The start of the 2021 HSBC UK | National XC Series began at a venue hosting its first ever National Series race and boy did it rise to the occasion!

Woody’s Bike Park of St Austell, Cornwall, hosted two days of fantastic cross-country racing. The team at Woody’s Bike Park constructed a brutal and trying course taking in some of the parks biggest and most technical features.

Stand out features were a large rock garden, big drops and fast-paced berms; this was not a Cross Country course for the faint hearted. After rain all day on Saturday, the riders racing on Sunday were treated to clear blue skies and 20 degree heat which soon returned the trails to their usual fast rolling, dusty conditions.

In the elite women’s race, the winner was Isla Short, who showed her UCI MTB World Cup pedigree on a track resembling one of a standard she is used to, leading start to finish with a dominant performance.

The elite men’s race however was a tighter affair, with Christopher Rothwell taking the win.
Credit must go to the team at Woody’s Bike Park for putting on their first ever National Series race to such a high standard and producing a track that was loved and enjoyed by all the rider’s.