Rose Bikes to sponsor National Downhill MTB 2015 Series

British Cycling's National Downhill MTB Series has announced a new sponsor for the 2015 schedule. Rose Bikes have agreed to become the 2015 series' overall sponsor ahead of the first round, Stage 1, at Ae Forest over Easter Weekend.

Following last year's closest-run series to date, with the titles eventually claimed by the new UCi World Champion and World Cup winner Manon Carpenter (Madison Saracen) and Marc Beaumont (GT Factory Racing) at the final stage, competitors of this year's British Cycling's National Downhill Mountain Bike Series (BDS) will again include some of the world's fastest Downhill racers as they compete for the national title.

With five of six Elite podium places at the 2014 UCi World Championships won by Brits, the National Downhill MTB series is considered the world's leading national series, attracting over 320 of the globe's fastest racers to Great Britain at each round, with an ever increasing swell of spectators numbering into their thousands. The series is affiliated to both the UCI and British Cycling, offering a wealth of UCI points, over £10,000 in prize money and over £25,000 worth of prizes.

Riders to look out for at Stage 1 include Carpenter, UCi Bronze medallist Tahnee Seagrave (FMD Racing) and 2014 4x (Four Cross) World Champion Katy Curd (Rose Bikes) in the Schwalbe Elite Women's category.

Among the Men's Schwalbe Elite, 2014 UCi World Cup winner Josh Bryceland (Santa Cruz Syndicate) is expected to return just six months after a potentially career-ending injury at the 2014 UCi World Championships last September, along with Gee Atherton and Taylor Vernon (both GT Factory Racing) - the latter stepping up from Junior to Elite this year - Sam Dale (Madison Saracen), Matt Simmonds (Madison Saracen), Joe Smith and Mike Jones (both Chain Reaction Cycles/Paypal).

Several of the Norwegian National Team will also take part and pit themselves against the UK riders

Stage 1 will take place at Ae Forest, Dumfries, Scotland, on 4 & 5 April - for more details, visit www.britishdownhillseries.co.uk