The aftermath

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BY: JAMES HAMPSHIRE

Published: 18th July, 2010

What's it like lining up with the Elites in the senior race for the first time? Pretty damn intimidating! I knew I was going to get a kicking, but it didn't stop me being seriously nervous before the start. Although fear of the potential TDF style carnage as we all sprinted into the first downhill at top speed was a part of that!

My lowly start number gave hope to the perennial "beat your race plate" aim, although any hopes of not being lapped by Oli and Liam lasted all of an hour and a quarter. I'm not too ashamed to admit I also got caught by Annie Last soon after (not lapped mind, in case you were wondering!)

Looking back, there were sections of the course I felt I could only ride, not attack and I lacked the extra gear for the climbs on the day, but compared to the tales of last years course at Innerleithen, we had it easy. When the top 3 came past it was cool to see how smooth they were, pedalling full gas and flowing over the rocks and roots. It was a fair test, good fun and it'll be interesting to see what the lap will be like for the Marathon Champs at Pippingford in September.

Personnal favourite results of the day for me (outside of Niall finishing in the top twenty and Phil finishing top ten despite being ill) have to be Will Cheaney (Lloyds Cycles) ripping it up for the win in the Juvenille race, Maddie Horton (Certini) scoring 2nd place in the Senior womens race and Mark Spratt (Cardiff Jiff) finishing 1st in the 35-39 Masters sub-category. Ace riding all!