Rowan “Bryn” Sorrell Wins Swansea Red Bull Downforce

Author: | 5 December 2011 | 16

Share


Tidy darts butt. Bryn wins down Swansea way see.

ROWAN SORRELL CONQUERS RED BULL DOWNFORCE

On 4th December, 32 of the UK’s top downhill mountain bike riders descended into Swansea city centre for Red Bull Downforce 2011. Overlooking Swansea Bay, riders were challenged with steps, terraces, narrow archways, grass verges and some of the steepest cobbled streets in the UK.

Cheers from the crowds greeted the riders as they crossed the finish line. Each rider had two heats in the qualifying round. The eight riders with the fastest time went through to the final where there was only one chance for glory.

The worthy champion was Rowan Sorrel, 29 from Newport, South Wales, who beat his closest rival Michael Thickens by an outstanding five seconds with the fastest time of 02:15.81.

Third place was taken by Nikki Whiles, only a half a second shy of second place.

Rowan said, “What an event! Red Bull Downforce brought mountain biking to the centre of Swansea and it was a great buzz for us all to race, especially with so many people out to watch and cheer us on! Its great to take first place.”

Crowds came out in their thousands to enjoy the spectacle and support the riders along the 1.5km course.

World Champion siblings Gee, Dan and Rachel Atherton were all in attendance, inspiring the riders and giving advice throughout the day.

Gee Atherton said, “It was a really good opportunity to show people what Downhill Mountain biking is all about. It’s normally away in the hills and mountains and this brought it to their doorstep. Literally! They were really impressed. The riders looked truly shocked at how challenging and technical the course was. Amazing in an urban environment! It’s awesome that Red Bull gave the opportunity for everyone to get involved as big events like this are often invite only. They were stoked to be part of it.”

Tags:

16 Responses to “Rowan “Bryn” Sorrell Wins Swansea Red Bull Downforce”

  1. Could of done with more crowd support like this.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7YdAJAEyT4

  2. An amateur only event won by Mr Sorrell. I Could have sworn he rides professionally. Carpe Verde and all that?

  3. I think Gee may have lied a bit in that interview , there were more straights and pedalling than anything else on this course.

  4. David, I think his day job is as a trail builder/trailbuilding consultant and he receieves some support from Orange.

  5. Is that actual Special Greg from Nitro Circus?

  6. Was a really cool event, but I agree it needed some bigger crowds and a better set up finish area but all in all loved it!
    Pic 9 is South West weapon Ben Deakin, who took a post race dip in the fountain to cool off!

  8. @Jon P – apparently “crowds turned out in their thousands?”

  9. I think it’s a bit shit that they only selected 2 girls out of 32 racers, especially since I KNOW some non-elite girls that entered, and the 2 they picked were both elites. Obviously the term “amateur” is a loose one, but still, seems inexcusable to me to not have allowed more girl entries.

  10. I think you would be hard pushed to call Rowan an amateur racer. Perhaps he has a day job, but if thats the deciding factor between Pro and Am you may as well call 90% of the world cup field “Amateurs”.

  11. @treehuggergraeme I must’ve missed something if that’s what they’re saying?! I went from the top of the course to the bottom and everywhere in between during the day! ;-)

  12. Swansea looks nice :-(

  13. I suppose it depends on whether you go with the “dictionary” definition of pro and amateur. Strictly speaking pros get paid a salary, and no one in that race was in that position. To us, who go to the races week in week out, we see the fast Elite boys and consider them to be pro, but to an organisation like Red Bull who deal with other sports, I’m especially thinking motorsports, I would imagine that there is a much more obvious dividing line and amateurs can be super rapid, but they’re still amateur if they’re more or less self funded. There can’t be more than 10 riders in the UK who are paid a salary, which makes the rest of us self-funded and “amateur”. I think there is an idea in this country that “amateur” means “not as good”, but whilst that may be true to a certain extent, I bet amateur motorsports people are still bloody rapid. This isn’t a defence of Red Bull/the selection method for this race, its just a bit of speculation on my part. As for the comment about girls, yeah probably should’ve been more but I wouldn’t have wanted to be the girl who came dead last. That would have been embarrassing.

  14. Hold on GGR, you ARE the girl who came dead last… well, out of the large female contingent anyway. And someone has to be dead last overall, why should it be a guy? How sexist!

  15. Haha that wasn’t me! Quite amusing though, boys being sexist’ed at? whatever next!

  16. Random question but does Rowen Sorell still get the pro only, team green, Hope factory brakes and hub shizzley stuff???? amateur race my ass… lol

Tell us what you think