Racing Blog

Racing Round up – Southern XC Rd 1 & 3 and The Sandie Radford Road Race

March took me to Black Park for the first round of the Southern XC Series. Having raced the course in 2015 I knew what to expect and the course for this year hadn’t really changed. It’s pan flat with plenty of single track connected up via a few fire roads, nothing particularly taxing but a good start was going to be important.
Having moved up from Sport to Expert for 2016 I was hoping to be gridded for the first round but no such luck. I ended up starting from the back which would mean plenty of work to do at the start. Unfortunately, I got boxed in at the start and no matter what direction I took on the fast fire road I struggled to make up places as I found myself getting boxed in and stuck behind other riders. The laps were fairly uneventful and it was just a case of ticking them off. As the laps went on I managed to slowly make up places but the damage had been done at the beginning of the race. I crossed the line in 6^th place which was a great result for the first year in a new category but a little disappointed in my own performance, still, that’s racing and you have to learn to roll with the punches.

 

The Sandie Radford Road Race has been on the list for the past couple of years but it’s always ended up clashing with another event, but not this year. Apart from a few crit races this was my first road race and for me it was about trying something different and getting some experience out on the road. The Primera – TeamJobs race team was fully present with one clear goal, to win the race, no pressure then.  The course is in Nomansland in the New Forest and it’s pretty flat apart from the final climb to the finish, but this made for some fast racing. The pace was high from the start and some breaks tried to get away but there was always someone from the Primera team keeping an eye on who was in the break and these were soon bought back due to the high speeds of the race. The pace was so fast and due to the mostly flat roads no one got away and the race was to be decided on the final climb. The pace going into this climb was unreal and I got caught out as I thought it was two laps on this final circuit and I was worried about holding on but as I saw Callum Croft raise his hands over the finish line I realised this was it. I sprinted up the hill which destroyed the bunch of riders as everyone started to spread out and the groups were small and I crossed the line in 8^th place on what was a very close finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first road race and it was nice mixing it up and doing something a little different. I was happy with my performance and the team placed two riders on the podium, 1^st & 2^nd and had 5 riders in the top 10, a good day in the office.

 

If you’re wondering where the second round of the Southern Series is then it was postponed due to the lovely wet weather the UK is currently having so onto round 3.

The weather gods graced the racers for round 3 of the Southern XC series but provided us with the hottest day of the year by far, 27 degrees according to the Garmin, happy days!

Wasing Park is a great venue and whilst the course doesn’t change much from year to year (because it’s perfect how it is) it always provides some great racing.  Summing the course up, a few punchy climbs but rewarded with some fun descents and a few technical sections just to mix things up. Last year a drop off was introduced much to the delight of some but not everyone.  As per last year it claimed some causalities even though there were ‘b’ & ‘c’ line options and this year was no different. I’m not sure how many people managed to hurt themselves this year but by the time the afternoon races came around someone had called it a day and closed that section and I for one was disappointed but can understand the reasons for it.

The afternoon races were delayed but that just meant more time to relax in the sun which probably isn’t the wisest thing to do before the race but it certainly beats shivering in the rain.
No complaints this time as I was gridded on the front row and once the gun went off I was off to a good start but everyone soon adopted road racing tactics as no one wanted to pull along the road, myself included. Having one big group is nice as you get a free tow but the downside was the dust and the first hill soon started to separate the riders. Two groups formed with about 6 riders in each group and the gaps were close after two laps of racing and it felt like the groups were coming back together but everyone started to split up as the race went on people started to spread out and I soon found myself racing round at my own pacing without any riders to site.

It was great to be racing round in such nice weather and it made the laps all the more enjoyable, I think I could have quite happily carried on as the sun was still beaming but after 5 laps my time was up and I crossed the line in 5^th place. Very happy with the result and pleased with my performance.

Cyprus Sunshine Cup

The year of adventures continues and I soon found myself boarding the plane to Cyprus for another race and this time it was the Sunshine Cup.The Cyprus Sunshine Cup is a 4 day stage race and the format is as follows, Stage 1 is a short 3.9km prologue through the town of Lefkara. Stages 2 & 3 are point to point races, coming in at 48.2km & 50.7km long respectively and Stage 4 is a cross country format with each lap being 5.9km.

You never know who you’re going to bump into on your travels and it was nice to meet Phil Pearce at the airport who was out here racing too. Unbeknown to us at the time we would be sharing the same taxi ride everyday as neither of us had hired a car and it was the easiest way of getting around. We were joined by two American’s and a rider from Switzerland which made the travels everywhere a right giggle and many laughs were had along the way. In a strange way it took away the pressures of racing and it made for a relaxed atmosphere, so it felt like more of a holiday than a bike race.

Stage 1

Here we go then, time to wake up the legs and feel the lungs burn for the short effort. This stage was cross between a hill climb and an urban downhill race. For me the climb was a means to an end as I was far more interested in racing around the streets than killing myself riding up a hill. This was the stage I enjoyed the most as I couldn’t get enough of it the day before when we got the chance to practice.

From the start ramp it was a short climb up the road and you dived off into a side street and down a set of steps with a couple of sharp corners at the bottom where the climb began. The climb was mostly road with a short section through someone’s back garden but I’m sure they didn’t mind. The climb was very steep in places and it took us to the highest point of the town with wonderful views but there was no time to take this in as the clock was ticking as you shot straight off the top into a steep gravel downhill which is where I caught my 1 minute man, not the ideal spot but nothing could be done. I seized my opportunity to get past as quickly as possible and made my way down to the street section. This was my favourite part by far, you were greeted by steep sets of steps, some to roll down and others to jump off. This was followed by a race through the streets as you raced past people’s front doors and through the tight streets which at times weren’t much wider than your bike but made it all the more entertaining.

The street section was fast and just as hard as the climb, concentration was required to make the tight corners and not connect with a wall. It was during this section I caught another rider and soon made my way past.

Having started at one minute intervals it was a nice feeling knowing I had made up 2 minutes on my competitors in such a short space of time and I crossed the line in 2^nd place, a good start to the race!

