XCRacer Exclusive Andalucia Blog with team GT UK

The route is based around Cordoba, Spain with most stages being no less than 70km and 2000m of climbing although the "queen" stage looks to be Stage 4 where the pace is likely to be ramped up from Jaen to Mancha Real.

Not for the Scots to pick an easy challenge, Dave and Gareth will be going "mano-a-mano" with no less a competitor than three time cross country world champion, Jose Antonio Hermida who is partnering the experienced Dutch rider, Rudi Van Houts.  A large selection of local Andalusian talent makes up most of the top competitors and will be expected to provide tough challengers with their more than favourable winter conditions. Scotland doesn't bear comparison.  

Fortunately Dave and Gareth have lined up a secret weapon in Scottish Mountain Bike Coach Paul Newnham who will also head out to Southern Spain to support the pair through the race as part of the Scottish Elite Athlete Program.

Lives Edinburgh

Rides GT Zaskar 9r (carbon for racing, aluminum version for training)

Scottish MTB Championships: 1st  

British MTB Series: 7th overall in the series (R1 - 20th, R2 - 11th , R3 -14th , R4 -8th R5- 8th). 

British MTB Championships: 12th

Innerleithen MTB TT: 2nd

Swiss Bike Racers Cup: 60th 

Dalby Forest World Cup: 100th 

Tour Doon Hame: 69th  

Scottish Cyclo Cross Championships: 3rd

2012 Goals 

I want to build on the 2011 season. XC mountain biking is such a hard sport and you need to be so patient to reach your goals. I wish to get on the podium(s) for the first time at British level, defend my Scottish Champ title and gain more experience racing abroad.  I am doing some epic races this year - one being the Andulacia Bike Race!  Long term, I am aiming to medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014.

Favourite training ride 

I am lucky to have some of the best riding in the UK so close to me. Over the last few years I have put together some awesome routes combining Glentress and Inners with natural routes. In fact I keep finding better routes and combinations all the time! Saying that, Gran Canaria isn't too shabby at this time of the year...

Lives Castle Douglas, Scotland

Rides GT Zaskar 9r

Scottish MTB Series: 1st Round 1,2, 3 + 4 (1st Overall)

British MTB Series: 4th Overall (R1 - 12th, R2 - 11th, R3 - 23rd, R4 - 3rd, R5 - 10th)

Scottish MTB Championships: 4th

Charge Bikes - Frome Cobble Wobble: 2nd

Innerleithan MTB TT: 1st

Hairy Coo Race - Comrie Croft: 1st

Scottish Cyclo Cross Series: R2 - 1st, R3 - 2nd, R4 - 1st, R5 - 6th, R6 - 2nd, R7 - 2nd (1st Overall)

Scottish Cyclo Cross Championships: 1st

For 2012 I have set myself and few goals, First and foremost I am aiming to regain the NPS overall title and pick up a few wins along the way. Although consistency is key when it comes to a series. Next on my list are the two sprint events - The Red Bull hill chasers and Frome Cobble Wobble, both great events with huge amounts of atmosphere, I rode to 2nd in the finals of the Cobble Wobble last year and will be looking to go one better in both events this year. This year I will also be competing in my longest offroad event - the 6 day Andalucia Bike Race at the end of Febuary, I think survival will need to be the goal here but, should hopefully set me up nicely for the year.

Favourite Training Ride 

Alps, Cappadocia (Turkey), SW Scotland and anywhere with sunshine in winter!

Training wise, the main changes for the stage race are doing a lot more miles on the training bike; GT Zaskar 9r Elite. The big wheels are great as it allows you to ride on the road and not spin out the gears the same way you do on a 26" wheel bike. The other key element to preparing for this race is getting plenty of miles in with each other. The Andalucia Bike race is a team event where you ride in pairs and therefore it is really important to know your team mate pretty well - strengths and weaknesses. 

We have had several training days with the Scottish Elite Athlete Program and also spent a week getting some big hours in riding in GC including a character building 6.5hrs where we ended up lost in a forest (on road slicks) with the sun falling in the sky pretty quickly and a minimum 1hr left to ride once we found our way to the coast. We arrived back to our accommodation to some strange looks that day as we were covered in dust, wrecked and it was dark! 

Next up for us is a 3 day camp in Dumfries in Galloway based around the 7stanes trails but with all the secret technical trails thrown in. We will be looking to replicate the first few stages of the bike race to complete another solid block of training. 

Dave and Gareth will be riding tricked out team versions of the new GT 29er, and are some of the many XC riders making the transition to 29ers in the search for improved traction and high speed stability.

More information about the new GT 29er can be found at www.gtbicycles.com

Dave and Gareth will be uploading daily blogs and pictures from the stages so you will be able to follow their progress here on XCRacer.com.

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