XC Racer Blog Post

Sunny March

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BY: TORQ Performance

Published: 11th April, 2011


Written by Ben Thomas

 

The TORQ Performance MTB Team continued their busy schedule through March with riders taking to the start line of Gorrick, British XC, Southern XC, and Welsh XC events. The team walked away with multiple podium finishes and even a win at the first national kick starting what will hopefully be a successful year.

 

Lydia, Josh, Matt, and myself (Ben) rode round 4 of the popular Gorrick spring series which proved to be a great opportunity to test legs before the following weeks British XC.

 

After an aggressive start in the elite men's race I managed to lead into the first section of fireroad which luckily meant missing the huge crash which took place of the first drop off. Over the first 2 laps I kept the pace high with only Jody Crawforth able to follow my wheel. After a string of fast attacks from both Jody and me, a slip on a short power climb gave Jody a small break. The gap was small but proved impossible to close down before the finish, happily I took 2nd place.

 

Matt was using the race as vital prep for the 12 hr solo MTB. After spending the previous two weeks in Spain, fitting in a massive 60 hours of training, Matt battled with some big names in the Super Masters race finishing 7th, just 2 minutes and 40 seconds down on the winner, former National Champion Paul Lazemby.

 

The build up to round one of the British MTB Series at Sherwood Pines was hard to miss. With the sun shining, a shortened course designed to limited rest, and a huge turnout the TORQ Performance team were all set for some race action.

 

Lydia proved once again why she's a true legend starting the weekend with a fine win in the Grand Veterans race, even beating the lap times of the many of the younger categories.

 

Brothers Sion and Ant O'boyle, and myself took the line for the elite race, which attracted a large number of elite riders from Europe. A fast start split the field of riders apart but I remained in the second main chase group. In the closing laps I rather disappointingly faded from a possible top 10 placing to just outside the top 20. Sion O'Boyle was suffering the effects of a heavy weeks training and a cold but still managed 48th place in the highly competitive field. 

 

The course didn't really suit Lee Cragie with its flat profile but the strong Scottish rider took 7th place in the elite women's race collecting some decent series points.

 

Josh Ibbett and Ben Price had a score to settle with each other in the Expert Men's race. It looked like Ben had it in the bag, sitting comfortably in 3rd place, however Josh slowly reeled Ben in who was suffering from the early pace to pass him just before entering the arena to the finish. Josh and taking a very credible 5th place in an event that was approximately 22 hours too short for him! Ben finished just 3 seconds down on him in 6th place. Watch all the action from that race unfold here http://vimeo.com/21563403

 

Matt managed 13th in the Masters field having been apparently 'robbed' of 10th or 11th place when a tail end vet crashed in front of me and took me down a couple of minutes before the finish. A few moments after Matt had finished James Gleaves flew into the arena taking 21st place.

 

A week later Matt, Ben, and the O'boyle brothers took to the start line of the Welsh XC Series. A muddy tough course took its toll on the riders though ending Ant's race with an ongoing back injury proving too painful, Sion and Matt both unfortunately suffered from mechanical problems. Ben however managed to successfully take the Expert race victory and even finished 4th overall.

 

Further south I'd entered to race round 1 of the Southern XC series. After battling hard off the start I joined Steven James and Ade Lansley in a lead group, we remained together until the third lap when Ade was dropped on once of the climbs and I suffered mechanical problems on my borrowed bike. After attempting to fix the bike I'd dropped down to 6th place but chased hard to eventually finish 2nd place on the podium.

 

The month ahead looks just as busy and will hopefully prove even more successful. See you on the start line!





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This blog post was written by a third party and their views do not necessarily reflect the views of XCRacer.com

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