The Last National Race and Kielder prep.

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BY: Richard Jones

Published: 13th September, 2012

The last National XC race seems like a long time ago already. To many it was all a bit of a last minute thing as the original race was meant to be a month before, however diabolical weather forced to the organizers to move the date. 

Unlike the rest of this series, myself and Hollie couldn't pre ride the course the day before due to work commitments. So Saturday morning we were at the venue bright and early ready to ride and much to our amazement we were greeted with some sun! 

A quick cuppa and then we got suited to see what I would be racing on. The previous year I had rode an Eastern MTB race at the same venue. The course was similar in many ways and although it didn't have the usual level of technical sections we have come to expect from the National series, it did include plenty of sections to keep me puffing. The course was mostly flat however there were plenty of short and very sharp climbs. This made for a different kind of racecourse and I can honestly say I loved my pre-lap and  Iwas really looking forward to getting started with the last XC race of the year. 

The final time to be called up against the best riders in the UK for 2012 soon came around. For the first time I felt very little nerves and instead felt excited and raring to get racing. 

The starting shot rung out across the open field and I was quickly trying to hold onto the leading riders wheels. The pace was fast as it was open however we quickly hit the first climb and here I managed to settle down after the manic start. 

I quickly found myself surrounded by the same people that I have raced with for much of the season. Myself and George Budd have been cat and mouseing for much of the season. We seem so closely matched which has made for some great racing throughout the season. We worked effortless taking turns to set the pace at the front and for the first 3 laps we were making up time on a small group just a small distance away. This group was made up off Lee Westwood, Jody Crawford and Giles Drake. George wanted to reach this group just as much as me and after a very painful fast lap we had made it onto there wheels. 

Catching flies.

However this didn't last long, it was a matter of minutes until there was attacks coming from Lee and Jody, each time pushing me to my very limits. I managed a lap and a half of riding with them until it was just one attack to many and yet again the group split. Lee, Giles and Jody where once again riding into the distance leaving myself and George to hold onto our positions. 

We kept the pace as high as we could and George kept on showing his power on the climbs. With half a lap to go I hit the front and controlled the pace into the last section of singletrack. I attacked as hard as I could and kept on pushing all the way into the arena. A quick glance over my shoulder showed that it wasn't quite enough to loose George. We both turned the corner for the finishing straight and then that was it a flat out head to head sprint to the line. 

How close?

The result? Well a according to the timing then it was dead even however I am listed as finishing in 18^th with George in 17^th. A result nonetheless I was very pleased with. A fantastic race on what I believe was a brilliant course. 

 So it was then on to Kielder preparation. 

There was very little thought to Kielder this year, I have never rode the event before and as much as I want to race well there has been no time in the season for any kind of physical preparation as my priorities have firmly been set with the national MTB series and other local XC races.  

Right of the back of the National on Saturday I rode for 11 days with a mix of MTB and road rides some long and some short but nothing of any real kind of stress. It was nice to be out in some nice weather and it was even nicer to be out riding with out the added pressure of structured training sessions.  

I appreciate that this is going to make very little effect on Saturdays race however it has reminded me how to pace myself and has helped to get my bike set up. I have decided to opt to ride the race with out a bag and instead have relied on using a saddlebag and mounting many other required parts to the bike. 

I have no intentions on trying to do well however I do want to make sure I get around with in the time restrictions. Anything more would be a huge bonus. 

Richard Jones