Battle on the beach

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BY: phil Morris

Published: 17th March, 2014

Battle on the beach.
This was a totally new event to the UK and a first for me, Donna and myself decided to enter and only just got in before the event sold out so it was definitely gaining plenty of interest!
With the 2 of us racing it was a weekend at nannies for the kids.

Having endured weather which would have justified building an ark, it was great to finally have a week of decent weather leading up to the event! I have done a couple cross races at Pembrey so I knew roughly what was there, and was unsure as to how it would be as a longer race, but with Matt page involved in the organising I was confident that it would be a good course!

Race day, the weather was great and with a strong field I wasn't overly confident of a great finish just a tough training ride was the plan.
I lined up at the start with the strangest mix of bikes I've ever seen in a bike race, cross bike, 29ers, 26ers,650b, fat bikes and I'm sure there were others! Also a lot of beards!
This was also the fat bike champs so there was a lot going on!
I started on the 3rd row and initially we were lead off behind a quad. The racing started once we hit the beach, it was extremely tough with a head wind all the way. So it was a matter of sitting in the group and trying to preserve some energy. The beach exit was tight and this was a bit of a free fore all, I managed to get out in about 10th I think! I slowly started working my way up the field, by the end of the lap I was in a group of 4 with only 1 other guy up ahead who had got away on the beach exit. Once we hit the beach we worked together, well at least 3 of us did! On exiting the beach I had a bit of a mare on the first big puddle and lost about 50m and spent the majority of the next lap trying to get back to the guys. I finally got back in touch and we drop the rider from the Netherlands. The final run up the beach was again brutal, once this was done I knew it was Everyman for himself. So I decided to give a big push and not sure when it happen but I managed to get a gap. At this point I had no idea where first was, but with only a couple of miles to go I got him in my sights. This spurred me on a bit more and with only about a mile to go I. Managed to take the lead. I managed to get a small gap and unfortunately on the final bit of single track before the arena someone decided to feel the need to not let me pass and this I knew was costly as I know the sprint was going to favour the guy riding for Koga. On the last straight he got the jump on me and I knew it was over! In saying that I was very pleased with the result and the ride that I'd had!
It was an absolutely superb race with a really enjoyable course which on paper would usually have suited me. I will definitely be back next year.

Donna was also in a very tough cat, she had a great ride coming in 5th less than a minute behind 4th.

The biggest surprise of the day was still to come, just before the podium it was announced that the 1st UK rider in the male and female will have the chance to compete in a beach race next February to be held in Belgium. Trip to Belgium in now on!!

Thanks to Matt and team for a cracking event, looking forward to next year already!

Finally to my sponsors
XCracer.com/scimitar sports
Accelerade
Exposure lights
Mt Zoom