Sorry for the late race report. I have been pretty devastated and down all week, since the race. I had worked so hard for it and was in the shape of my life at the time. In a perfect world, had I got the position I deserved, it would have paid for the trip nicely and hopefully opened the door to some decent financial support next season. However as you'll read I'm now left with deflated tyres and a deflated morale and the need to return to a job for the winter and hunt for decent sponsorship for next season.
After breaking a chain in 2008, I was leaving nothing to chance, fitting brand new tyres, chain and cassette the day before. Then testing it thoroughly! At 9am the sky was slightly overcast in places, but when the sun did poke through, you knew it would be hot later. There was a lot of creeping forward and pushing on the start line, as 500 people fought to get the best position. My race strategy was to go really hard for the first 200m of the swim, hopefully get on some fast feet and get towed round. It worked for me in Austria, but unfortunately not here. I was immediately grabbed and swum over, it seemed like forever until I could get 2 strokes in succession before being clobbered again. Yellow age group swim hats swamped me and then stopped in front of me leaving me with no-where to go. Although I swum the best I've swum at Maui, I was still way further back than i should have been and 4 mniutes off the leaders.
I had a minor problem in transition when the zip caught slightly on my Maystorm speed suit and I had to pretty much dislocate my shoulder in an escape artist type manoeuvre to get out of it. Onto the bike and I felt good immediately, I had felt pretty tired the previous weekend and so I had a week’s taper, instead of the 5 days I’d planned to have, this left my legs feeling super fresh. I caught Michael Weiss (2nd last year, and another poor swimmer) on the first climb, and although he got back past me on the following descent, I passed him again soon and rode away. Shortly after this I caught Julie Dibens, which was way sooner than usual, and seeing Julie’s times at the end it wasn’t her hanging around! On the hardest climb of the race, Ned’s climb (named after mountain bike and Xterra legend Ned Overend) I got within spitting distance of favourite Nico LeBrun in 6th place. However on the next descent ‘the plunge’ I punctured. I repaired it fairly quickly losing possibly 5 places, and 3 miles later I was back in the top 10 and charging, only to be hit with yet another puncture and this time my gas cartridge didn’t work properly. I eventually borrowed stuff from other athletes, but I had lost 20 minutes or more.
I didn't start the run, I came to Maui for a top 5 finish against the best in the world, and I'm positive I'd have acheived that. I was on for the fastest bike split by at least 2 minutes, Michael Wiess got the quickest bike split in the end and I was 1 min 15 sec up on him when I punctured. By my calculations I might well have started the run in the race lead. I was running well too, doing my mile reps comfortably in just over 5 minutes. However all this is speculation and no-one will believe it until I get that result to prove it. I know in my head that on my day there is no one in the Xterra that is impossible to beat any more.
The season has gone great really with 2 world cup wins (Xterra Saipan and Xterra Japan), and another win in Xterra Guam. 7 victory's in all including UK races. 3rd place in the European tour and 3rd in the European champs also. 3rd also at Xterra Malaysia and 4th's at Xterra North East US cup and Xterra Czech. I was the only male athlete to finish in the prize money at both the European tour and the US tour.
Thanks again for your support this season, time for a big swim push and change of swim coach to be starting the bike with the leaders. Watch this space, but sponsor permitting I am hoping to race full time next season again too.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Maui World Champs T minus 17 hrs
Just off for a power nap. Bike all cleaned and working, getting kit together now. Weather is hot, course is dusty. I have done less training this last 6 days than in previous years, we'll see tomorrow whether it works. I hate this time of just waiting, trying to stay out of the sun etc. Might go for a slow jog later. Must keep drinking water and electrolytes.....
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Xterra Japan 1st
Xterra Japan 2008 was my first Global Tour win and a fantastic experience. I had promised at the time to return and try to defend my title this year.
Even though I love the course (which is known as the most technical bike course on the Xterra circuit), the venue (which is a tranquil and stunning spa report in the Mountains, with no phone reception or email access) and the people, I was very tired after back to back races in Germany and Austria the previous 2 weeks. Flying in on Thursday morning, with an 8 hour time difference for a Saturday race was a little close for comfort too.