Stage 2

Stage 2 had a neutralised start was quite nice as it gave a chance for the legs to warm up and for the riders to be safely guided out of the village. The racers followed a car out of the town for a couple of miles as it took you onto a long road climb which marked the beginning of the stage.I guess it would go pretty crazy once the car pulled off and I wasn’t wrong, the speed was high, groups quickly formed as riders got dropped and everyone started their attacks. I went with the first group for a bit but the pace was too high and I decided to settle into my own rhythm and not blow up and risk my entire race.The event organisers here like there climbs as the first hour of the race was uphill, the climbs were either on the road or dirt tracks, nothing particularly challenging or interesting which made the suffering all the more as there was nothing to distract you. The climb soon passed, much to the relief of the lungs and the riders were greeted with some great decants which were some of the best on the island. As I hadn’t practiced the course I had no idea where I was going and ended up hitting everything blind which made it all the more exciting as there was little room for error. A lot of the descents transverse along the sides of a mountain and some of the corners were mega tight, one wrong move and you were off the side of a mountain.The final part of the stage wasn’t the most enjoyable as they saved the hardest to last. The final 3km was a brutal climb which sapped any energy you had left in the tank as it seemed to go on for ever. At this point I had certainly had enough and I just wanted the stage to be over but it felt like the longest 3km of my life. The climb took you back into the village of Lefkara which is where the race begun and it was a quick dash around the streets again to cross the line in 3^rd place.

Stage 3

I had been warned that this stage was brutal and it followed much of the same course as yesterday but in reverse so the fire road descents turned into a 1hr 40 min climb, ouch! The start format was the same as yesterday. As per yesterday’s stage, once the car pulled off the attacks started and riders were soon spread out and you started the long climb of the day. The first few km of the climb went well but I let the lead riders go and settled into my own pace. It’s hard seeing riders come past you knowing that as long as all goes to plan you should catch them back up at some point. With the hill being so long it would have been too easy to empty the legs before the top so I stuck to my game plan and sure enough, the riders that had previously over taken me I had now caught and by the time I hit the top I was where I wanted to be. The reward from the climb was great and it was time for another long descent much the same as yesterday, tight and technical but with some jumps and drops added in for that feel good factor.I knew I would have lost some time to the leaders on the hill as there were some strong climbers in the group but I played to my strengths and made up as much time as I could on the descents to try and keep within a reasonable time from them and to build a gap from the riders behind. Unfortunately the descents weren’t long enough and I couldn’t catch them again but after 2hr 30 min of racing I was only a few minutes behind, crossing the line in 3^rd place again.

Stage 4

 

The final stage and a format that is familiar to most of us, xco.

The course can be best described as a typical Gorrick race, short sharp climbs, plenty of fast flowing singletrack with some really steep technical descents. About half way round the course passed through the starting arena which made the laps feel like they were going quicker than what they were.

To help spread the riders out there was a short start loop which led you into the main course. The start would be important as parts of the singletrack was quite long which could either work in your favour or not.

Overall I was placed 3^rd and I knew the time gap to 4^th was just under 4 minutes so I had time to play with just in case the worse was to happen and a similar gap to 2^nd place. It would be hard to make any ground up today but I certainly didn’t want to lose any. My legs felt good prior to the start, so it was just a case of how everyone else was feeling.

No matter how well I do or do not warm up the pace at the beginning always comes as a shock to the body but there was no time to wimp out today. My start was good and I was in the leading pack up the first climb and kept a solid pace to the top. I made up some time on the riders around me on the technical sections and just kept my head down for the next 40 minutes. I knew I had made a gap on some of the riders around me in the overall which kept me motivated to keep on pushing in the small hope that I was making some time up on second position. The race was soon over and it felt weird to race for such a short length of time, but it was nice knowing I was finished for the day and I could enjoy watching everyone else race later on that afternoon.

I crossed the line in 2^nd position and watched the clock to see if I had gained a place overall. In the end it wasn’t enough, I made up 2 minutes on second place but not enough to steal it from him overall.

After 4 days of racing I finished 3^rd overall with some consistent results which bought me home a medal every day.

For those thinking about entering next year, I would say the Sunshine Cup is a well organised event and worth the trip to have a break from the UK. The trails are certainly a mixture with more open fire roads than what we’re used to in the UK, but the descents are longer and faster which is a bonus.

The bug has well and truly bitten so it’s time to plan the next stage race…………….in the sun.

If anyone is looking for a partner for any stage races then let me know as I may well be interested.

Thanks to Tom Broyd Photography for the images. https://www.facebook.com/TomBroydPhotography

Club La Santa 4 Stage MTB Race

New Year, new goals.

For 2016 I fancied doing something a little different from previous seasons, which has mainly been cross country racing with the odd 6 or 12 hour event thrown in just to mix things up a little and keep it interesting. 2015 was a good year for me, there is no doubting that but I wanted to push myself further and I’ve had my eye on stage races and marathon events which has given me a new focus.

So, at the end of last year I decided to enter the Club La Santa 4 day stage race in Lanzarote. Whilst the lure of racing and trying something different was appealing, the thought of leaving the UK appealed even more as the winter has been a tad wet so far in the UK.

The race is a popular one, with just under 400 riders lining up at the start from 16 countries you all from various abilities, from the pro’s to the first time racers.

For those who aren’t aware of the race it goes a little something like this, every stage is slightly different, Stage 1 is 36km which is a typical cross country race distance depending on your category. Stage 2 is a little longer coming in at 51km so longer than the typical cross country races we’re used to seeing in the UK. Stage 3 is a 21km uphill Time Trial which won’t come to a shock to any TT racers out there, but a little different for those that keep that tyres on the dirt. It’s also the only stage which isn’t a mass start. The final day, Stage 4 is more of a marathon stage at 88km so they’ve saved the hardest until last.

Having kept an eye on the weather leading up to the event it was a pleasure to see the BBC got the forecast correct and I was greeted by that orange thing in the sky, I believe it’s called the sun, not something we see much of in the UK. What I was surprised about was how windy it was and how it changed the tactics of the race. You didn’t want to be out in the open trying to race into a head wind by yourself as you would waste too much energy and it made more sense to be part of a pack, bring on the road tactics then.

Stage 1

The start was fast as you made your way out of Club La Santa to be greeted by a strong tail wind on the road section which was a downhill. This didn’t last for long as you soon peeled off the road and started to climb a gravel track which thinned everyone out as people were starting to find their own pace and slowly small groups formed. The terrain was mostly hard packed gravel but at times it would get deep, catching out those riders who weren’t paying attention. Most of the stage was pretty fast until you hit the deep sand which bought most riders to a half pretty quickly. At times it was like trying to ride along the beach as well as climbing up a hill, speed was your friend here as you zig zagged around trying to find some grip but that is easier said than done. As soon as the momentum stopped you were forced to walk or run, depending on how keen you were.The stage wasn’t particularly technical and you got the majority of the climbing out of the way in the first half of the race to be left to enjoy the effects of gravity to push you home.
The Stage was soon over, but it was good to get the first day finished and ticked off safely.

I finished the stage 59^th / 368 overall and 17^th / 105 in my category.

