DESCEND IN STYLE

Ride downhill in style with our ultimate guide to the exhilarating art of descending

WATCHING THE PROS zoom down Alpine peaks is a thrilling sporting spectacle full of power, pace and precision. But descending is a skill that requires technique, cool confidence and regular practice. The ability to descend safely and quickly can deliver huge time gains in races, improve your bike-handling skills and enhance your safety in the hills. But, with most UK riders training on relatively flat roads and the joy of tackling long 20km descents often restricted to holidays abroad, it's a skill that's easy to neglect. Here's how to get started....

01Look up

Descending will feel easier if you look further down the road. It'll help you spot any hazards and give you more time to prepare for the bends ahead. "A lot of people just look straight in front of them, but if you can look through the corner to the next point it'll give you a smoother racing line," says Ineos Grenadiers rider Ben Swift. The faster you go, the further you need to look ahead in order to anticipate any changes in the surface or direction of the road. It's normally best to go onto the drops when you're descending: it lowers your centre of gravity to provide extra balance and improves your aerodynamics so you can enjoy free speed. "It feels safer because you have your thumb and forefinger pushing against the bars," adds coach David Lines. But be prepared to adapt your position to the course.

"On treacherous descents, I go on the hoods to get my weight more over my back wheel ready for any heavy braking before a bend," reveals Lines.

02 Fix your speed