Tunstall forest was the venue for the 3rd round of the Eastern MTB Series on the 5th of June.
I had won this race last year and really enjoyed the course despite bad weather so i was excited to race in the dry here! We arrived with a couple of hours to spare and i rode the course which included a couple of bomb holes and lots of nice flowing singletrack. Once i had ridden a lap i went to sit in the car for 15 mins until the call up started!
I felt good at the start and when the whistle went i was away, i went full gas along the first bits of fire road leading to the singletrack to avoid getting caught up by women riders and lapped riders who in my opinion, should be started behind us. Back to the action though, i was tearing it through the singletrack trying to drift my back wheel around the corners and jumping all the little bumps! I was enjoying it a lot!
I came across the line 3:11 up on second place.
Next up is the round 3 of the national MTB Series at Wasing Park. I felt super good this weekend despite saying i didn't like the course on Saturday (i changed my mind on Sunday!). We pitched up our tent with the usual lot, the Whenmans, Dean and his brother Craig, Jumbo and Reagan. I went and rode 2 laps with Billy which were great as it was fun watching him dodge trees and nearly miss the drop off! The course was not very technical but it was tough in the dry. After, we went and got somethings to eat and i spent the evening with friends.
Come race day, the heavens had opened at about 4am and it did not stop raining until late in the evening! This made the course muddy which i like as it resembles cross, but above all; The rain made the course extremely tough.
I went into the race with a good head and i think this is what made the difference. I picked who i wanted to beat when we were waiting for the whistle and i did everything i could to beat them as they are a good rider. I didn't get a great start but i made up places and got into a steady pace. I was in a group of four riders; Benny Pygott (Pedalsport), Liam Cowell (Arctic Premier) and one other rider who i had a clash with at the southern xc race here. We all kept a steady pace and were picking people off, when Liam had a mechanical which meant we rode away from him. Then, after the rider who i clashed with pulled out after 3 laps it was just me and Benny. I was able to gap Benny on the more open bits and through some singletrack where he caught me easily on the climbs. Unfortunately on the second to last lap Benny crashed and i was able to catch and pass him which meant on the final lap i was trying to stay clear. He was catching me so i put everything into keeping ahead, which i did to finish in a decent 17th place.
17th is 10 places better than i had got in any other national xc this year and i know myself i did a good ride which i am pleased with.
Mud mud mud!
During the week after Wasing, i raced beastway and north weald- Both of which i felt terrible in. I finished in the bunch at north weald and second at beastway after a battle with Liam. I only did both races as i haven't raced this weekend, instead i went out for a spin with Whenman & Co.. Next up is round 4 of the National series at Margham Park, Wales. I got 6th place here last year as a juvenille so i am looking forward to it as it is a super fun and tough course.
I want to say a massive thank you to Everyone who has made the last few races great, especially Trevor Maddern of Ciclos Uno Bike Shop who provides me with kit, and Ewan also of Ciclos Uno who provides me with mechanical support. Also, I'd like to thank Dean Wakelin for giving me some top advice which i feel has payed off!
Au revoir mes amis!
