XC Racer Blog Post

Blimey this is late! National Champs update.

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BY: Richard Jones

Published: 14th August, 2013


As with most of us National champs started with a long drive to the 2013 venue of cathkin braes in Glasgow. Hollie and myself arrived early Saturday morning after a over night stop in Gretna Green (No we didn't get married). 


As soon as we arrived I got kitted up and headed out to check out the course, this was one venue I had been really looking forward to all year and sure enough it didn't disappoint. The course is a purpose built course originally designed for the 2014 commonwealth games. It shared many similarities to the 2012 Olympic course in both its design and general feel to the venue. 


The course was a mix of short sharp climbs, Steep rocky technical descents with multi line choices and flowing singletrack. There was however a over whelming theme�FAST! The hard packed surface and recent dry spell had turned the course into the motorway of XC racing, It was clear that there would be no let up and to finish well you would have to be confident with carrying your speed through technical sections. 


Sunday was here and so the day that many had looked forward to all year. The chance for each rider in his or her relevant category to make or break and take home that prestige National Champion title. Every body dreams of owning on of those colorful wooly jumpers! 


Before I knew it was late afternoon and I was being called onto the grid. 4th on the row made a novel change to how these races usually start for me and I wanted to grasp this opportunity to make a good start. 


The start was fast and very loose, we accelerated into each corner before backing it off and sliding through the loose gravel corners, thankfully we all made it through this sketchy starting loop ok and we where lead back into the arena by Stephen James and Tom Evens. I held onto the main group and sat just behind Alex Welburn, as we passed under the starting banner to commence our first lap Issac Pucci had clearly hit the gas and moved through the pack and onto Stephen James wheel. 



We rode the first few sections with out and drames, as we suspected the majority of our category was still bunched together as we rode under the under and over tunnel. I shot down the rocky decent and began to weave through the tight berms, Stupidly I overshot a tight corner and flew off course and into the bushes. I unclipped and got myself back onto track. I had lost a lot of time and the majority of our category had now passed me. 


I knew it was to early for this to make a real affect on my race and set about chasing back onto the groups. I struggled to find a smooth fast line through the double descender but made up for this by really pushing on the following climb. I managed to slowly pick some riders off and before I knew it I could see most of my compertion once again. 



As I edged towards the top of the climb I came across Ben Rough limping a punctured rear wheel to the second pit zone, this was a real shame as in the prior weeks he had really started to show some awesome racing�that and he's a local lad! 


By this point I had started to rejoin the wheels of good friend James Hyde (Also a local lad) I sat on his wheel for a short while so I could catch a breath and then moved on once again shouting at James to join my wheel, as I knew we could work well together. We both pushed on for the remainder of that lap. 


Out onto lap two and James had dropped back a little, I had totally lost track of what position I was in or who was in front of me. However I soon caught a glimpse of a GT rider. This could only be Edward. I pushed once again and bridged the gap over to him. Know sooner had I done this he attacked on the long singletrack descent. He was riding so well and I could barely stay with him as he swerved and ripped though every turn and twist. 


I found myself rejoining him as the course opened and headed upwards, this was clearly going to be some battle. The following two laps consisted of some real good racing, each decent he was pulling away but each climb I was pulling this back and then taking the lead. 


With two laps to go we began to be passed by the leading Elite men who had started a good 10 minutes before us. Paul Oldham passed us just as we began to climb that same climb back up from the double desender. As Paul passed Edward I also took the opportunity to follow Pauls wheel and use him as a pace setter for this climb. This time I pushed harder than I had at any point before. My legs where screaming and I was grasping for breathe, as I bridged over the top of the climb I glanced over my shoulder only to see Edward wasn't there. I knew he wouldn't be far behind so settled back down and gave it my all. 



The following lap consisted off me trying my best to maintaining a gap over the chasers. I hadn't seen any others in front for quite a while so there was little chance of making up more positions. 


Crossing the finish line was a relief! My body felt drained and the warm day had really dehydrated me. I was pleased to hear I had finished in 5th place. That for me was enough to smile and celebrate. 5th also meant a little Scottish money and possibly some off those elusive UCI points.  


Stephen James had taken the title with Issac trailing a short distance behind, the last podium spot was taken from Liam Glen who managed to spend the majority of the year racing on the road but still showed he could ride a mountain bike with the best of them�impressive! 


Richard Jones

 

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