Return To Dalby

Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 22nd April, 2011

With the return to Dalby looming I stressed my self out something chronic. Two weeks leading up to it I was having disturbed sleep and lots of self doubt, to the point where I was questioning whether racing there was good for my health and whether I was really cut out for it.

We raced at Coed y Brenin two weeks prior to Dalby and that's when it hit me that I wasn't ready for Dalby yet. I was fed up with how I was descending, unable to lay off the brakes and really rigid but then Scott Bugden from Welsh Cycling (performance development coach) offered to help me. Over the two weeks he joined me for a few rides and gave me pointers to work on, mainly to do with my positioning on the bike. We also went to the local pump track and went right back to basics: bunny hopping, cornering, lifting front wheel etc… I did notice an improvement as I was beginning to loosen up.

On Saturday we arrived in good time for a lot of practice. Niall and Mark joined me for my first two laps. The first lap I was so nervous and just wanted to get off the bike but a couple more laps and the improvement was huge. Following Niall was brilliant, when thanking him after he didn't realize how much he had helped me get my head in to racing on the course. Suggesting lines to take so I was thinking about what was in front of me rather than worrying about the steep drop at Worry Gill or the entrance to Medusa's drop. This calmed me down and helped build my confidence. That night I felt relaxed (I wasn't going to break a bone) and slept brilliantly for 9 hours in our van, the best night's sleep I had had for weeks.

Photos by Joolze Dymond
www.joolzedymond.com

Leading up to race day my focus had not been on my fitness but purely about getting around the course in one piece. So at the end of the first lap when Matt from timelaps excitedly announced I was in sixth place it was a complete shock to me to. I still had Mel Spath in sight, she had powered past me and a bunch of others on the climb out of Medusa's. I knew I wasn't going to catch the ladies in front so my aim was to hold off the strong ladies who were not far behind me. Battling for positions on the first lap I had a good idea of who was riding well on the course and I knew Cait Elliot and Maxine Filby would not be far behind me. I felt I could hold my time on the descents, it was the climbs that I was going to have to dig deep for and make sure I didn't drop off on the last lap.


It was a really tough race for me, I could see Cait, Maxine and Ciara Macmanus approaching the climb following Worry Gil whilst I was climbing it on the first couple of laps. They were far too close for comfort! It was Ciara Macmanus who maintained a close distance. Last lap and she was still there only 30 ish seconds behind. I normally drop off considerably on the last lap so I had to dig so hard, I was so determined not to lose 6th place now. I held her off. It was a brilliant feeling finishing 6th especially when it was so unexpected. I finished four and half minutes behind Mel Spath and 15 min 30 seconds behind Julie Bresset (Ouch!).

During the race there were points where I thought of the tips from Scott and Niall's suggestions on lines and for both of their help I am really grateful.  There is a lot for me to work on in time for the Dalby World Cup, where my aim will be to complete the five laps without being lapped. Plus I still need to tackle the Bus stop which I was so pleased was removed for the race. A lot of hill intervals lay ahead plus more pump track sessions. Have to wait and see if it helps.

Thanks to all the people who were cheering me on and Mark who looked so nervous but excited for me whilst bottling.

Thanks again to our sponsors

Gateway cycles, the Anthem X was a joy to ride around the course.
Accelerade.
Mt Zoom
Exposure Lights
Xcracer.com

Thanks to Joolze Dymond for the photos. www.joolzedymond.com