Mountain Bike XC National Championships (Masters Race)

After all the hard training the weekend was upon me.  This was the race that it was all about, the reason I had moved from the Elite category to the Masters category: the National Championships. 

Having raced a few Masters Races over the preceding months I knew I should be confident, the competition was extremely strong and it was never going to be an easy ride but I had represented myself well with a convincing win in a national race as well.  However, this did not help quell my nerves and the week before the race I had been unbearably stressed – not the best way to approach any race and certainly not the biggest race of the year.  My preparation had not been superb with illness ruling me out of Round 4 of the national series only two weeks previous – a vital step in my preparation. 

On riding the course the organisers had used a mix of previously used trails interlinked with new sections - a strong blend of technical singletrack and wide cinder track, a course that would test all and let only the best win. 
Come race day and I was feeling no less nervous and warming up on the turbo trainer felt drained of energy. 

Warm up over and it was time to line up on the grid, I was ranked 10th which gave me position on the front row.  The flag dropped and racing began, I had to fight hard to maintain position but managed to hold in the top ten.  Into the first descent I made up a couple of position and hitting the first major climb had moved into 4th, this had however left me ‘in the red’.  This left Scott Forbes (Pedal on), Neal Crampton (Cross trax) and Steve James (Moda) ahead of me.  Into lap two and I was closing (slowly) on Crampton and James, though still feeling void of my usual snap. 

On lap three Carl Sturgeon (Lutterworth Cycle Centre) caught and passed me, I got on his wheel and followed him to the end of the lap where he simply rode away from me.  On the climb to begin lap 4 I saw Sturgeon catch and pass Crampton and James whilst I also made significant progress in catching them.  More importantly Scott Forbes was sat in the pitt area having retired from the race through an unfortunate mechanical .  Half way through lap 4 I caught Crampton and James and attacked them on a short sharp climb, distancing them – I continued to ride hard hoping to glimpse Sturgeon. 

Into the final lap and Sturgeon was nowhere to be seen.  A quick caffeine gel and I forced every last drop of energy from my legs, into the climb to the finish arena and I had Crampton and James closing on me, with my legs rapidly running out of gas.  I forced myself onwards, my legs screaming with pain and my head telling them to keep going for a few more seconds.  Finally, I crossed the line to finish 2nd in the National Championships, I was completely spent, legs cramping and lungs hurting, there was absolutely nothing left in me. 

I keep telling myself that I should be happy with finishing 2nd, however there is that small part of me that is overwhelmingly disappointed – this was the race I really wanted and to lose is a massive blow.    At the end of the day the race is about the best rider on the day, and on the day Carl Sturgeon was the best.  I just wish I could have represented myself better – hopefully I can learn from the race, move on and improve.
Massive thanks to AW Cycles for their continued support, Magura for their superb brakes and Middleburn for providing me with their new X-Type chainset (sooo nice). 
1st Carl Sturgeon (Lutterworth Cycle Centre)
2nd Simon Ernest (AW Cycles)
3rd Steve James  (Moda)