MSC/Descent-Gear NPS Rd 2 at Llangollen on the 30th and 31st of May 2009.

May 29, 2009
by Si Paton  
Round two is going to be off the Richter Scale and will go down in the history books as the hardest track in the U.K ever to race on. Steve Parr and his trail fairies have officially set the bench mark and completed a master piece.

The course drops 1,000 feet and is super steep. Imagine the steepest and most technical sections from your favorite tracks, Champery, Glen Coe, Mynth Duu, Strathyre, Dunkeld, Goats Gully and Fort William Woods all in one track, without a break and no let up. The only pedaling you will do is three strokes off the start line and that is it.MSC/Descent-Gear NPS Rd 2 at Llangollen on Saturday and Sunday the 30th and 31st of May 2009.

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The venue.

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We said it was steep.


Spiked mud tyres will be the order of the day and for the riders convenience we have booked extra port-a-loos and bog roll, it's now up to you to bring plenty of spare pants/knickers and for some we advise wearing a nappy on your first run down.

photo

Switch Back alley


The U.K.'s finest riders have worked and trained hard to qualify at the regional races throughout the land to gain enough points to race the prestigious NPS! Also joining them will be the Maxxis/ Rocky Mountain DH team: New Zealander Cameron Cole, American Luke Strobel and current UCI World Cup leader France's Sabrina Jonnier.

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Loads of natural rock features


The stepping stone to the World Cup is widely seen as the British National Points Series - NPS, this year sponsored by MSC Bikes, Descent-Gear.com, British Cycling and Monster Energy. UCI accredited means bumper prize money and for those riders fast enough, qualification onto the World Cup stage!

Now it's a one run race format for the win so it really is do or die, anything could happen. Full Face helmets are compulsory and we strongly advise full body armour and a neck brace whilst walking down the track, let alone riding it!

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It's hard enough on foot getting down


Left - Roger Wilbraham BC Big Cheese and 4x National Champion 2003 alongside 49 year old Steve Parr, course designer and significant better half of SPS Events, the organizers of the NPS.

Here is the schedule so you don't miss any of the action:

Friday
Course open for foot inspection only.

Saturday
06:00 -09:30 Course open for foot inspection only. Anybody caught riding on course will be DQ'd for the year.
08:30 Uplift opens
09:30 Open Practise for all none Expert and Elite
10:00 Open practise for all Expert and Elite
16:30 Last Uplift for all none Expert and Elite
16:59 Last Uplift for Expert and Elite
17:00 Expert/Elite Practise only
17:30 Course Closed
17:45 Riders Meeting
18:00 Course inspection on foot only

Sunday
08:30 Uplift opens
09:00 Open Practise
10:10 Last Uplift
10:45 Course Closed
11:00 Timed Seeding Run
13:45 Seeding finished
14:00 One Timed Race Run
16:45 Last man time
17:15 Podium

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Plenty of roots.


Pureriders.co.uk and Descent-Gear.com will be trackside stocked up with the all latest gear, spares and repairs. Steve Parr will also be showcasing the latest range of MSC Bikes.

Tim Flooks from TF Tuned will be throwing in 200 big ones to the rider who wins their category by the biggest margin. Pete Evans from 2Stage Bikes has also dug deep and will be flowing another 200 sterling to the rider with the fastest seeding and race run time overall!

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You first!


Parking for riders and spectators is always free and Monster Energy will be there fueling the riders and there with their huge Wigwam to keep us sheltered from the elements. We have a huge sound system, live timing with big screen and running commentary.

Everyone is welcome to walk up the hill and catch the action close up, just make sure you stay well behind the tapes.

We have a new on site caterer to keep the hunger away who will be set up trackside.

Make sure you stay for podium time as we always have a few throw aways for the kids in the crowd! We have trophies from Hope Technology for the top five in each category along with prizes from Descent-Gear.com, Lizard Skins, Fox Europe, No Limits, Ticket2RideBC.com, Swiss and Swallow, Leisure Lakes, Continental, Nema and Dave Franciosy. Dave Heath our resident Osteopath will also be there to straighten you out so pop on over to him..

How to get there: Just note the following post code gets you close but no cigar. LL20 8AR. Race signage will be up from the Thursday before the event. Any riders caught on track walking or riding prior to the event will be DQ'd immediately, no refund and will have their nuts chopped off.

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We've got an extra 50 port-a-loos going there..


Retail and Trade Teams please turn left on arrival at the race venue. All other riders and spectators please turn right. The field itself is flat and excellent for camping, tents, motor homes and vans. Just a quick update as the Farmer will be providing running drinking water and the use of his field plus a free bike wash will be provided. He will be collecting a camping fee of £5 per tent/caravan/motor home for the whole weekend. No need to book just turn up and pay the man!

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Don't leave your dinner lying around!


Further information on the NPS can be found at NPSDH.COM.

Both Steve Parr, Si Paton and Hensley welcome you all and look forward to seeing you trackside for another great year of top flight racing.

Stay Unclipped!
Si Paton
Descent-Gear.com
Sunline Grips 14.99

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Member since Jul 26, 2006
361 articles

14 Comments
  • 1 0
 If you are at this race and taking some cool snaps, remember to load them onto the NPS photo gallery here on Pinkbike:
www.pinkbike.com/photo/list/?category=101&date=all
  • 1 0
 i'll be there with a video camera so once it's all edited i'll get that uploaded too if you have an NPS video gallery
  • 1 0
 £200 to juvenile category then?
  • 1 0
 the track looks like its made to kill everyone...... .... i soooo have to go there soon!
  • 3 0
 course looks sick! awesome UK terrain!
  • 1 0
 im going to try an make it both days armed with me camera so will upload few pics sat an then more after event once ive sorted em out.
  • 1 0
 check out a few pics from the action today sat. on my page. lots more to follow and will be there sunday to take some snaps aswell
  • 1 0
 Blank Stare thas looks so super sick Razz !!
i bet there will some sick snaps there
keep it up NPS
  • 1 0
 dam knew i should of gone up and got that demo obn the msc f5 off stevie boy.
  • 1 0
 that track looks plenty mean , sounds like its how they should be no pedaling just pure gravity and big bollox for the win
  • 1 0
 That looks like there's gonna be some amazing racing tomorrow...
  • 1 1
 hahaha!!!! damm! just saw the date lol!!!, o well! u win some u loose sum lol
  • 0 0
 thats way narly
  • 0 2
 man!!! i live local so i might enter! hmmmm, looks shit steep though! o well! might as well have a go lol







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