Stage 2

The start was the same as yesterday albeit with a slightly longer road section to help spread everyone out. Apart from being longer the terrain was slightly different, less of the hard packed gravel and more time spent racing across the rocks the lava left behind. The paths were often thin so it was single file and again, momentum was key as the loose rocks would, and did grind you to a half in places.

At times it felt like you were barley moving when the climbs were covered in these rocks as they were quite deep in places. As per the previous stage, small groups formed and I’m thankful to have found myself in one as there was a particular road section that sent you directly into a head wind and this would have been utterly miserable attempting it on your own. The climbs weren’t as steep today which was nice and it was enjoyable riding the singletrack as they weaved their way around and over the hills. Towards the end, the course repeated a similar finish to yesterday and it was a pleasure to know the finish line was just around the corner. Albeit with a small extra climb thrown in with a mega cross wind at the top, it was so strong it managed to push everyone off the ideal line and too strong for the guy in front of me as he ended up falling off!

Another day ticked off, finishing 52^nd overall and 14^th in my category.

Stage 3

The uphill TT was the one stage I wasn’t looking forward to as I enjoy descending far too much. The racing started at 9am starting with the slowest rider first. The course was pretty simple, mostly fireroad with a small singletrack section to break it up and a couple of descents to get your breath back before the climbing took over again. My start time was 11:36 and the sun was out in full force with hardly any wind, which is a first since I’ve been on the island. I paced the stage well, perhaps a little too easy in places but a lesson learned for next time. I managed to catch a couple of riders who started in front of me which is good for the moral, but I also got passed by a couple who started behind me, oh well.

I thought the stage would drag on for longer than it did and whilst climbing uphill is hard, it could have been worse. The final straight was probably the best as you could see the finish line in sight, but this actually turned out to be other riders cheering you on as they sent you round another little loop with a final little kick just to inflict that little bit more pain.

The highlight was watching Karl Platt who is currently leading the GC make his way up the mountain, the speed he was climbing was ridiculous and looked to be going twice as fast as some racers in places.

I seem to be pretty consistent in my results, placing 56^th overall and 14^th in my category.

Stage 4 – The queen stage

We were greeted to another warm day on the island with a light breeze for the second day on the trot, a rare occurrence here. The start took a similar route to the first stage but I knew a good place in the start pen was important to avoid any bottle necks once the singletrack begun. The first half of the stage had some flowing sections followed by some sharp climbs to really punish any riders suffering with any fatigue. By luck I found myself in a big group and the pace was high so I took the chance to hide and recover knowing there was a long day ahead of me. Saving energy was key as the course map showed there was a nasty 10k climb which took the riders to yesterday’s finish at the weather station. The course then followed parts of the TT stage which was a pleasure as I certainly enjoyed the decent more than the climb. As the weather station appeared in the distance I knew the long climb couldn’t be far away and this would surely spread all of the riders out. The pace at the start of the climb was pretty high and rather than going mad I opted to ride it at my own pace rather than blowing up. This turned out to be a good idea as I started to catch some of the riders that went too hard to begin with and I found myself working my way back through the field again. Once you crested the climb you soon begun the decent down the TT course and the speeds were high. The majority of the descending was fireroad so dead easy but unbeknown to me was one of the descents was very steep and very technical, too much speed would through you off and into the rocks quickly followed by a trip to A&E. This section played to my advantage as I caught the group of riders that I had lost contact with on the climb. Many of those riders opted to walk the downhill which made it even more interesting as line choice was key along with avoiding over riders.

A few short and brutal climbs followed but we had reached the highest point and it was mostly flat for the race back to Club La Santa. I thought from this point on it would be pretty fast a simple but there was one last surprise. The final part of the course can only be described as sandy or more beach like. Imagine riding along the beach in the height of summer, it was that deep and hard going and once you ground to a halt you weren’t about to get going again. To be honest it wasn’t enjoyable and for me it was the worst part of the race and I’m sure a lot of it could have been avoided. I struggle with the sand and had to walk some sections which was annoying, but once you stopped it was a struggle to get going again.

I didn’t know how I would fair over 4 days and it went better than expected. I guess I always thought a top 10 finish would be nice and I crossed the line in 10^th place, happy with that!

This was my first stage race and an enjoyable one at that. It was always going to be a test to see if it’s something I was going to enjoy and I certainly did. The weather helped for sure, but it made a pleasant change to not be riding around in circles for lap upon lap. I think the stage racing bug has bitten and it’s time to start planning the next one.

For those that have never taken part in one, do it as it’s a great experience as well as a good few days of riding your bike.

2015 Bontrager TwentyFour12

As I crossed the line in 2014 after my first 12 hour solo at TwentyFour12 I said to myself, never again but then a few weeks passed and I found myself filling out the entry form and a year later back on the start line for a second attempt. I’m not sure why I returned as I found 2014 hard going, perhaps it was the challenge to complete the distance again or to aim for a better result, who knows.

Being in the UK the chances of having nice weather for an entire weekend can never be counted on and sure enough England didn’t let us down. Friday was cold and wet and quite the contrast to 2014 when the dress code was shorts and t-shirts. Those of us who were only racing on the Saturday were lucky as the racers were greeted to a warm and dry day, but those who were still racing on the Sunday were not as lucky as at 6am the heavens opened.

Having raced at Newnham Park a few times now I knew the course would be enjoyable and keep me entertained for the 12 hours. The track was pretty similar to last year but with one new loop just before the cliff climb. It was nice to see a new section but a small crossing over a stream soon destroyed a small section of the trail and it turned a small bank into a muddy slog and you needed a clear run just to try and make it up the bank. That section was hard to clear on Saturday as hundreds of riders were slowing churning it up and I’m not sure if it would even be rideable at all on the Sunday with all the rain. The usual sections remained and I always look forward to Cottage Return and the bomb holes in the section just before it (you need a nice reward from all of the climbing).

The race is long for everyone, no matter what category you’re in but I knew a good start was crucial to avoid any first corner incidents and after the race briefing I found myself on the front row with a 40 minute wait, nervous but eager to get going.

As per last year you have a start loop to spread the field out and once the gun went off it was full gas for the first few minutes to avoid any hold ups and I kept a solid top 10 position until the start loop was over and then I decided to back off and settle into my all day pace.
This year has been spent racing XC and it’s easy to spot who you’re racing against so it’s hard seeing people come past in the longer races as you have no idea who you are racing and the temptation to push on is hard to resist but this was all about being the tortoise and the hare.

