Southern XC - Rnd.1 - Checkendon - 18.03.12

On the 18th March was the first Southern XC of the 2012 Mounatin Bike Season, in fact it was the first real race of the season! having not raced MTB in a while, I was very committed to getting a good result on the day. I went into the race confident with good training over the Winter and was looking forward to seeing what my form was like.

On arrival, the weather was very nice, but the ground, and inevitably the course, was a bit damp and muddy. The course was much the same as last year, with lots of flat, fast, and rooty single-track. Also 3 or 4 steep hills running consecutively, mid-lap. The hills were short, steep, but very slippery and technical. I managed to ride everything in practice, so when it came to waiting on the line for the start, I felt quite confident.

I was gridded first, after a god series position last season (2nd Youth Male), and I had a good start leading until entering the first bit of singletrack. I was overtaken by Tom Franklin and Harvey Lowe after entering the single-track, but soon overtook Harvey as Tom was distancing everyone. I chased Tom down and rode the rest of the race with him.

I was comfortable riding round with Tom, but maybe too comfortable. I was so surprised with my form, having rode nowhere near Tom during the whole cross season, that I didn't having the confidence to go past. Looking back on it now, I could have and I should have. In the end we rode the whole race together, until Tom entered the final corner in-front of me and sprinted to victory on the line.

I was pleased with 2nd place, but knowing the victory was just 2 seconds in front, is a bit annoying. Anyway, it was good to find how my form was at the strat of the 2012 Mountain Bike Season, and this set me up well for the first National MTB Race at Sherwood Pines the following Sunday. There are links to the photos and results for the event, below.

Thanks to Richard for taking me to the race and for taking some photos while there! :-)

FlickR Photos (with thanks to Richard Wood)

Event Results (Southern XC Website)

Thanks for reading and Au-Revoir!