Lee Williams Blog: The Cross Kicks Off!

The Cross Kicks Off!

After a couple of weeks completely off, I was back into the winters training for another year and straight into the cyclo-cross season. I started back training on the Wednesday and without hanging around I done a few hard sessions, including a circuit training session before racing on the Sunday. Inevitably for the race I wasn’t my normal fresh self after some time off, but the main intention this winter is to get the most out of the months available in preparation for the summer mountain bike season. Obviously I want to get a few good results along the way, but the main focus still being the mountain bike.

First cross race back was round 3 of the Welsh Series in Crickhowel, and with a massive field on a tight twisting course the race was going to be well fought out. Off the start I set the pace for the first lap which was pretty much the only part of the race that my legs felt OK. After the second lap I was passed by a couple of riders and soon there was a gap between me and the leading pack of four riders.

For the remainder of the race I was playing catchup on pretty poor legs and even though I caught one of the guys in front I finished off the podium which was a little disappointing. Never the less I gave it a good push and that was the best I could do on the day….so that was enough!

The following week I raced round 3 of the National Trophy in Ipswich and with my legs not feeling to great the week leading up to the race I was hoping that I’d feel a bit better come Sunday. At the start I was a little bit gutted I was gridded at the back, as it’s always a real battle to get through a high quality field like you get at the Trophy, which is also filled with more than a handful of overseas riders pushing the pace that little bit more.

Never the less the plan for the race was to go as quick as I could for the first couple of laps and simply……hang on! I managed by the end of the first lap to get through 70% of the field and near the top 10, where a group of five or so riders formed and that’s where the race was for me for the day.

However, I seemed to be always playing catchup with the group falling off the back more than a few times and trying my hardest to claw my way back on. By the end of the raced the group split up a little, but with me nearing the back of it all, ending in a finishing position of 16th. Overall, my raced felt a bit better than the previous week in the Welsh, so as long as I don’t feel any worse, then progress is being made…..Happy Days!

The next race is the British Inter-Area Team Championships where I will represent Wales as well as team mate Ben Simmons, with the race being held in Leicestershire.

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