My laps were fairly uneventful and the aim was to not make any silly mistakes, keep on top of the eating and drinking and knock out some consistent lap times, all of which were within a minute or two of each other. For the first 4 hours I was feeling good and I found a nice rhythm and even with all the bumps the body was feeling fresh and the legs felt good but I didn’t want to leave it too long before I started taking in something other than energy gels. After leaving it so late last year, I decided to stop a little sooner to take on something other than gels and the pasta served me well just before the 6 hour mark. I wasted a lot of time last year by stopping and then becoming lethargic and struggling to get going again so the only time I made my visit to the tent was when I finished and this saved me a lot of time and gave me the kick to keep on going.

I didn’t want to know my position much before the half way point just in case it affected my pace but after 6 hours I found out I was in 4^th place only a few minutes back from 3^rd and this gave me the push to keep on going and try and real in that podium position.

It’s nice getting to the half way point as you starting counting down the hours knowing there’s not long left. As the hours were getting ticked off I could feel my body getting tired and whilst my legs felt better than expected, it was the mental toughness that I struggled with along with a tired body. With 3 hours left to go it was time to switch on the lights and settle in for the final push. 3 hours is still a long time in the saddle but it seemed a breeze considering I had been out pedalling for 9. 3^rd place had increased his lead a little more and whilst I tried to push on I was doubtful on whether I could catch him and even if I couldn’t, I didn’t want to lose any places either. The last few hours were going well and even the drizzle didn’t materialize at 10pm which I was thankful of so it made the last 3 laps that little easier on the mind. I had that ‘second wind’ for the final lap and started over taking people on the track in the hope that I may have caught that 3^rd place rider but after 12 hours of racing it wasn’t to be and I came home in 4^th position and only 20 minutes off a podium which is nothing over 12 hours of racing.

If someone had offered me 4^th place at noon on Saturday I would have snapped their hand off as it’s a much better result than I could have imagined and it’s the result I’m most proud of since I started racing.

A big thank you to my helpers Tom & Steph, everyone at TwentyFour12 who makes this happen and to all of the riders who kindly let me pass.

The laps were just over 8 miles long with just under 400ft of climbing.

Strava Stats

British Cycling Nation XC Series Round 4 – Cathkin Braes

If you had asked me at the beginning of the year if I was going to travel to Scotland to race the answer would have been a firm no, so what has changed. At the beginning of the year I had no idea how I would fair at National level and so far it’s been going well. I didn’t really expect to be in the thick end of the Sports field and knowing how important the points are for the overall I decided to enter round 4 and cross my fingers that it would be worth the drive.

Having made the long drive up on the Friday, it was nice not having to rush around Saturday morning and I arrived at the venue really relaxed. I had seen some pictures of the course and it looked good and seeing as it was used in the 2014 Commonwealth Games I was hoping not to be disappointed…….which I wasn’t. The track was littered with rock gardens, jumps, drops and even a dual salmon course and this was music to my ears and I knew straight away that it was worth the trip. The course length came in around 3.5 miles with 500ft of climbing and on the practice lap it didn’t feel that hilly. It was one of those courses that didn’t give you much time to rest as you were constantly flung into a technical feature or a hill but it did make for an enjoyable lap.

As with all races the start was crucial, for the first 50 metres or so there was plenty of room for everyone but the course soon narrowed down and it became single file or just wide enough for 2 riders in places. On the one track where you needed a good start I managed to miss clipping in off the line and when that foot was sorted the other one came out, doh! After the start you had little time to make up places so I managed to work my way up and from then on you could see the field was lined out and I was back in 6^th position. The first climb which didn’t feel that bad in practice, was suddenly a lot harder at race pace and got harder as the laps went on and this strung the field a little more and I managed to make up a couple more places and I was now a little closer to the front guys. For some reason one of the sections wasn’t being used for the Saturday’s race so we were diverted through some long grass and I managed to find a well hidden breeze block with my front wheel and I soon came to a halt. It took me a while to get going again and the places I had made up on the climb were lost again and the leaders had disappeared. I had my work cut out trying to make up the lost ground and to make matter’s worse I went to grab my bottle on the 2^nd lap and it had disappeared. As the laps went on I could see I was closing in on 2^nd & 3^rd place and at the same time I was hoping I could come across my bottle again as I was getting pretty thirsty. At the end of lap 3 I had got my way up to second and the chase was now on for the leader Ben Lawson. On lap 4 luck struck and my bottle was in the feed zone with a kind gent holding it for me (if you’re reading this then many thanks), I missed it on the first attempt but on the second half of the lap I slowed enough to get it and it was well needed.
On the last lap it felt like I was catching Ben but at the same time my legs were starting to feel it and Ben knew I was getting close so he put the hammer down and built up his lead again. I crossed the line in 2^nd place which is my best result at National level and not something I would have thought possible at the beginning of the year.

I’m happy with my result and the course was one of my favourites for this year. Many thanks to all that make it happen.

British Cycling Nation XC Series Round 3 – Builth Wells

Sometimes you can get a little complacent riding in your local area and it’s fair to say the south coast isn’t known for it’s hills, so when I turned up to Builth Wells for round 3 of the national xc series on Saturday I shouldn’t have been surprised that there was going to be some climbing involved, after all this is Wales!

This is my first year at the National Series and it’s great to see a mixture of courses to test all areas of your mountain biking ability. You could say round 1 was a course for a power house, round 2 suited those that had excellent technical skills and round 3 was for the mountain goats, aka the climbers.

The course for this round was quite short coming in at just over 3 miles long but it made up for that with two mean climbs and the total elevation for the lap was just over 700ft, ouch! The climbs were split between some fast tight singletrack and then a drag back to the finish, so nothing particularly technical.

For me, this course was all about pacing myself and not destroying myself on the climbs so before the whistle was even blown I had decided to race my own race and what happens, happens.
The start was fast as the first climb started on some singletrack which made passing difficult before it opened out towards the top. My start was good and I held a good position into the climb hovering around 6^th place but I was dropping like a stone as other riders passed me, but I kept telling myself to keep something back for later in the race.

