Pembrey Welsh MTB XC Round 1

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BY: Donna Morris

Published: 9th March, 2015

Welsh XC Round 1 Pembrey

God that came around quick! I've got to say that I don't usually ride my bike much in the winter, due to the fact I can't be doing with getting wet, cold and don't have the extra spare time to sort getting kitted up for bad weather! However,this year I have really topped my least amount of bike training in any form. Three times on a saddle since the last round of the cyclocross series!! So I was really apprehensive about this race, especially as there was a few more women in my race and I wasn't confident I could beat them.

We arrived nice and early, enough time to get out and have a practice lap. The weather was crappy, wet, cold and miserable! So it was a case of chuck my waterproofs on and head off on my Todd for a recce. The course was predominantly made up of long, flat, draggy bits of single track, some nice flowing singletrack, a few short sharp climbs and a few nice drop offs and A lines, with the chicken run option aswell!!

After the initial flat single track, you hit the first short climb which led you to the first slightly technical section, you then followed tracks, a mix of bumpy singletrack and I can't really remember the exact order but the first I think A line was a steepish drop off, which became a bit tricker on the last lap, the second A line was a fun little descent through two trees, and the last A line shut off during my practice and I was informed by two young lads riding by me that it wasn't going to be used! However, it was opened later for the race, as more Marshall's were available. But I didn't want to ride it blind so chickened out! Although I accidentally rode up to it not realising it was the A line I hadn't practised in the race and had to back out quick!

11 soon came the rain still pouring, then we lined up and off we went, a bit of a mass start. This worked well as we could race against the juveniles and sport men. I had a good start, but then it was a bit of carnage through the singletrack and the first drop off was hideous on the first lap, frustrating to salt the least but thankfully after that the course was free, only the occasional pull over for the five elite/expert men that lapped me. All well mannered may I add too!!!

I played cat and mouse on the first lap with young bull rider iwan evans, who was pushing the pace. Just before the end of the lap I passed and pushed on hard. One lap down and I was in the lead, I had no idea though how far behind the other women were, so I couldn't ease off the gas. The second and third lap were uneventful, although it was getting a bit of a slog on some of the tracks! I went into the last lap still leading, but again I had no idea how far in front I was. The last lap a few of the leading men including my other half overtook me, so I eased off in a few places to allow them pass.

Feeling a bit silly!! The other girls must have been getting some dinner!