The organisers did a fantastic job as ever of making us feel welcome and collecting us from Tokyo airport, transferring us up to the Onsen resort and checking us into our authentic Ryokan rooms, before a traditional Japanese dinner. The memories of last year came back as we were presented with 15 different dishes per person, each immaculately presented in its’ own bowl and we generally had no idea what any of them were. Every meal time is an amazing and somewhat educational experience.
With no time for sight-seeing afterwards, Susan (my girl friend) and I spent Friday afternoon going to a nearby town called Nikko which is a world heritage site and packed with temples and shrines and a 100m waterfall .Not ideal pre race preparation, but heah, you’re not in Japan every day.
On race day the jetlag was still there as I woke at 4am. When the gun went at midday, it was Australian pro Matt Murphy (an ex ITU racer) that led us round the first lap. Matt had been ill leading up to the race and it was touch and go whether he’d start or not. The effects of his illness certainly didn’t seem obvious yet, I exited the water almost 2 minutes down, in a pack in 6th place, with Japanese pros Oga and Yu, both well known Xterra athletes. Deciding to err on the side of caution (with blisters still from Austria) and put socks on, I missed starting the bike with these guys.
Oga (who finished 2nd last year) dropped Yu and caught Matt after about 5km of the bike and they worked hard together. My race was not going quite to plan however, as I eventually caught Yu, then promptly crashed and he rode away again. Halfway round the bike I was in 4th, with no one in sight, why did we do that last temple yesterday, or arrive in Japan so late....
Hitting the main climb I put in a do or die effort for at least a podium spot. Catching Yu again, I was spurred on and managed to catch a glimpse of Matt, who had been dropped by the flying Oga. When I got up to him, halfway up the climb, he told me Oga was about 40 seconds ahead and riding well. I eventually bridged the gap just as we started the descent, but Oga’s world cup Mountain bike skills (from racing as a pro on the Gary Fisher team) helped him get away from me yet again. I was going to have to work very hard to win this one.
Passing the lake, with a short 2km bike loop before T2 I caught Oga again and immediately attacked, knowing that he outran me a year ago. I started the 2 lap run with only a 30 second lead and didn’t look back, would it be enough? After 2km the run went up a very steep muddy bank where competitors needed to use a rope to haul themselves up. Soon after I started up it I felt the rope go tight from behind as Oga, it certainly seemed like less than 30 seconds. The whole lap went like this. I was running scared and fading fast. Luckily, Oga wasn’t making much inroads and starting lap 2 the gap was still 30 seconds. Only 1km from the end did I know I had the race won, and I virtually collapsed over the line, relieved more than elated with the victory.
That night was relaxed at the banquet dinner serenaded by a traditional Japanese drumming and dancing troupe. The victory sunk in and I was reminded what a fantastic event on the Xterra calendar this is.
Even though I love the course (which is known as the most technical bike course on the Xterra circuit), the venue (which is a tranquil and stunning spa report in the Mountains, with no phone reception or email access) and the people, I was very tired after back to back races in Germany and Austria the previous 2 weeks. Flying in on Thursday morning, with an 8 hour time difference for a Saturday race was a little close for comfort too.
The organisers did a fantastic job as ever of making us feel welcome and collecting us from Tokyo airport, transferring us up to the Onsen resort and checking us into our authentic Ryokan rooms, before a traditional Japanese dinner. The memories of last year came back as we were presented with 15 different dishes per person, each immaculately presented in its’ own bowl and we generally had no idea what any of them were. Every meal time is an amazing and somewhat educational experience.
With no time for sight-seeing afterwards, Susan (my girl friend) and I spent Friday afternoon going to a nearby town called Nikko which is a world heritage site and packed with temples and shrines and a 100m waterfall .Not ideal pre race preparation, but heah, you’re not in Japan every day.
On race day the jetlag was still there as I woke at 4am. When the gun went at midday, it was Australian pro Matt Murphy (an ex ITU racer) that led us round the first lap. Matt had been ill leading up to the race and it was touch and go whether he’d start or not. The effects of his illness certainly didn’t seem obvious yet, I exited the water almost 2 minutes down, in a pack in 6th place, with Japanese pros Oga and Yu, both well known Xterra athletes. Deciding to err on the side of caution (with blisters still from Austria) and put socks on, I missed starting the bike with these guys.