For those that weren’t warned up before the start, you certainly were by the time you got to the top and then was no chance to catch your breath before the first downhill section, as you descended quickly into the woods with some tight switch backs and thin tracks, the slightest wrong move would send you down the hill head over heels. You were soon spat out onto a fast fireroad which lead to the second climb. I could see the lead riders in front of me and the gap didn’t look that big, but that was down to the slow pace on the gradients because once I had descended again the leaders weren’t to be seen. After the first lap I crossed the line way back in 16^th place but stuck to my game plan perhaps a little too well as I probably took laps two & three a little too easy but still managed to make up a couple of places and I was now in 13th. As lap 4 begun I could see I was starting to catch other riders, so I pushed harder on the climbs and by the end of the lap I had made up 5 places and I was tucked behind the 7^th place rider. He made an attack towards the finish on a little drag but I managed to stick with him and then I realised we weren’t that far behind 6^th place. I went to the front to try and bridge the gap but it was too big and this meant it was a sprint to the line. I lead into the field but opened up my sprint too late and could only match the acceleration from behind as by the time I was up to speed he was already passed me and I didn’t have the speed to make it into the 180 degree turn first before the finish line. I crossed the line in 8^th place which was a good result for me on a course which I didn’t favour and it was nice to have such a close finish and being made to work for that position.

Race Round Up – Southern XC Rd 2 & 3 and Gorrick 100

Southern XC Round 3 – Wasing

The team at Southern XC had shared some interesting pictures of the course that was going to greet us and I couldn’t wait to get out and practice the course to see what was in store. I can’t remember the last time an XC race had some many drop off’s but this isn’t me complaining as I found the course entertaining and really rewarding if you could hit those ‘A’ lines. The classic Wasing bomb hole was still being used but this time they had created a decent sized drop off which required complete commitment and caught out a few unexpecting riders during the day. It was clear the course designers had spent a lot of time and effort building a great course which took in the best parts of the Wasing estate and credit is duely given to all of the hardwork that has gone on.

Whilst my mind wasn’t really in the mood for racing, I knew I was going to enjoy the course no matter how the day unfolded as the technical sections were great fun and it’s nice to have a mixture on the terrain. The current XC courses seem to be adding more technical features and long may this continue as I feel it rewards a good all rounded rider.

When a race like this has a long open start everyone always plays the same game and no one wants to go flat out and tow everyone up the first climb, but at the same time you don’t want to be too far back and lose touch with the front so pacing and positioning is key. As we entered the woods I moved to the front to have a clear line but I was soon passed by Jaren Linden but as he went for the first ‘B’ line, I chose ‘A’ and took the position back again. I didn’t expect to stay in from for long and sure enough Jaren and Sam Edwards came storming past and I had a feeling I might not be seeing them again. I knew time could be made up by hitting all of the ‘A’ lines and you could see this as every time they pulled away, I managed to claw a small amount of time back in places but in the end it wasn’t enough. I decided to settle into my own pace and enjoy the course and on lap 3 it looked like I was making ground on the leaders again but they found another gear and managed to pull away.
At the Southern Champs everyone wants to win there category and I was no different. I had hoped to come away with the win, but I was happy with 3^rd place and felt like I left it out on the course. It’s another points haul which is important for the overall placing.

 

Gorrick 100 – 7 laps

I suppose the idea of planning a race in May is you’re hoping for dry conditions but as any brit knows, this is unlikely on a bank holiday weekend and sure enough rain greeted the riders on race morning.
I have always enjoyed racing at Porridgepot Hill as the singletrack is always rewarding and rumour had it there wasn’t going to be much climbing so it looked to be singletrack heaven and it certainly was. Whilst I don’t know the area that well, I think it probably took in the best of sections and apart from one noticeable hill it seemed to hide any gain in elevation. I think the course covered most of the good bits from previous Gorrick and Southern XC events that have been held there so anyone who had raced there previously would have an idea of what to expect.
The 7 lappers were first off and we were greeted to wind and rain on the start line, but the course held up well. Of course it was muddy pretty much everywhere but at least it wasn’t boggy.
The start was quick, much quicker than I expected for a race of this length and it appeared there wasn’t going to be any let up in pace until a stick made it’s way into my wheel and round my hub. It seems the trail gremlins wanted to slow me down and they done a good job of it. I’m sure in reality it didn’t take that long to remove but when riders are whizzing past you it feels like it was taking forever to remove the stick. To be honest I was lucky as I thought it could have been race over, but the gremlin was removed and I settled into my Enduro pace. The laps ticked by reasonably quickly and after a couple of hours the rain had stopped and the temperature was starting to rise and it was easy to spot the riders that had started later on in the day as they were clean compared to the rest of us.

The long enduro races usually consist of as many laps as you can manage in a specified time, so it’s just a case of keeping an eye on my Garmin, but for the Gorrick race I needed to remember the number of laps I had completed. On lap 7 for a split second my heart sunk as I thought I still had a lap to go and I must of spent half of that last lap trying to work out if I had completed the right amount, in the end my maths didn’t let me down and I was relieved to know that my day was soon to be over as I was, in fact, on my final lap.
I spent most of the race feeling like I was going backwards instead of forwards but I was pleased to find out I crossed the line in 10^th place, which was much better than the 20^th place I thought I might have been in. It’s always hard trying to find the right pace over such a long distance and I took comfort in the fact there were only 6 minutes separating 4^th – 10^th which isn’t much when you’ve been racing for almost 6 hours.
Southern XC Round 2 – Crow Hill

I bet 99% of the people that raced Crow Hill last year all had the same wish for this year, please let it be dry and it was……….just. The conditions that greeted the riders in 2015 were a stark difference to the mud bath of 2014 and it was a relief to race in dry, but cold conditions.

Compared to some of the recent races, Crow seemed pretty tame, no crazy lines, just a fast lap on a course coming in at just under 4 miles. The course designers had picked out the best sections from previous years and strung them altogether and apart from the odd damp patch the course held up well. The only change for this year was the start, as this was at the bottom of the hill, right at the end of the lap. As it turned out I was quite thankful of this as the tree’s provided that extra bit of shelter whilst waiting around for the race to start.

I was thankful of being gridded on the front row but I knew it was a long pedal until the first piece of singletrack, so a good clean start was required in order to not lose too many places into the woods and thankfully my legs were happy to play the game and they delivered me into the words leading. I wanted to go out fast to string the riders out and this worked as the top 3 held a strong pace for the first lap which soon distanced out the rest of the field. As the second lap begun I couldn’t keep with the pace of the leaders and dropped back to 3^rd, only to watch them disappear up the road. After this my race was rather uneventful as I seemed to be in no man’s land and it was a case of holding my position and making it to the finish.
I was happy to finish 3^rd and collect those all import points.

British Cycling National XC Series – Round 2 – Newnham Park

Round 2 bought the best XC riders to Newnham Park in Plymouth, for a weekend of sun filled actioned packed racing. A recent post by course designers Fully Sussed revealed that the course would provide some technical challenges but little did anyone realise just how hard or easy you would find it come race day.

I had been looking forward to this found as I have some found memories having raced at Newnham Park a couple of times. I had a rough idea of what to expect as the area has some great terrain to race on, with plenty of singletrack and loads of options for anyone designing a course there, so I knew the drive to Plymouth would be worth it.

