Throughout the weekend, the UK's top riders will have their first opportunity to experience the world renowned trail in race conditions, following radical changes made over the winter months in preparation for the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships 2007 (3-9 September); a major international event that will see 700 elite riders from more than 50 nations compete for 19 World Championship titles.
On the evening of Saturday 19 May there will be a unique one-lap Time Trial event, also held on the Witch's Trail course, organised by British Cycling. Entries have been restricted to a maximum of 60, with preference given to elite men and women, U23 men and junior men. With places in the British Team Relay Squad for the World Championships still up for grabs this will be a fiercely contested fixture. All riders will complete just one-lap of the newly unveiled route, setting off at one-minute intervals and seeking to complete the course in the shortest time possible.
Among the riders registered to compete in the Time Trial are all of the leading GB Junior squad riders; Alex Paton, David Fletcher, Hamish Creber, Shaun Hurrell, Amy Thompson, Annabel Simpson, as well as Ian Bibby, Ian Field, Amy Hunt and Ross Creber from the GB U23 squad.
The main Scottish Cross Country Mountain Bike event on Sunday is also test race for the newly upgraded and enhanced course. It will be the only opportunity for UK and international riders to test the course under race conditions in advance of the World Championships in September.
Oli Beckingsale, the Commonwealth Games Mountain Bike Cross Country Silver medalist, who will be competing on Sunday, said: 'The test event is an exciting and important weekend for me, as it is not often that I get to preview the Worlds course in advance. The Worlds on home soil are the big target for the year for me and my season is based around being there in September, in top form. So far my 2007 season has been going well and I am on track.'
A number of top overseas riders are expected to swell the large UK entry, as part of their preparation for the World Championships.