Oga (who finished 2nd last year) dropped Yu and caught Matt after about 5km of the bike and they worked hard together. My race was not going quite to plan however, as I eventually caught Yu, then promptly crashed and he rode away again. Halfway round the bike I was in 4th, with no one in sight, why did we do that last temple yesterday, or arrive in Japan so late....
Hitting the main climb I put in a do or die effort for at least a podium spot. Catching Yu again, I was spurred on and managed to catch a glimpse of Matt, who had been dropped by the flying Oga. When I got up to him, halfway up the climb, he told me Oga was about 40 seconds ahead and riding well. I eventually bridged the gap just as we started the descent, but Oga’s world cup Mountain bike skills (from racing as a pro on the Gary Fisher team) helped him get away from me yet again. I was going to have to work very hard to win this one.
Passing the lake, with a short 2km bike loop before T2 I caught Oga again and immediately attacked, knowing that he outran me a year ago. I started the 2 lap run with only a 30 second lead and didn’t look back, would it be enough? After 2km the run went up a very steep muddy bank where competitors needed to use a rope to haul themselves up. Soon after I started up it I felt the rope go tight from behind as Oga, it certainly seemed like less than 30 seconds. The whole lap went like this. I was running scared and fading fast. Luckily, Oga wasn’t making much inroads and starting lap 2 the gap was still 30 seconds. Only 1km from the end did I know I had the race won, and I virtually collapsed over the line, relieved more than elated with the victory.
That night was relaxed at the banquet dinner serenaded by a traditional Japanese drumming and dancing troupe. The victory sunk in and I was reminded what a fantastic event on the Xterra calendar this is.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Xterra European champs Bronze medal
Xterra Austria was one of my breakthrough races in 2007, when I came off the bike in 2nd behind Nico LeBrun, but that year I faded on the run and lost a lot of time and places. Last year I struggled with form and with the emergence of the the new breed of pro's such as Michi Weiss and Franky Batellier, I barely managed a top 10. This year I was motivated and desperate to get both series points and the extra prize money that was on offer for the events' new European Champs status.
In the gorgeous aqua marine waters of the warmest lake in Europe I started hard on the 1.5km non wetsuit swim, desperately hanging onto any ones feet that came by me. After the first buoy, when things had calmed down slightly I realised I was swimming with top US swimmer Brandyn Roark Gray and UK's own Nicola Duggan, for me this was esteemed company. Stay in this pack and you'll only be a couple of minutes down on the leaders I told myself. Some how I made it out in that group, just outside the top 20 and only 2.5 mins down on the leaders.
On the 500m run to transition I gave it some gas to catch last years winner (and World Champs' silver medalist) Michi Wiess who was just 100m ahead of me, I knew this could be a good wheel to follow and get me up the field. Swiftly on with my Bell helmet and we exited T1 together, but before we could start doing the damage Michi punctured and ended his race. I'd have to chase on my own! I got into a great rythmn on the hilly technical course, keep the cadence high on my new Rotor Q-rings. My Canondale Taurine was handling great as I passed rider after rider. Just after half way round the first lap I caught the German pair of Ronny Dietz and Felix Shauman who were 2nd and 3rd last weekend at Xterra Germany, I knew I was going well at this point as I never caught them at all last week. Pushing my Schwalbe tyres to the limit I caught the flying Fin Vanstarata on the final descent of lap 1. At the turn around point I then realised I was in 4th with only Olivier Marceau and the 2 leaders in the European series (Frank Battelier and Karel Zadak) just ahead of me. As I caught Olivier (which I've never managed to do before), I pushed things too far and crashed over my USE carbon handlebars, luckily nothing was broken and I got back in my rythmn and set about chasing after Karel.
All race I had the run problems of 2007 in my mind. I kept drinking my Maximuscle Viper and taking solid food too. Guy's like Olivier and the other ITU road triathletes were going to chase like mad on the run and not take any prisoners. Another solid lap in the muddy conditions with the drive chain still running smooth from Squirt lube and not collecting dirt and my Sundog shades keeping the muck out of my eyes. I exited the final descent on Karels wheel. We shared the work up to T2 where we were only 1 minute behind Franky.
