MTB Shorts

The Alphabet of XC - GHI

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BY: Anna Buick

Published: 14th October, 2013


GHI


So far this October The Alphabet of XC has included Albstadt, Burry, Codham, Drops, Emil and Fontana & Fumic. This week we get to L via China and Britain's brightest young talents - 

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G is for Guiyang


Guiyang, in south central China, is a city with a dream to become World-class. Not in manufacturing or economics, but in mountain biking. With their sights on a World Cup bid, last month the city held the second Guiyang Invitational MTB Tournament, a weekend of assorted cross country racing for selected riders from around the World. Riders were treated to closed roads through the city, a tough course and spectacular Chinese hospitality. British riders included XCRacer's very own Mel Alexander and Maxine Filby, and international jet-setter/obscure-place-to-race-a-bike specialist, Rab Wardell. Fabian Giger was the winner in the men's race and World and Olympic Champion, Julie Bresset, showed her fine post-injury form with a win in the women's race. 

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H is for Houffalize


Houffalize (a.k.a. Houffa) is a typical town of the Belgian Ardenne - the roads are shockingly bad, the buildings are rustic/rusting and barrel-shaped pensioners stand in their doorways smoking and looking as if they want to kill you. 

On the plus side, it is a cross country mountain biking institution. The World Cup has come to Houffalize more than I can count on my fingers, and Belgacom Cups and regional races have also caused road closures and chaos in the town since well before those pensioners became incapable of smiling. The course has been reincarnated on several occasions over the years to include different sections of the obscenely steep hillsides, people's back gardens - namely the fosse d'outhe - and the main street. Last year's World Cup visited Houffa for round two - Schurter, with his usual technical prowess, decided that the descent to the finish line was not steep enough and cut straight across the corners, and Britain's Annie Last won the first ever World Cup Eliminator race.

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I is for Iain Paton


Iain is one of a generous handful of young Scots set for the top. As a junior he has been on the GB Olympic Development Program and travelled all around Europe, racing with the World's best under 18s. Aside from these international appearances - including a career-best 13th place at the World Cup in Hafjell last month -  Iain has not finished outside of the top five in British Cycling points-scoring races all year. Two wins in the Junior National Series and the Scottish Elite title make Iain one to watch as he moves up to fight it out with the Elites next year. All this and an Astro-Physics degree to study for. Not bad...

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Also check out: ABC - DEF - GHI






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Anna Buick

http://www.fromthepits.co.uk/

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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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