Welsh XC Round 1

Last weekend I Travelled down to south wales on the Saturday evening for the first round of the Welsh XC series. We Stayed overnight in Llanelli which isn't far from Pembrey country Park.
Not so much of an early start as my race wasn't till 11am so we arrived for course inspection & practise around 9-30 whilst the U12 races were in progress on a separate course. It had rained overnight but the ground was still fairly firm going & rolling fast but the weather soon turned on us & it started raining quite heavily whilst I started my Warm-up on the rollers with Dad holding the umbrella over me!!
The commissaries soon got us all gridded but start was carnage when they set the elite men and women, expert, juniors and youths all off together, the youths started off at the back so was really hard to move up, The first lap was mainly trying to move up with the group I was in with Tom Nesham (Cardiff Jif), Craig Rogers (BNECC) and Jack Nash (MTRT), we stayed as a group together as a group for the whole first lap until I attacked up the main climb. I managed to open a gap but knew straight away that I would not be able to hold it but still pushed for the rest of the second lap but Craig Rogers was able to bridge the gap and we ended up working together for the next lap but then it turned into a game of cat and mouse as both of us knew after a few attacks that it was going to stay together, so the pace ended up dropping off as we both wanted to save ourselves for the final sprint finish, on the last road straight I attacked from behind craig around 300meteres away from the line and was lucky enough to hold the tiny gap I opened all the way up to the line and take the WIN!
It was a great course and a really fast & flowing and fun to ride with little respite inbetween the short sharp climbs so a big thanks to Matt Page of A_Cycling, Welsh cycling and all the Marshalls for standing out in the Heavy rain for the duration of the race.
The Bike was faultless once again so a Big thanks to Alf Jones Cycles in Wrexham & Fibrax keeping my Cannondale F29r So reliable
Looking forward to the first round of the National Mtb Series at Sherwood Pines In a couple of weeks.

Cannock Chase Winter XC Race

Over  the past 2 weeks I have been busy getting the MTB cross country season under way.
The Bike has had a full Rebuild & refresh of a few components To improve performance & Reliability.
A New set of the Fibrax Ltd Proformance Sealed Cables have been fitted to keep the shifting Smooth & precise in even the muddiest winter conditions & Some of their Sintered Brake pads to care of the stopping Department in the XTR Brakes.

So On the 1st of march it was my first MTB race of the season & time to give the bike a shakedown now it was back to full race trim, We travelled down to Cannock chase to compete in the Go Run And Ride Winter Xc, I entered the Mens enthusiasts category as the race distance would be more like the national level duration. It had been dry for the morning races & my Practise laps so was looking forward to a fast Dry race along side some handy Elite Riders From Torq Fitness team (Alex Welburn & Chris Andrews). Just before the race started the heavens opened and it changed the course completely compared to what it was like in practise. I managed to get a good start and was 5th going into the first singletrack and then moved up into 4th where I stayed for the majority of the race as was unable to close the gap on the charging Junior rider Arthur Green but was then later joined by Junior Rider Greg Booker (team elite) and I managed to stay with him for the next lap until he put in a strong attack and dropped me a Steep Muddy Climb. I then rode solo for the rest of the race and managed to claim 5th in the enthusiasts men's category while still being a second year youth! it was a great event and can not wait to return to Cannock chase for the Go Run And Ride Summer Xc and the final round of the national series in August.

 

Pictures Courtesy of Curley photography