Namur Cyclocross World Cup

This weekend I went to Namur in Belgium for a trip of redemption.  I was going to give this World Cup racing a second go, The course looked steep, muddy and technical.  A real mountain bikers course.

We arrived at our hotel Friday night and went for a small scout of the town and race course.  We had a lie-in Saturday morning and then walked to the course for a look at it in daylight.  Practice was from 2 to 4 so we went back and built up the bikes.  Practice went great.  I loved the course from the first lap. I rode 6 laps and a bit of sectioning with Monty.


My race started at 10 so it was an early night and start.  We arrived on course at 9 and I started my warm-up at 9:20.

 At 9:45 I rolled down to the start line and rolled around the start/finish there until the gridding started.  I was gridded 69/77 so lots of work to do.  We weren't trusted with the lights this time so we went on a whistle. With a minute to go there was a chorus of zips as warm-up leggings and long jerseys came off and were flung left and right.  On the whistle the madness started again as everyone rushed into a tapered and ramped start.  I was on the left hand side luckily as a crash happened within 100 meters of starting on the right.

I was about 40th after this climb and held this position until the technical off camber rutted section, there is no safe or easy line here.  It's like trying to ride tram tracks that were laid to be as hard as possible to stay in.  The most consistent part of this section is its inconsistency.  I stayed high to stay safe, that way no-one could fall on me and if they did fall they would fall down the hill. It was carnage but my plan worked and I moved up to about 35th.  Over the next few laps I held my position well.  The Belgium B team were gridded last so some of them passed me but I also passed some riders.  I changed my bike twice over the race, the course was dryer than most other years allowing for less bike changes.


























On the last lap there was me, one Italian and one Dutch rider fighting for 38th place.  When we came to the off camber rutted section I took the high line while the Italian led the Dutch rider through the low line, about halfway along the Italian fell and the Dutch fell over him, this allowed me to open a gap and I held it until the line.  Coming onto the finish line I saw an American rider, we had a photo finish for 37th, unfortunately I lost and had to settle for 38th.  Still delighted to make it halfway up the results.  The riders are on another level over here and the racing is so close any mistake anywhere loses you places.

Looking forward to a good block of Christmas training and can't wait for the Nationals on the 10th of January.

Update between World Cups

So.... moving on from Koksijde.  I went to Ipswitch for Round 4 of the British National Trophy on the 28th of November.  The course was flatter than flat and gale force winds of 40km/hour were howling across the course.  I got a great start and was around 8th for the first lap, over the next few laps I lost about 10 places but came back strong on the last two laps and got back to 15th.  The course did not suit me at all so happy to have finished in 15th but still a disappointing result considering my aims.

 Next up was the Leinster championships in Swords River Valley, I love this course with its off camber switchbacks steep climbs and deep, deep mud.  I got a good start and took an early lead until I rolled my rear tyre(pattern appearing) just before the last tarmac climb.  I ran around to the pits where I put on my spare rear wheel and came back on track around 4th.  I was about 2 minutes down on the leader so had a lot of work to do.  I got it back to a minute in the next lap and passed the leader (who had got a puncture) with just over one lap to go.  I played it safe for the last lap and won with just under a minute to spare. 

Next up was the last Fixx race in Kilternan.  I had a brilliant race there last year so was hoping for a bit of a repeat.  Got a good start and rode off the front allowing me to ride my own race.  I was joined by Sean O Tuathail for a couple of laps until I lost his wheel on the flat and open field with 3 laps to go.  I was on Robins wheel for the next lap and a half until I had a major bonk, I suffered really bad for the last lap, losing a lot of time to the leaders.  Still really happy to take third behind a brilliant Sean who managed to beat Robin for first place.

Next on the list is the Namur World Cup in Belgium.