On Sat I went to watch and take pics of the Southern XC race taking place on (some of) the same course, with Serge taking 3rd place despite doing no training in a month, and stepping on top podium spot for his overall series placing. I had taken the bike in view of pre-riding the course, but the weather got bad and by the time Serge's race was over it was pretty wet and muddy (and my legs were tired from standing up for 2h) so couldn't be bothered.
Sunday thankfully much improved weather with bright blue sky and temps rising as the 10am start time approached. Only about 15 of us open riders. Start all down a super fast, still damp grassy field with no idea of what was at the bottom - one guy surged ahead so I was happy to sit behind him for a bit. Then first climb and I got away. It had been advertised that we open riders would start 5min behind the main field, so my original plan was to try and catch up some of them during the race. As it was it had been almost 15min between the starts, so I kind of gave up on that idea. After a while though started catching up some women and veterans, who'd started between the seniors and us.
Course was brilliant but quite tough for such a long event, a mix of tight forest singletrack with some technical difficulties, fireroad and open moors, with great scenic views, and sheep, horses and pheasants for company. The course marking was not always the most obvious though and several times I thought I'd gone off course. Fortunately I guess it was only about 21km as opposed to the announced 25, which made the race just 83km not 100. Over 600m of climbing per lap. I had a few issues with my bike - all of which my own fault - tires not quite grippy enough for the conditions (though it got better over time), second to last rear sprocket not engaging, gas canister rattling loudly in saddle bag, one bar end coming loose.
On my own the whole way I wasn't exactly "racing" but nevertheless after just two of the four laps, 2h40 in, my energy levels were way down, and I was beginning to suffer - more than in any of the two longer recent races at that stage. Just a bad day I guess. Being in front didn't help, like you'd think it would. I ate more than usually just to be safe, but it didn't help either. At that stage I felt happy not to be in the main race, as the more it went the more my pace felt like just plodding along - watching my average speed continuously drop. Would have been good to be riding alongside Dave Clarke though, who finished roughly in my time of 5h34
. Last lap was just not enjoyable, my legs were completely gone and I was counting down the kms from 20 to go .. just three of us finished, spread over a full hour - I think the rest were pulled out with one lap to go. Still, "a win's a win" I guess as they say.The top Elites were super fast - Oli Beckinsale a full hour faster, and Sally Bigham 8min.