A smooth transition, on with the Montrail shoes and the 2XU number belt and cap. We would now see if I could finally run with the top guys and get on the podium in a championship race. After Global tour wins in Japan and Saipan, today was my chance for a medal at the European Champs. We settled into a good pace together on lap 1, taking turns to keep the tempo at the front. Halfway round the final lap and my legs were heavy it was pure adrenaline keeping me going, Karel tryed a few attacks and on the 3rd attempt he got a 10m gap. I was in major pain and just couldn't close the gap, slowly it became 20m and then 30m as the finish approached.
Luckily Olivier and the others hadn't made any inroads to our lead and I straightened up the 'Panasonic' and 'Snow and Rock' logo's on my chest for the press, and celebrated my Bronze medal with a victory leap through the finishing pond that the organisers had constructed.
A great party followed the race and then it was a quick bike clean and back in the bike box (bikeboxalan.co.uk), to be opened in 4 days time in another continent. Two days of washing kit and light training and off to Maranuma for my chance to defend my first ever world cup win in Japan last year.
Saturday, 18 July 2009
9th Xterra US Mountain Champs
With a swim start at 7500ft, the bike climbing up to 9000ft, transition 2 at 8500ft and the run climbing up from there, I knew I was going to suffer here. Just walking up the stairs in the week before left me out of breath. 3 days in Boulder and 2 days here wasn't nearly enough. The swim felt awful, any slight effort, or a mouthful of water (which happened a couple of times), leaves you out of breath for the next minute. However I exited the water only 3 minutes behind the leaders which was a lot better than last week so i can't have been that bad. Onto the bike and I just tried to keep it steady, knowing that is all you can do at this height. I caught up to 6th place and felt pretty good considering. It was a great course, using a very exclusive ski resort 'Beaver Creek', with amazing summer mountain bike trails. You should have seen the posh apartments where the pro's got housed, loving the spa jacuzzi bath. I know I've been running well, with 2nd quickest run last weekend and 4th quickest in Czech, so I was hoping to gain places and get a top 5. However, it wasn't going to be! The local guys living at this height were soon snapping at my heals as I weazed my way slowly to the top of the climbs. Place by place they came past me, in the end I was hanging on to the final cash spot (8th), but this too slipped away with a couple of Km's to go. All in all it was a lot of hard effort for no reward, but a fantastic place with great scenery, and it'll be cheap to get drunk at the altitude tonight! Returning to the UK tomorrow for 3 days, before leaving for France and Alpe d'Huez road triathlon. Hopefully this week at altitude should help me for that race which will be considerably lower.
Monday, 13 July 2009
4th Xterra Vermont US Points race
This weekend was the first of 2 races stateside.
With 5 weeks of heavy rains it was extremely muddy, however it had been warm enough to make the swim non wetsuit for the pro's, and i hadn't packed my super speedy blue seventy zero point 3 suit, because of baggage restrictions. So on the start line I was the only pro without a swim skin of some variety. How much advantage they give and how much was psychological I don't know, but I lost far more time than usual. In the end this was to deny me 2nd place.
Onto the bike and I was in my element in the 'British' conditions and I had the 2nd fastest bike split, ahead of guys such a three times world champion Conrad Stoltz, renown as the best biker in Xterra in the US. I used my Cannondale Scalpel, with Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres which proved to be superb in the gloop, with Sundog eyewear keeping it out of my eyes.
Conrad and 2006 World Champion Nico LeBrun entered T2 together in the lead, with Seth Whealing and Dan Hugo together in 3rd and 4th, I was in 5th and had them in my sights and was closing fast.
Onto the 2 lap run I was inspired by my 4th quickest run split in Czech 2 weeks ago and started fast. I could soon see Dan Hugo and knew I was closing on him, I caught him nearing the end of lap 1 and could then see Seth Whealing just ahead of me, and heard that Conrad was in 2nd and fading fast.
On the final descent of lap 2 Seth managed to catch Conrad and nip past in an exciting sprint finish, I couldn't quite bridge the gap in time and ended up in 4th, but with the 2nd fastest run split of the day. If only I had that swim skin.
Sitting in Burlington Airport now at 6 am East Coast time on my Panasonic laptop, about to fly to Colorado for the US Xterra Mountain Championships. Looking forward to catching up with Julie Dibens for her first Xterra of the year, after her very successful weekend this weekend. Next weekend should be very different, starting at 8000ft elevation and getting lots higher, in an epicly hilly course. It's going to hurt!
