BMBS, Round 1

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BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 29th March, 2011

Sherwood pines came around quickly. I had a target of being in the top ten to gain enough points for Dalby World Cup and studying the race entries I knew it was possible but it would be tight for me. Going into the race I felt positive and more relaxed than normal, I didn’t have expectations of achieving a podium but I felt I could be competitive enough to finish mid field in a strong line up.

Photo by Joolze Dymond. http://www.joolzedymond.com/

Although you never know how the other ladies are going, there are always riders who you know will go well and one or two riders that take you by surprise. The top five riders on the podium were of no surprise, Lene Byberg , Annie Last, Lily Mathews, Maddie Horton and Mel Spath; five very strong riders. Jessie Roberts finishing 6th only a minute or so off the podium had a stormer of a ride and  to me showed the most improvement in speed from last year. For the first half of the race Cait Elliot, Gabby Day, myself, Maxine Fibly and Jane Cumming were closely placed. Jane and I managed to pull away and for a bit I thought we had a chance of catching Lee Craigie. Jane, though eligible to race as a veteran, was taking on the challenge of the elite riders for her first time. She certainly showed that despite being a mum and self employed, age doesn’t slow you down (the commentator called her the Nick Craig of the women’s field which made me smile). Jane was smoother through the tight corners and gained a gap on me which at first I held. Going into the last lap I felt strong and felt I had a chance of catching her back up again but it wasn’t to be, I got slower instead and dropped off a fair bit. Jane finished 8th a minute and a half up on me. I shall never complain I am getting too old for racing again! I finished 9th and just behind me was Cait Elliot and Maxine Fibly.

I really enjoyed racing. I was disappointed that I lost time on the single track and that my time dropped off on the last lap. Two and a half weeks ahead now of good interval training with the aim to be more aggressive and explosive and hopefully suss out these sprint starts as I am getting a bit fed up of being one of the last into the single track.

Thanks to Accelerade, Xcracer.com, Gateway cycles, Mt Zoom and Exposure lights.