English
The pattern of hard training and racing every weekend has continued for the previous few weeks. First up was my first road race of the year (and only the second ever!). It would also be the first time I get to ride my new Focus Izalco Pro 1.0 road bike in anger! After another, more local race was cancelled I made the trip to Bridgnorth for what I hoped would be a good event. The race was 3 laps over an 18 mile course. It was mostly flat with a hill 2 miles from the finish, although it then flattened out before the top. The first and second laps passed without too much drama, a few breaks tried and failed to get away and on lap 2 there was a big crash with a couple of riders hospitalised. On lap 3 a couple of favourites got away and the bunch started chasing, although it wasn’t until the final 8 miles that the pace started to ramp up. Before the hill there was a fast downhill where getting into a good position was crucial.
I got myself up into the top 20 or so and then going up the hill I started to really make my way through as riders were falling off the pace really quickly. Unfortunately a rider blocked my path and I almost came to a stand still, making it much tougher for me to get back. As it flattened off I was back in the group, but with a flat sprint finish I didn’t stand a chance, finishing in the bunch in 18th position. I’m happy with that and looking forward to entering a few more road races towards the end of May one of which finishes on a big hill which should suit me.
The road race marked the end of a really big training week and the start of my taper for the 24hr Solo UK & European Championships. Last week was still far from an easy week and at the end of it I made the trip to Catton Park for the Wiggle Enduro 6, always a top event! This year seemed to be bigger and better than ever and the atmosphere was brilliant, helped by the weather! On the Saturday night I entered the night time trial, finishing 3rd in the Elite Men category. I was only 45 seconds off the winner and 30 seconds off 2nd. A quick Torq recovery drink and off to bed ready for the 6hr pairs in the morning!
After a pretty good night sleep I was feeling pretty good and looking forward to racing. My partner was Giles Drake, a really quick Elite XC rider who has been my nemesis in XC racing for the last 2 seasons as I have never beaten him, despite always having a really close race. It was nice to race alongside him for a change. We were up against some really quick competition, including Wiggle’s own Lee & Ben who were defending the pairs title.
Giles was happy to go with my suggestion of longer riding sessions, doing 4 laps each to start while all the competition did 2 laps each. It didn’t work out to be the fastest tactic, but it suited me better and ahead of next weekend it was a more suitable way of racing. Giles set a great pace at the start, with Lee off the front he was in the chasing group of 3. It stayed close throughout, but we did lose about a minute a lap for a while, but we stayed steady in 4th position. My 4 laps went well, I felt consistent and my lap times showed that. Swapping over to Giles he did 2 laps, followed my me doing 3 and Giles flew around for our final lap. We finished 4th on 14 laps, the same as the winners after a really close race.
With Enduro 6 done and dusted (quite literally!!) now I can look forward to next weekend. I had made my intentions clear to the organisers that I wanted to enter both the 12hr and 24hr solo events, as both start at the same time. They are not allowing me to do this, although I don’t really understand the reasons why. After much indecision I have finally decided that I will defend my 24hr solo title rather than enter the 12hr race on its own.
This week it is mostly short events with harder efforts and lots of preparation & planning. My new Rocky Mountain Element RSL bikes are simply brilliant and everything I could ask for in a race bike. I know I have the best pit crew in the World, with Ben from Wiggle coming up to be the main Mechanic, my fiancée Nia is the main pit manager controlling everything else and my Mum is also coming to add a valuable 3rd pair of hands. I’m feeling good, I’ve done the training and hoping for a good race but anything can happen in such a long race and I am up against the best riders from the UK and Europe.
