Hot Hopton

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BY: Richard Jones

Published: 31st May, 2012

Hot Hopton! 

Last weekend was round 3 of the National Mountain Bike Series. This weekend saw the race come to a new venue of Hopton woods in Shropshire. 

I had never ridden here before however I had raced at last years Midlands race at Eastridge which was very close. Eastridge was by far one of my favourite courses of last year so I couldn't wait to pre ride Hopton. 

Myself and Hollie got there mid morning on Saturday and hasterly set about getting ready to head out onto the course, by this point it was already clear that the weather was going to play its part however for a change it wasn't because of rain, instead searing temperatures of 28c. 

Straight out of the starting arena and you where onto the first and only climb of the course. It stretched up into the distance with a mix of fire road, switch backs and knee bursting granny ring sections. A good 14minutes of climbing would see you finally reach the top. At this point you would need to quickly collect your self and prepare for the flat out decent back to the arena, nothing particular technical but plenty of very fast loose corners and steep shoots. 

Sunday midday and before I knew it we where being gridded. I had finally managed to make it onto a better gridding position of 30^th. I was happy with this and feeling confident. 

Turbo Warm up...Thats serious! 

The extreamly loud starting shot was fired and with in seconds we where onto the climb, the pace seemed high but the hardest thing was trying to breath through the cloude of dust. Half way up the climb gaps had started to form I was feeling strong on this climbs and as per usual set about working throught the pack. 

Out onto lap two and I had been joined by George Budd. I settled onto the climb with George to my side, I was being cautious not to exert to much to early so was holding back a little on the climbs however it seemed like George didn't want the same, every couple of minutes would see him increase the pace and make our group suffer. I was able to pull a small gap over the top of the climb where it was very steep. Although George quickly reeled me back in on the descents. 

Out onto lap 4 and a group had now formed with Liam Glen, Giles Drake, George and myself. Giles was driving the pace on the climb and George was forcing us all to push our limits on the descents. 

Lap 5 and it was our last, as soon as we began the climb Giles had immediately showed his form and set about climbing at a tremendous rate. He quickly formed a gap and just seemed to ride into the distance. We all set about trying to follow but it wasn't to be. It quickly had come down to the 3 of us. George was again leading the pace with Liam and myself trying to follow. 

I felt comfortable but could feel the past efforts on my body. Onto the steepest and largest part of the climb for the last time and George had now dropped the hammer and had really powered up the climb and into the distance.  Liam felt the pace and decided not to try to follow and I knew it was my time to go. I pushed as hard as I could and finally managed to get onto the top. 

I knew there was little left to go until the guarantee of rest, a cool refreshing coke and an afternoon of resting. With this comforting thought I set about ridding as hard as I could. George had gone but there was still the chance of others being left in front. The last but one piece of singletrack and I had joined Ben Sumner wheel. 

As we hit onto the last small fire road incline before the last piece of singletrack to the arena. I hit the lock out and attempted to sprint past (I don't sprint) thankfully I had enough left for this to pay off. Onto the last trail and all was left was not to be silly and ride it home. 

Finishing was a good feeling but the truth is that the course was so good that a part of me didn't want it to end. However my achy body and exhausted lungs did! Finally a better result of 16^th and this time just 9 minutes down. Still a long long way to go but bit by bit. 

Richard Jones - XCracer.com. 

Accelerade. MTZoom.