Not since the days of racing DH have I seen such a jammed packed course, with queues forming at all of the technical sections as everyone was working out there line choices. Quite often you will race a course with an A & B option, but this track also had a C option too as some sections were much harder than others. The A lines consisted of, drops, big rocks & steep descents which would reward the riders with the technical skill to hit these sections. It’s hard to describe every section, but at times you were faced with a drop off, then a case of trying to balance across some wood / rocks, dropping off of big rocks, rocks used as jumps, rocks to hop over and then balancing your way through rocks which were ready to jump out and punish anyone who made a mistake. In fact, parts of the course would have been well suited to a DH race……which is great news for me!
It’s not often on a XC track that you need the granny ring, but I was pleased to have it when it came to the climbs because they were steep, really steep! I’m not a climber by any stretch of the imagination but no one would be sprinting up these climbs as in places it was a fine art of keeping traction vs keeping the front wheel on the ground. I was pleased it was dry because if it was wet it would have been comical trying to attempt some of the climbs.

The start didn’t go well for me as I struggled to get the legs to fire for some reason (perhaps they were happy just sitting by the car in the sun) and it took a lap for them to finally wake up and realise what I had in store for them. From being gridded on the front row I fell back to 10^th place come the first piece of singletrack, nothing like making things difficult for yourself! It was a case of picking off riders as I went and hoping I could exploit the areas I was confident in when it came to the technical sections. Some lines were more rewarding than others and it was clear the A line for Derriford Drop rewarded you with a lot of time and that helped me to pass riders if they took a different option. The race itself was rather uneventful but certainly enjoyable, as I didn’t mind the climbing as the technical parts were such great fun. As the laps went by I was picking people off one by one and in places I could see the 3^rd place rider of Jay Horton in front of me but I was running out of time to catch him. At some points on the course it would seem like I was almost there and then he would disappear again. It was down to the last section of the field to try and make the catch at the end of the final lap but that gap was too big and I finished only 2 seconds behind in 4^th.

I was happy with the result and pleased to show consistently but I’m itching to try and make the jump to the podium, so roll on round 3.

A huge thanks goes out to everyone that makes the event happy, but especially to everyone behind the scenes at Fully Sussed for laying on an excellent cross country course. I only wish more XC events could have course like Newnham Park, so rewarding and so much fun!

British Cycling National XC Series – Round 1 – Sherwood Pines

It’s always been difficult to commit to the National Series as the schedule for Sunday’s race and the random practice times doesn’t really suit me, so with a change to the Sport category this year and a better structure for the day I decided to enter round 1 of the nationals to see how I would fair.

I was pleased to arrive to a dry venue and although it was windy, it was a reasonably warm and the Saturday racers were in for a treat unlike those who raced on the Sunday it what can only be described as dreadful conditions.

Rumour had it that Sherwood Pines was a pretty flat course and after a quick practice lap that certainly seemed to be the case. Even though the laps were short the course was really enjoyable as there was plenty of singletrack to break up a couple of small fireroad climbs and at race pace it was fast.
The singletrack had a great flow to it and it was virtually bone dry in places but some slippery roots were appearing as the laps progressed so care was needed not to lose the front wheel on the entrance to some of the corners but this made it all the more exciting. The one technical section was a little uphill with three slippery logs that had been placed across the track and line choice here was crucial as I found there was zero grip on the logs but the ground around it was lose in places so a fine balance was needed to keep traction.

The Sport field was big, 62 riders in total and I was gridded on the second row which was a relief. It felt like an eternity waiting for the start gun but it gives you a chance to ponder who you might be fighting with for those all important positions and having never raced the Nationals in this category before I had no idea who my competition was going to be, so I opted for a fast start and tried not to lose to many positions into the singletrack.
The starter had barley finished talking and the gun went bang which surprised a few of us and we were off. The field soon lined out and I found myself back in 8^th place and unbeknown to me at the time, two lead riders were pulling away at a rate of knots. As we progressed through the second lap I heard the commentator say the lead riders had a 50 second lead already and I knew at that point I wouldn’t be able to bridge a gap like that on fitness alone. As the laps went on I found myself making up places as the pack of riders I was with were starting to whittle down but we were starting to come across some back makers from the other categories and if you’re unlucky this is where gaps can creep in and suddenly you’re playing catch up. Passing wasn’t easy in places due to the tight singletrack but the sportsmanship was great between the riders as most people moved over pretty quickly and they were all thanked and it is appreciated when you’re trying to hunt down your competitors.

The laps flew past pretty quickly and I surprised myself as I started the last lap having just made a pass on another rider to find myself in 4^th place, so the hunt was on for that final podium position. We’ve all been there, racing round to try and catch the next rider and trying to work out if you’re making up any ground or not and I could see I was slowly getting there as the lap went on but was it wasn’t meant to be, I pushed hard towards the end of the final lap but I couldn’t close the gap and finished just a handful of seconds behind 3^rd place but very happy with my result.

Going into the National Series I had no idea how I would fare as the calibre of riders is always greater and I felt I would be happy with a top 10 and dead chuffed with a top 5 so I couldn’t be happier to finish 4^th which is a great start to this series and it gives me the motivation to try and stand on the podium next time.

Gorrick Spring Series Round 3 – Porridgepot Hill

It was my third visit to Porridgepot Hill and like the previous visits the venue never disappoints. For those that haven’t raced or ridden there, then stop what you’re doing, go and hit the trails and then come back to this race report. In my eyes, it’s probably one of the best race venues in the south, when comparing it to other Gorrick and Southern XC tracks due to the fun singletrack that is laid out for you come race day. I expect the trail gremlins have spent a long time crafting the tracks in this area and they deserve the praise as the course was a mixture of singletrack which just had that ‘flow’ to it, no matter whether you were going up, down or along the flat. Most of the faster sections had some berms to help you keep your speed and even an A & B line which led into a nice little downhill. The whole course just didn’t disappoint and even the flat tarmac section felt like it had a tail wind, so you could almost call it perfect, and it would have been had someone not included a horrendous hill which was graded at 23% according to Strava. I know with cycling what goes up, must go down but this climb certainly set the legs and lungs on fire and was a talking point among other riders. It was short and sweet, but the terrain was sandy and loose for most of it and most riders, myself included, decided it was easier and quicker to walk up, or depending on how you felt, run.

