earlier this year.
Leading Junior in the World Cup and mixing it with the seniors, Danny Hart can almost feel the fresh fabric and stretch to the podium. One rider in his way though is Bernard Kerr who seems to be finding great form at the right times. This year he has taken the European Downhill title, the British Fourcross Championship and a top twenty qualification place at the Maribor World Cup. The potential is there - it's just a question of whether the luck should follow.
Downhill Schedule
Friday:
12.00 - 16.30 Course inspection walk only, and DH Comms Inspection
18.00 - 20.00 Registration
Saturday:
08:00 - 11.00 Registration
09.30 - 17:00 Open practice
17:00 - 17:30 Expert and Elite practice only
17:45 - 17:50 Riders meeting
Sunday:
09:00 - 10:45 Open Practice
11.00 - 14.00 Seeding runs
14.30 - 17.30 Race runs
18.00 - Podiums
Past Winners:
Men
2008 - Bala - Steve Peat
2007 - Rheola - Marc Beaumont
2006 - Moelfre - Mark Beaumont
2005 - Bringewood - Steve Peat
2004 - Fort William - Gee Atherton
2003 - Bringewood - Steve Peat
2002 - Ludlow - Steve Peat
2001 - Ludlow - Rob Warner
2000 - Innerleithen - Steve Peat
1999 - Eastridge - Steve Peat
1998 - Builth - Rob Warner
Women
2008 - Bala - Tracy Moseley
2007 - Rheola - Tracy Moseley
2006 - Moelfre - Tracy Moseley
2005 - Bringewood -Rachel Atherton
2004 - Fort William - Rachel Atherton
2003 - Bringewood - Helen Gaskell
2002 - Ludlow - Tracy Moseley
2001 - Ludlow - Ffionn Griffiths
2000 - Innerleithen - Tracy Moseley
1999 - Eastridge - Helen Mortimer
1998 - Builth - Tracy Moseley
CROSS COUNTRY
In the past decade Oli Beckingsale has been British Champion five times, but this year as last he faces a tough challenge from current title-holder Liam Killeen. Beckingsale has shown good form already this year with solid top-twenty performances at World Cups, while Killeen seems to be only just coming back to his best following a lower-back injury through the early season. Both will be keen to resume their battle on domestic ground after a tough European Championships where Killeen had a two and a half minute edge over Beckingsale in the Zoetermeer mud.
Liam Killeen - reigning National XC Champion
Oli Beckingsale - National Championships 2008
Jenny Copnall showing the emotional and physical strain of a fifth National Championship
The women's event sees the return of Sue Clarke and five-time winner Jenny Copnall. Copnall will be looking to make it another title - even electing to sit out the European Championships to arrive at the race in peak condition - but after an emotional win at Crow last year the result is far from certain. Clarke's comeback has been strong with a top sixty at the Houffalize World Cup and 22nd at the European Championships on a course which wasn't suited to the climbers. Innerleithen will be a very different race with a rumoured twenty minute ascent and challenging downhills.
Jenny Copnall - 2008 National Champs Sue Clarke - 2008 National Champs
The Senior women will have to be especially aware of one other competitor, too. Annie Last has been in the form of her life over the past weeks, beating Sabine Spitz in the Tour de l'Ain and finishing fourth at the European Championships. Although she starts two minutes down on the Senior riders and will only be interested in the Espoir race, an unchartered race situation is not out of the question.
Although racing sparingly in 2009, David Fletcher will be back in the UK and contesting the Espoir race. But after a lacklustre appearance at the European Championships a host of riders will be readying themselves at the chance of stealing the jersey from the shoulders of the current UK number one. Billy Joe Whenman, climbing specialist Anthony O'Boyle, Seb Batchelor, Hamish Creber and outside bet Scott Thwaites are all on the list of riders to watch.
Steve James, Kenta Gallagher and Ruby Millar have been untouchable in the Junior categories in 2009 and barring major incident all three have a foot on the podium. Gallagher especially will want to prove himself after snapping a chain at the European Championships last weekend, forgoing a top twenty position and winning the National Championships could be just the consolation he needs.
Whatever the outcome in both races, the British Cycling Online team of Luke Webber, Joolze Dymond and Andy Dunwoody will be there to capture all the action as it happens. And in the leadup to the race this week we still have a look back at previous winners - including historic video footage, exclusive pre-rides of both downhill and cross country tracks and the latest from the favourites. Don't miss it!
Cross Country Schedule
Friday:
12.00 - 16.30 XC course inspection walk only
Saturday:
08:00 - 11.00 Comms Inspection
11:00 - 18.00 Registration
13.30 - 16.30 Marshalled practice
16:45 - 17.00 Riders and Teams meeting
17.00 - 18.30 Open/Fun race
Sunday:
09.00 - 11.00 Race 1 - Youth/Juv/Jun
11.30 - 12.00 Race 1 Podiums
11.00 - 13.00 Race 2 - Masters/Vets
13.30 - 14.00 Race 2 Podiums
13.00 - 15.30 Race 3 - Seniors/Espoirs/Sport
16.30 - 17.00 Race 3 Podiums
Lap Numbers
Category/Male/Female
Seniors 5/4
Espoir 5/4
Masters 4/3
Vets 3/2
Grand Vet 3/2
Super Vet 2/2
Junior 3/2
Youth 2/2
Juvenile 1/1
Sport 3/2
Open/Fun 1/1
Past Winners:
Men
2008 - Crow Hill - Liam Killeen
2007 - Newnham Park - Oli Beckingsale
2006 - Moelfre - Oli Beckingsale
2005 - Ludlow - Oli Beckingsale
2004 - Fort William - Jody Crawforth
2003 - Bringewood - Nick Craig
2002 - Ludlow - Oli Beckingsale
2001 - Ludlow - Oli Beckingsale
2000 - Innerleithen - Nick Craig
1999 - Eastridge - Paul Lasenby
1998 - Builth - Barrie Clarke
1997 - Nick Craig
1996 - Barrie Clarke
1995 - Eastridge - Barrie Clarke
1994 - David Baker
1993 - Eastnor - David Baker
1992 - David Baker
1991 - Tim Gould
1989 - Aviemore - Chris Young (race won by Mike Kloser - USA)
Women
2008 - Crow Hill - Jenny Copnall
2007 - Newnham Park - Jenny Copnall
2006 - Moelfre - Jenny Copnall
2005 - Ludlow - Jenny Copnall
2004 - Fort William - Sue Thomas
2003 - Bringewood - Jenny Copnall
2002 - Ludlow - Caroline Alexander
2001 - Ludlow - Caroline Alexander
2000 - Innerleithen - Caroline Alexander
1999 - Eastridge - Caroline Alexander
1998 - Builth - Tracy Brunger
1997 - Caroline Alexander
1996 - Tracy Brunger
1993 - Eastnor - Caroline Alexander
1992 - Caroline Alexander
1989 - Aviemore - Sally Hibberd
