Woke up to the sound of torrential rain on Sunday morning - oh great :( it had been raining all night so it was going make it a pretty muddy race.
Got there early to watch and support the riders in the earlier races....and witness the course conditions worsen by the minute! Couldn't decide which tyres to run (mtb or cyclocross) but in the end went with the CX tyres.... I don't think it would of made too much difference either way as the mud was very sticky and clay-like and nobody's tyres seemed to be shedding it very well or offering up much grip!
I got a pretty good start (4th place) as we headed out on the first lap but didn't settle into a rhythm very quickly and a small mistake on the top of the farthest bank cost me a few places whilst I tried to clip back in.
Eventually settled down but the race was slow going as the ground quickly turned to slushy mud making sections of the course un-rideable as the race progressed.
For me the main goal in this race was about being Junior Champion so was I was totally focussed on getting the Junior win and spent the race managing that and not worrying too much about my overall position (finished in 11th) - a full race report and results can be found here and here. The flat track and very gloopy conditions certainly suited the more powerful riders anyhow.
Got lapped, just before the finish line, by Dexter Hurlock, who rode yet another fantastic race and took the Senior win - well done mate! Today I was simply grateful not to have to endure another lap!
So I in the end I won the Juniors and got the South West Junior Cyclocross Champion title and a rather nice gold medal so another successful day's racing :)
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| Good start....heading out in 4th |
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| Me and a pretty muddy bike post race |
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| Tough conditions meant a lot of mechanical failures |
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| Junior podium |
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| And a nice gold medal for the win.....stoked! |