As I stood on the start line it really felt like spring was in the air and it certainly makes for a more enjoyable race. The Master’s category was a little smaller than previous rounds and it contained a few new faces, so I had no idea how close the racing would be.
I didn’t have the best of starts and I found myself mid pack to begin with and I knew the racing could split in the first lot of singletrack so I pushed on and fought my way up to third position. Sure enough, as we hit the singletrack gaps started to appear and I could see the leader starting to pull away. I knew there was nothing I could do until the course opened up into a little climb where I made my attack and moved up to the front and pushed hard up the hill which created a good gap to second place. I decided not to let up and keep pushing on as you never know what’s round the corner and as the final lap proved, that was a good idea. The next phew laps were quiet for me racing out on my own and by lap 3 it was a case of trying to keep the lead whilst getting past some back markers from other categories. It’s never easy getting past people at the best of times and you always seem to catch people in the wrong place, and it was towards the end of the last lap where disaster almost struck as I had to go a little off-piste to get past someone when a twig decided to jump into my derailleur and wrap itself around my cassette which meant I soon came to a stop. Thankfully I managed to remove it without losing my lead which came as a relief as I had no idea how far back second place was and I crossed the line in first place.

It was another great result for me and it’s nice to know those hard winter miles are paying off, as the temptation to stay in the warm rather than ride can be too great at times.
I came away having increased my lead in the standings which is a bonus as every round counts for the Gorrick series.

Southern XC Round 1 – Black Park

Hang on a minute, 8 months have passed since the last round of the Southerns and back then it seemed like an eternity until round 1 of 2015 but somehow time has flown by and here we are at the start of spring (well it is March) lined up and ready to go at a new venue for me, Black Park.

To say this course was flat was an understatement, I think the biggest hill was coming out one of the bomb holes, so the course was perfect for those that don’t like to climb. I always used to think a pan flat course would be easy, but I found out a few years ago this really wasn’t the case as the racing is just flat out from the gun with no places to hide or shall I say rest.The track was a mixture of fireroads and tight and twisty singletrack which was pretty bumpy in places which was probably down to the wet weather beforehand. To be fair, the track held up pretty well and whilst the course was soft and muddy in places, on the whole it wasn’t too bad. A few well placed bomb hole’s made the course that little bit more interesting, along with some mini north shore to test how well you can balance when your heart rate is in the red.

With the Master’s category disappearing for this year I decided to try my luck in Sport. I wasn’t the only one with the same idea as it was one of the biggest categories of the day with 37 riders. The start of the race was flat out as everyone wanted a good position going into the first piece of singletrack and everyone soon lined out as the pace was high. It didn’t take us long to start catching some back markers from the junior race and other categories and getting past people wasn’t easy as losing the wheel in front could prove costly with the long sections in the woods. I was part of a group of 5 riders for the first lap and we managed to build a gap and as the laps went on the group broke up which left myself, James Braid and Paul Miler to fight it out for the podium positions. Towards the end of the second lap Paul put in a strong attack and little did I realise at the time, it was a winning move. As James and I battled it out for 2^nd & 3^rd we could see Paul hanging on out in front of us, but still pushing on. On the final lap, the gap to Paul hadn’t increased so I attacked James and managed to get past and I would continue my pursuit to Paul. Unfortunately I left it too late as I only caught him up on the final piece of singletrack before the finish and with nowhere to pass, it was going to be 2^nd place for me today.To start the season off with such a strong result is great for me and I couldn’t be happier to be stood on the podium and bagging some good points which will important come the end of the year.

A big thank you to everyone who designed the course, the marshals and Southern XC for making it happen.

Gorrick Spring Series Round 2 – Crowthorne Wood

I know I will be punished for speaking too soon but the Gorrick team certainly have a good understanding / deal going on with the weather gods because as I arrived on Sunday at Crowthorne Woods the sun was out and we were in for another dry day or racing. Having the sun making an appearance was much to the pleasure of us in the Masters category as we stood on the start line waiting for the gun to go off. I think I probably speak for most of us when I say that one of the worst parts is the hanging around at the beginning waiting in the cold to get going, so with today being warm, well for February, it was a bonus.

The course was another classic Gorrick venue and having raced here before I had a rough idea of what to expect, a few punchy little climbs, fun singletrack and some fireroad sections. Apart from some mud on a couple of sections of fireroad, the course was pretty dry which meant it rolled that little bit faster than normal and the only loamy sections were some new bits that were added this year just to keep things interesting.

The race was fast from the gun and with the lungs burning the little dips felt much harder on the fireroad than what they were in practice. I say dips, because you can’t really call them climbs, but they did feel like climbs as the race progressed. The first section of fireroad went on for longer this year and none of us wanted to take up the pace making, so it was down to the singletrack to split the bunch up. About half way through the first lap 4 of us broke free and the pace was kept high (any mistakes now would prove costly, so line choice was important to avoid time loss) and then an increase in pace came again from Nick Drew towards the end of the first lap which saw us pull sometime between us and 3^rd & 4^th place. The pace didn’t really drop and I didn’t have the legs for a pull on the fireroad so the gap to behind us hovered at around 30 seconds. Nick and I had battled it out on the last road and today was no exception, just like before we were glued to each other’s wheel and it was the final section of the course which was going to decide the out. On the final open section I was in second place and I made my move and only just managed to scrub off enough speed to make the sharp left hand corner (don’t chuck it away now David!). I knew it wasn’t over at this point as there is a short final little climb just before the finish line and I knew Nick would come back at me there. Sure enough, as we hit the bottom it was a full gas effort from the both of us knowing that after this point the race was over and I was lucky to be able to just hold onto my lead and cross the line in first place, very tired, but dead pleased to have got another win this season.

Once again, a big thank you to everyone at Gorrick and the sponsors for putting on these great events, roll on round 3!

Gorrick Spring Series Round 1 – Saddleback Hill

The first race of the season is always a wake up call for me, as no matter how much ridding you’ve done during the winter, nothing wakes you up like the lungs burning just after that start whistle has been blown and the first round of the Gorrick was no exception.
The first round of this year’s spring series was at a new venue, Saddleback Hill and even though the weather gods tried their best, the rain kept away (just) and the course held up and was pretty dry for the majority of it, in fact the muddiest part was the entrance to the venue and parking area.

The course had a good mixture of tracks, fun singletrack, some open fireroad sections, some nasty short sharp climbs that really tested the legs and some great switchbacks which made for an entertaining lap.
After my practice lap I was happy with the course but I knew those little climbs were going to hurt at race pace!

