So the BDS is a business, it is commercially driven, that is fine, but it appears that in this case BC no longer see the need to fund it to the previous levels (we are told BC have access to the BDS accounts). We had a long conversation with BC and from their point of view they are still giving “significant support to the series” and are still “investing massive amounts into it”. Many ‘keyboard heroes’ have already jumped on BC, but BC said that they are still “100% behind the series”. Here’s the official word from a BC spokesperson:

“British Cycling continues to provide significant budget support for Mountain Bike Downhill National Series, amounting to over £100,000 over the last four years. As with events across all disciplines, financial support must be complemented by efforts to improve the future sustainability of the series and the discipline as a whole. This aim has been clearly communicated to event organisers over a period of four years.

British Cycling will continue to back its National Series, both in terms of significant financial support and logistical help, and will continue to invest significantly in ensuring that British downhill riders are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential.”

But are they trying to make it too pro? Where are racers meant to go to experience top class racing if the World Cup is a closed shop, only open to the elite of the sport?

So there are too many riders entering World Cups, with too big a gap between the best and some of the rest. Eighty riders qualify at present, but what will it be cut down to? Sixty? Forty? Who knows. At the moment GB has 33 riders qualified for next year’s WC series (those with 30 points or above, but not Peaty… but that is another story). Proportionately that is a lot of riders, but we do produce good racers. GB, it seems, have been too successful, too strong, there is such depth of talent.

But of course there are questions. We’ve been talking predominantly about the men’s category here but where does this leave the women? There are four strong female British racers here in the UK (Rachel Atherton, Manon Carpenter, Tahnee Seagrave and Katy Curd), but what of the others (there were no junior women DH racers at this year’s World Champs)? And what about the youth and junior (and expert) riders who need the World Cup experience in order to develop and realise their potential? The future Brendan Faircloughs or Josh Brycelands? BC already have their ‘national jersey’ scheme, whereby young racers can apply for support from the governing body and race World Cups without points (currently available for 6 junior riders). So that is one way in.

If this just boils down to something purely financial… well that is not for us to say. What we do know is that BDS race entries have been hiked up to £95 per race (from £75) for 2016, but putting on a race isn’t cheap, and the BDS aren’t going to do it for nothing! We’ve been told by a reliable source that it costs in the region of £28k to run a national race… so you do the math. Just as a comparison, two days riding at the weekend on an uplift at a bike park or trail centre can cost you up to £60… there is a lot more than a van and a trailer at a BDS race. And don’t forget that this may not be forever, the decision has been made for 2016 but maybe UCI points at British nationals will be back in 2017.

There are some interesting points here, but the whole thing seems to be a bit of a storm in a teacup, heavily stirred up by website forums. On the surface the loss of UCI points being awarded at nationals seems like a bad move, but the evidence suggests that it is basically just throwing money away. It will change things, but for now it appears to be a sensible option both for BC and the BDS. If no one is gaining anything from it, then what is the point? We’ll let you make your own minds up.