14

NPS RD4 Crow Hill. 3rd Place Win!

The week before a big race is usually about fitting in last minute training and hoping that I’m ready and rested for the race. This week however has been a little different, I’ve been ready to race all week and the race couldn’t come quick enough. The last round of the series had seen me getting my best result and a good race (4th), but in the weeks after I could feel my form improving all the time and with a week to go I was just hoping that it would hold and that nothing would go wrong.

My pre race thoughts were full of how well I had performed at Margam previously, knowing that I still had improvements to be made but, having put in the work, feeling much fitter for this race. So feeling both confident and apprehensive I lined up at the start ready to go hard from the gun and show everyone that my form was good.

As is normal for a round of the British series, the standard of the competition was high and although there were a few absentees, our national champion Liam Killeen, one of the Worlds best riders was in attendance
The course at Crow Hill is mostly winding single track sections and can be very bumpy in places. Although there are no real hills it’s a difficult course to ride because of the constant gear changes and changes of pace. It’s flat out from the gun with everyone wanting to be at the front.

Off the start I entered the first singletrack section in 4th with Liam behind. I was desperate to get to the front to set my own pace, but due to the tight twisting technical nature of the course, and with Olympian and Irish National Champ (Robin Seymore) countering my attempts to pass, I would have to stay patient. After the first lap I managed to get to the front with Robin and Liam behind me. I started to set a faster pace to test the guys behind, but most importantly test myself. By the end of the second lap (fastest lap of the race) Robin decided to set his own pace leaving me and Liam to fight it out in front.

I pushed hard managing to open the smallest of gaps, only for us to always come back together. I was able up to keep the pace high for the first four laps until my legs started to tire from the effort and my lap times began to slow. Liam kept his lap times consistent and pulled away from me to take the win. The last two laps I was fighting off cramp and a new battle began…..to get to the finish! Unfortunately for me Robin Seymore and his years of experience payed off, he had paced his effort perfectly and passed me on the last lap to take second, leaving me to cross the line in 3rd. Still it was my best result to date and I enjoyed the contest.

Although I was set to ride the British Road Champs on the Sunday, I was so tired and sore, it was much brighter for me to have the day off rather than race again. I was very pleased to get my first National podium behind two top racers and with the National Champs in 3 weeks I’m hoping that I can maintain my good form and continue what so far has been quite a successful season.

cyclenoodle.com Race Report

So, the main race of the day, how would events unfold in the presence of our National Champion?
Well Killeen won which many expected but not without a fight from a gutsy display of riding from Lee Williams who stayed with the Champion for 3 laps and was incredibly unlucky to run out of steam towards the end of the race and lose out on 2nd place to Robin Seymour. Williams did finish 3rd though, his best result in his career and our ride of the day!

BC Race Report
www.new.britishcycling.org.uk/British-MTB-Series-Round-4-0

Full Results
www.timelaps.co.uk/CrowHill27/06/2009

More Photos