I lined up in the Masters field and I was relieved they got us going pretty quick as no one wanted to hang around in the cold. I had a poor start and struggled to get going and found myself in 8^th position as we entered the first piece of singletrack. As my legs & lungs got used to the pace I started to make my way up the field and things were looking good. As the second lap began I managed to catch the 1^st place rider and we slowly started pulling away from the rest of the field. The final lap was going to be a two horse race as we kept ahead of the chasing pack and the tight and twisty singletrack was going to decide the outcome. To make the final lap more interesting was the amount of back makers we caught, but they all very kindly let us past, so it never affected the final result. I think I managed to thank everyone as we went past, but just in case I missed you, many thanks, it is appreciated.
I lead into the singletrack by the finish line and with one open section left I knew I had to put in a hard effort, I wasn’t the only person thinking this because as we both hit this section you heard the gears jump down the sprockets as we both sprinted to the entrance of the final section before the line. I was pleased to get there first and I knew baring any mistakes, the win should be mine, so it was taken at a steady place as one small slip would prove to be costly.
Crossing the finish line is always a great achievement, no matter where you come, but to cross it before everyone else is a great feeling and I’m already looking forward to round 2 next month.

As always, a big thank you to everyone behind the scenes at Gorrick & there sponsors for making this happen.

Brighton Big Dog

This has been my first year racing the longer Enduro XC races and I think coupled with enjoyable courses and a good atmosphere has really got me hooked. From having spoken to a few friends everybody was raving about the Brighton Big Dog and how much fun it was so after getting a last minute entry I decided to see what the fuss was about.

I knew how important the start of the race would be and I lined up close to the start line and spotted the usual suspects that would disappear into the distance, only to be seen at the finish after 6 hours of racing. The start was manic and I was lucky to avoid a crash at the beginning and decided to stick with the high pace until we got into the woods in the hope of staying out of trouble and not getting caught in any of the bottlenecks when you enter the first piece of singletrack which worked well for me, after that point it was a case of finding my 6 hour pace and getting on with the laps.

The course lived up to the hype, something there for everyone, tight singletrack, fire roads, climbs and some fast singletrack. At times the course was tight in places, and I certainly wouldn’t want my handlebars to be any wider than what they were but this made it all the more of a challenge.

I managed to find a balance of being able to push on and still keep some reasonable consistent lap times which shows I must be starting to get the hang on these longer races……famous last words.

As time ticks by I was staring at my Garmin trying to work out how many laps I had left and whether I needed to risk an extra lap and I crossed the line a little sooner than expected, with 34 minutes left remaining, I was 50 / 50 about hitting another lap but soon decided the chances of setting my fastest lap time at the end of the race was pretty slim, so I called it a day. At this point I always worry that perhaps I should have gone out just to try and protect my result, but having looked at the result sheet it wouldn’t have made a difference, phew! I couldn’t be happier with the result finishing 6^th place out of 55.

The Brighton Big Dog certainly lived up to it’s reputation, great course, good atmosphere and a must do event for next year.

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Bontrager TwentyFour12

For the past couple of years I’ve been pondering on whether to enter a 12 hour race or not and about 12 months ago I thought it would be a good idea, so before I changed my mind I got my entry in for Twentyfour12 as I felt that would be the perfect venue, as having raced there a few years ago I knew what the track and facilities would be like and I thought this would be the ideal event for my challenge.

Training went well leading up to the event with a 4 hour race at Margam Park and a 6 hour at Erlestoke to test the mind, body and experiment with food and drink, oh and above else, not treating it like an XC race and going flat out from the gun.

Having made the trip up on the Friday evening it gave me a chance to relax Saturday morning before the madness at 12 began.

I was lucky enough to be supported by my good friend Tom and his girlfriend Steph who I can’t thank enough for there support because as the hours of the race went on I really felt having a team around you preparing your bottles and food made a world of difference and I do wonder if I could have kept going without them.

Waiting at the start line was hot and I was watching the temperature creep up on my Garmin so I knew hydration was going to be an important factor. I managed to get a good position on the start line which was a bonus as I knew the start loop was going to be hectic along with the first lap.

The gun went off at 12 and off everyone went and I decided to stick with a high pace at the beginning to avoid any mishaps and then slow down after the first lap and find my rythem. This seemed to work well as I stayed out of trouble at the start of the race and I could settle into a good pace once the lap begun.

The laps soon ticked by and the course kept me entertained and Cottage Return was always great fun and a chance for me to put my DH skills into place as I made up some good time on the riders around me on this section.

My bike performed faultlessly until come lap 7 my bottle cage broke and I was very thankful to have been given one by the organisers when I signed on, little did I now at the time how grateful I would be for that.

All was going well until about 8pm when my body was telling me it wanted something other than flapjacks or gels, but I thought I could plow on but an hour later I made the wise decision to stop and take on some pasta which turned out to be a life saver. Having had that little extra food and a break I felt much better and carried on with my final laps to cross the line just after midnight having completed my first 12 hour race with the standard wheelie across the finish line having finished 20th out of 94.

After the finish I was sure that I wasn’t about to enter another 12 hour race but after 24 hours had passed I soon changed my mind and once the entries were open I paid up for another 12 hour race next year at Twentyfour12, so see you in 2015!

 

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Southern XC Rd 5 – QE Park

 

It feels weird writing this and knowing the Southern series has been and gone for another year. It’s a shame they started so early as it seems that the nice weather is finally here……for now. At least someone managed to book the weather gods for the final round as we were treated to a hot and sunny day.

Another great course had been laid on with a couple of nasty climbs but some rewarding descents. There had been some rain the day before which made the course slippery in places and you could see it was starting to cut up on the final descent but for me this made it all the more enjoyable.

This year I made the step up to Masters and I knew I was in for a hard year as the pace is fast from the whistle and it doesn’t ease up until you cross the finish line. The start for this round was on a hill and I knew it would be a mad dash for the first bit of singletrack. The climb was too long for a full on sprint and getting past people after starting on the third row would be nigh on impossible so I decided to settle into a pace I could sustain for the duration of the climb and I soon found myself mid pack. Unfortunately my legs were having one of those days where they didn’t want to kick into action, so it was going to be a long drawn out 4 laps hoping to get a half decent finish. My race was fairly uneventful as I didn’t have the strength to push on the climbs so made the most of the descents. On the final lap I could see I was bridging across to another two riders and I caught one on the descent, only to find there was no room to pass so I had to be patient until I could make my move. Just before the final climb there was a wide flat section so I made my move and it was full gas to try and make another place but I couldn’t make the catch before the finish line and finished a couple of seconds behind in 12^th place.

Overall I’m happy with my first year in Masters finishing 10^th overall and as always I will be looking to improve on my results next year.

 

Many thanks to everyone behind the scenes at Southern XC for putting on these events and I’m looking forward to next year already.