National Cyclocross Championships 2010

So, here it is. The last race of the Cyclocross season, the National Cyclocross Championships, which is being held in the unofficial home of Cyclocross; Sutton Park, Birmingham. Its feels as though it has been a very long season this year as I came straight out of road racing and straight in to cross and haven’t let up since. For me, this season of cross has had everything, great highs like the first round in Pitcher Oak where I was in a 3 way sprint for the win, Terrible lows like the heavy bad patch I suffered mid season due to lack of rest and continual racing and intensity, But also some fantastic surprises like winning the league overall (that was a real shocker) and I’ve had some great fun with a great bunch of friends that I have become pretty close with. Emotionally, I’m screwed but I look forward to next year that’s for sure.

Now let me make myself clear right now. Cross is not really what I do, I just use it as training for the road season and way to keep my race craft up through the winter. So, going in to the national champs my aims were pretty small, I just wanted to have a good race, ride hard for the entire time, feel like I had good legs and place top 15 overall in the U23 Category. Hopefully, this would be achievable!
Today was race day and the weather dry, although pretty dull. The course itself was big, I mean really big, a lap was about 10 mins and it was effort all the way around but its was pretty dry although very, very bumpy. Luckily it wasn’t to tech and I managed to get it dialled pretty quick, I jumped on the turbo to finish of my warm up and soon it was race time.

I got girded on the 2nd row which was pretty good and for once I got a good start, clipped in and away. The pace of the line was crazy and strung out straight away in to the first corner. Although I had a good start I still managed to find myself towards the back in the first bit of single track so had quite a bit of work to do early on. A front group was already established containing Jamie Harris from the team and they already had a gap. I managed to claw my way up to 3 other riders and was sitting quite nicely in the top 10.
But, as always with me, it wouldn’t be a cross race with out a crash which I did on the wooded technical section. Because of this I lost contact with the group and was playing catch up from here on. I kept digging deep and was closing the gap but having bent my shifter and my mech in the crash, my gears were all over the place and was costing me time as well as my concentration. I managed to catch one rider from that group and dropped him soon after but I just couldn’t get any closer to the other.
Ben roach was slipping back through the field and after catching him I settled in to my final finishing place of 11th. Exactly the same place as last year!
Well at least I’m consistent 

Whilst I was getting through my race, Jamie was blowing every one away and ended up winning the Championships by over a minute. An awesome ride by any standard.

Dan Booth was our man in the senior race which wasn’t just fast, it was stupidly fast. Dan was up in the front 6 for most of the race but lost contact in the latter stages and came home in that position. It was a fantastic race and a fantastic ride by Dan.
Although I’m fairly emotionless about my performance, for me it was just another race although I did meet my objectives, I am very proud to be part of a team that did so well today and have done so well this cross season. Cult racing have really ripped it up this year and hopefully I can help carry on the trend in what I’m good at: Road Racing. Bring it on!!!!