When I practised the course, I first did so with 1 other rider (Liam), who had help build the course the day before and we spoke about the course as we practised it. I then did another practice lap with a few other riders (about 5 of us) and this gave me a good chance to check out some of the line choices and other features of the course. The course featured a quite long hill, in single-track on roots and slimy mud. I walked this in practice the first time, but rode it the second practice lap, I am proud to say that I managed to ride it every lap in the race and iI think this helped me a good result.
The start whistle was blown, and as I went to the start line I went to take off my left SPD shoe, in order to take off my leg warmer. When I did this I found that the ratchet on the shoe had stuck, so I yanked at the leg warmer for about 20 seconds (stretched it lots), but finally got it off.
I had a great start and was sat in fourth for the first half a lap, then I overtook who was then in 3rd and dropped him, this is where I would stay for the whole race. The course also featured around half a lap of off-camber single-track, which suited me very well. When ever I saw a rider catching me behind, I used the single-track to make my move and managed to open up big gaps behind me, in this way I used the single-track/technical sections of the course to great advantage.
As seen above I found myself enjoying the single-track parts of the course and it seems to open up big gaps between me and the competition. As the race progressed, Ashley Dennis of VC Jubilee nearly caught me and I was advised by my coach (on course side) to let him lead and do some work on the front. This was said as if you can remember from my last race report from Footscray, I lead a lot of the race and found myself suffering later in the race because of this. However, shortly after this was said, I entered a technical part of the course, and when I returned to the open part of the course I had opened up a good gap, which had before been closed up. I stayed in front of Ashley for the rest of the race, raced with good gaps behind and stayed in position until the end of the race.
When I finished I was very happy with the podium position of 3rd! and was also very pleased with my overall race performance I had put together. I went away from this race, confident in the knowledge that everyone ahead of me will be moving up a category next year, I hope I can carry this luck onto the last round of the series in 2 weeks time (06.01.10) at Herne Hill Stadium.
With that race and the London Team Champs to go, I only have 2 more cross races left in my first complete Cyclo-cross Season. This puts my thoughts into the coming Mountain Bike season, where I will also be a first year under 16, again like the cross season has, I hope this first year category racing with help me gain all the experience I need in order to race as a Second year under 16.
Thanks for reading again and now a link to Cross-crazy, where I am confident there will soon be a full race report soon.
London League Round 13 - Wilmington - Results and Reports
Au-revoir!
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