Into The Race Archives | 2011 Halo British Downhill Series Recap.

On the weekend where the 2020 British National Downhill Series should have started, we take a look back to the 2011 British Downhill Series.

Nant Gwtheryn, Llangollen, Glencoe, Moelfre and Caersws all captured through the lens of Paul Roberts. Tracy Moseley and Manon Carpenter were your current elite and junior World Champions respectively, the pits were full of full factory teams and the tracks were a full mix.

Wideopenmag have always been committed to covering the downhill nationals and 2011 was no different. This video is a collection of the best of the five rounds from that year.

Take a dive into the 2011 British Downhill Series season below.

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wideopenmag.co.uk: Halo British Downhill Series 2011 summary from Wideopen Mag on Vimeo.

Nant Gwtheryn sits on the north coast of Wales in an old quarry, and provided a tricky start to the season. Marc Beaumont would put in a blinder of a run and snatch the win from under his former master, Steve Peat’s, nose.
2011 would be the year Gee Atherton would return to the British Nationals as a World Cup Champion. He had some National podiums to rack up at home before letting it get to his head and a title to defend. Getting up to speed on home turf. Moelfre in this case.
Glencoe is one of the most spectacular settings for anything to happen, let alone a bike race. The weather would have other ideas in 2011 though. Driving rain and howling winds put more than a few people off, the locals included.
This Llangollen hillside has played host to many a race, but in 2011 the BDS would use the most infamous of courses. ‘That’ track through the woods would put Llangollen on the map and sort the wheat from the chaff. The Rat, Sam Dale and Danny Hart would occupy the top three elite steps, unsurprising really.
Caersws was a hill that packed a punch well above its weight division and, like Llangollen required focused aggression to get down the hill fast. Loose in the dry and slick in the wet, there was always something to catch you out. Al Bond would seal the series as a privateer here ahead of Steve Peat and Josh Bryceland.

Have you got any top memories from the 2011 British Downhill Series races?Let us know on our Facebook page.


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