Thank you very much for Joe and Maggie (and Kelsey the labrador) for putting myself and Renata up in their house for the last few days. It was great fun.
With 5 weeks of heavy rains it was extremely muddy, however it had been warm enough to make the swim non wetsuit for the pro's, and i hadn't packed my super speedy blue seventy zero point 3 suit, because of baggage restrictions. So on the start line I was the only pro without a swim skin of some variety. How much advantage they give and how much was psychological I don't know, but I lost far more time than usual. In the end this was to deny me 2nd place.
Onto the bike and I was in my element in the 'British' conditions and I had the 2nd fastest bike split, ahead of guys such a three times world champion Conrad Stoltz, renown as the best biker in Xterra in the US. I used my Cannondale Scalpel, with Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres which proved to be superb in the gloop, with Sundog eyewear keeping it out of my eyes.
Conrad and 2006 World Champion Nico LeBrun entered T2 together in the lead, with Seth Whealing and Dan Hugo together in 3rd and 4th, I was in 5th and had them in my sights and was closing fast.
Onto the 2 lap run I was inspired by my 4th quickest run split in Czech 2 weeks ago and started fast. I could soon see Dan Hugo and knew I was closing on him, I caught him nearing the end of lap 1 and could then see Seth Whealing just ahead of me, and heard that Conrad was in 2nd and fading fast.
On the final descent of lap 2 Seth managed to catch Conrad and nip past in an exciting sprint finish, I couldn't quite bridge the gap in time and ended up in 4th, but with the 2nd fastest run split of the day. If only I had that swim skin.
Sitting in Burlington Airport now at 6 am East Coast time on my Panasonic laptop, about to fly to Colorado for the US Xterra Mountain Championships. Looking forward to catching up with Julie Dibens for her first Xterra of the year, after her very successful weekend this weekend. Next weekend should be very different, starting at 8000ft elevation and getting lots higher, in an epicly hilly course. It's going to hurt!
Thank you very much for Joe and Maggie (and Kelsey the labrador) for putting myself and Renata up in their house for the last few days. It was great fun.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Xterra Czech 4th
I was not feeling that great in the few days leading up to Xterra Czech. All week I had been very tired from Mountain Mayhem the week before (where Julie Dibens and I finished in the 2nd Elite team), which speaking to the other guys on our team was the general feeling.
The weather had been awfull with storms so torrential that 12 people in the Czech republic were killed.
As the gun went for the swim I got badly swum over and ended up missing the front pack and getting stuck behind loads of age groupers swimming loads slower than me.
Onto the bike and again I felt sluggish initially, not really reeling in people for the first 5km. Then we hit the serious off road and I began to feel better. It was super wet and muddy and very slippery, making the bike leg into 1 hr 45 minutes long for us leaders. I had no idea which position I was in until I returned to transition 2 and saw only 4 bikes there. Maybe it wasn't such a bad day after all?
Heading out on the run I just felt better and better. Soon I was up into 4th place with Michael Wiess (Xterra Austria champion and 2nd at the world champs in Maui) one place ahead of me. Unfortunately I couldn't quite catch him and I finished in 4th, equalling my best European tour finsh ever and improving my series ranking into the top 6.
I am back in the UK now for 10 days, before I head over to the US for Vermont and Colorado rounds of the US series.
The weather had been awfull with storms so torrential that 12 people in the Czech republic were killed.
As the gun went for the swim I got badly swum over and ended up missing the front pack and getting stuck behind loads of age groupers swimming loads slower than me.
Onto the bike and again I felt sluggish initially, not really reeling in people for the first 5km. Then we hit the serious off road and I began to feel better. It was super wet and muddy and very slippery, making the bike leg into 1 hr 45 minutes long for us leaders. I had no idea which position I was in until I returned to transition 2 and saw only 4 bikes there. Maybe it wasn't such a bad day after all?
Heading out on the run I just felt better and better. Soon I was up into 4th place with Michael Wiess (Xterra Austria champion and 2nd at the world champs in Maui) one place ahead of me. Unfortunately I couldn't quite catch him and I finished in 4th, equalling my best European tour finsh ever and improving my series ranking into the top 6.
I am back in the UK now for 10 days, before I head over to the US for Vermont and Colorado rounds of the US series.
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