2011 Blogs
Should I find a race somewhere tomorrow because it gets better,
dialed, more fluid and most importantly, more fun each day? It was
nice to have a 'home race', just 40k from Westmeerbeek in Tervuren. I
had my porridge cooked the way I like it cooked and instead of packing
the entire duffel and car to the gills I packed what I needed for the
day. Sure would be nice to live here and have that luxury most race
weekends!
Today was a proper cross race. You didn't need to be a mountain goat
to thrive; you needed mad skills in the mud, a flexible backbone,
quick feet and bite. Number 14 I lined up second row just behind World
Champ Vos. The start was a flat straight of 200m turning right into a
slight mud bog incline. This bog saw us off and running for half of
it, remounting at the top to a right hander and heading into the
woods. The course made amazing use of the natural terrain as we
weaved through trees and within hillsides, up and down various banks,
over and out, up and over...so much that I was lost much of the
course.
It was a muddy day like the past two but not quite so heavy mud, and
there were puddles to ride through which rinsed the thicker mud off.
I got off to a mediocre start but as we ducked into the woods was
boxed out and through some of the technical stuff had to bite my
tongue and be patient, sitting about 10th. By the half way mark I
came around a corner to find Vos and Harris tangled in the mud. I
moved into 7th and battled with a few others for the remainder of the
race which was a nice change to be swapping spots and trading blows
all race.
My legs were better each day and I was happy with how I rode today.
After the longer miles post-Nationals I have a great base to build on
with intensity and I'm looking forward to the fitness and speed I have
to gain in the coming weeks. After 3 consecutive days of muddy races
I now have some time off racing as all the Europeans enjoy their
Nationals this weekend.
dialed, more fluid and most importantly, more fun each day? It was
nice to have a 'home race', just 40k from Westmeerbeek in Tervuren. I
had my porridge cooked the way I like it cooked and instead of packing
the entire duffel and car to the gills I packed what I needed for the
day. Sure would be nice to live here and have that luxury most race
weekends!
Today was a proper cross race. You didn't need to be a mountain goat
to thrive; you needed mad skills in the mud, a flexible backbone,
quick feet and bite. Number 14 I lined up second row just behind World
Champ Vos. The start was a flat straight of 200m turning right into a
slight mud bog incline. This bog saw us off and running for half of
it, remounting at the top to a right hander and heading into the
woods. The course made amazing use of the natural terrain as we
weaved through trees and within hillsides, up and down various banks,
over and out, up and over...so much that I was lost much of the
course.
It was a muddy day like the past two but not quite so heavy mud, and
there were puddles to ride through which rinsed the thicker mud off.
I got off to a mediocre start but as we ducked into the woods was
boxed out and through some of the technical stuff had to bite my
tongue and be patient, sitting about 10th. By the half way mark I
came around a corner to find Vos and Harris tangled in the mud. I
moved into 7th and battled with a few others for the remainder of the
race which was a nice change to be swapping spots and trading blows
all race.
My legs were better each day and I was happy with how I rode today.
After the longer miles post-Nationals I have a great base to build on
with intensity and I'm looking forward to the fitness and speed I have
to gain in the coming weeks. After 3 consecutive days of muddy races
I now have some time off racing as all the Europeans enjoy their
Nationals this weekend.