This weekend was my final few days off running to let my Achillies heal properly, and so i thought I'd carry on my big cycling push by joining my Cannondale team mates at the Tour of Dorset.
I love stage races and find that they generally give me great form, so this was an ideal build up for the Xterra world champs 9 weeks away.
Stage 1 was a short Prologue time trial and I finished in 8th place, joint on time with my Cannondale team mate Mike Cotty. We were less than 30 seconds off the Leader. It was decided that we'd share the leadership and try to get in breaks on the next flat stage.
Stage 2. Points and bonus seconds were awarded every lap on the finish line. After several breaks, it looked like it would all come together for a bunch sprint. However 2 riders clipped off the front and gained almost a minute and became 1st and 2nd overall. I got a break midway through the stage and gained a 5 second bonus and some points towards the Green Jersey. However I lost 10 seconds as a penalty for crossing the white line on the road (oops). GC position 12th.
Stage 3. This is where it all happened. The finish line is at the end of a 2 mile climb, nice! Lap 3 and I launched a solo attack purely to get the 5 second bonus that went with it. After this excursion i went back to the bunch and hid...until... I got in another break of 3 riders and made a deal that I get the sprint points, this got me another 2 laps points, then we got caught by the bunch. With 2 laps to go, the main break went and i'd missed it. I was just getting Cannondale to organise a chase when another rider attacked to try to get across, I jumped on this riders wheel and we worked together until the foot of the climb, the gap was still 200m at this point. It was a now or never moment and I attacked alone to try to get across the final 200m against the group of 7 riders. Slowly inch by inch I got across and on making the junction we worked well and soon were out of sight and we all knew this would decide the race. I got the points yet again on the penultimate lap and coming into the final 5 miles, last years winner Crispin Doyle attacked. No one else responded, so i got across on my own and we pulled out a 30 second gap. On the final climb I dropped Crispin to win by about 10 seconds, taking both the Green and Yellow jerseys.
Stage 4. I basically owe this one to my team mates. They chased down all the important moves and sheltered me through out. In the end it was a bunch sprint which I didn't contest. Mission accomplished.
Sore legs today but hopefully some really good bike form coming. Next weekend I am doing the Torq 12hr enduro with a Team of 4, supported by USE Exposure lights. Then I have got the Vitruvian 1/2 Ironman Road triathlon, which is one of the UK's biggest events and I won in 2005 and haven't come back to race since. Back on the running from today with all eyes on Maui in 9 weeks time.....
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Friday, 19 March 2010
Xterra Saipan 1st, Tagaman 1st, PIC double 1st
Hafa adai (as they say in Saipan). My first major goal of 2010 was Xterra Saipan, which I won in 2009 and is one of my favourite races on the circuit.
With a week of acclimatisation to the 30 degree heat and high humidity, I was disappointed on race day to see it raining like back at home (almost like the UK, except it was still 25 degrees). The sea was pretty rough when the gun went at 6:30am, making it difficult to see the buoys, and impossible to swim in a straight line. With the swim completed, I was in 5th place just behind fellow brit and training partner Michael Hiscott, 2 minutes down on my major rival Mike Vine and a minute behind another previous winner Aussie Jason Chalker.
After a reasonable first transition Michael and I set off to chase down the opposition. On the first major climb I could see Jason ahead, but it took me until the second climb of this very hilly hard course to pass him.
Not long after this, I got my first glimpse of Mike Vine. I was not reeling him in as quickly as hoped however and it took a longer than last year to catch him. When I eventually did make contact, I attacked almost straight away and worked on getting a decent lead in the remaining half a lap. My new 17lb Cannondale Flash with its single front chain-ring danced up the 30 minute long climb to the top of Mt Tapochao.
Into T2 I had a 2 min 15 second gap over Mike. Little did I know the carnage that was occurring further down the field with Jason taking a tumble and cutting himself to the bone and Michael spending more time on the dirt than on the bike!
The run starts with 2 km of flat paved paths round a park, where I tried to get in a rhythm before it hit the jungle proper. I didn’t look back and just concentrated on the rocks and roots in front of me. Entering the dreaded ‘gully’ towards the end of the course, which is a deep rocky ravine with a 100ft long cave section where the Japanese soldiers hid from the Americans in the 2nd World war, I apparently had a 2 minute lead still (which I found out afterwards). The rocks were covered in a thick coating of slippery moss from the recent rains, and a rockfall since the 2009 race had changed some of the route. I thought I ran this pretty well, considering there are sections where you have to clamber down 10ft drops where European Health and safety would suggest the use of ropes and harnesses, I had one nasty moment where I slipped over on a slick rock and bashed my hip pretty badly, but somehow Mike had closed the gap to 45 seconds.
Luckily I looked back on the straight section and saw him chasing. From then on I just dug in for the last 2 km along the beach back to the finish. Breaking the race down and treating every palm tree as the finish. Amazingly I only lost another 2 seconds to defend my title and carry a 43 second advantage into the Tagaman middle distance road triathlon the following weekend.
The other british contingent finished nicely in the money and raced well, with Michael getting 5th in the mens pro race, Emma Ruth-Smith and Daz Parker (both in their first ever pro race) got 4th and 5th respectively.
Tagaman is the final event in the Saipan sports fest (which had a Marathon also the week before Xterra). It consists of a 2.2km swim, 60km bike and a 15km run. This years event had a great international field including most of the Xterra pro competitors and a large contingent of Korean pros, a Japanese Olympian and also several Aussie pros. In previous years I had got 3rd (2007) and 2nd in 2009, not matching the record of Tagaman legend (and my very kind 2XU sponsor) Mike Trees who won this event several times and podiumed plenty more. In order to be fresh, I had a relaxed week of light training, scuba diving with my wife to be and eating far too much fantastic food at the host hotel, the PIC.
The swim started with a false start possibly caused by your truely, and we were all called back! On the second attempt we got way properly and I realised why I was leading the first time around, as the Korean ITU pros got to work at the front and got a good gap. A bad line by all competitors on the first lap (in the half light at 6am) led us over beautiful but razor sharp coral in very shallow water. The fastest swim of the day was by one of local guys called Kai who also put us all to shame in the Xterra swim too.
I exited the water in 17th, 2 seconds behind Michael Hiscott (as he continues to mention to me), had a good transition and got on my new Cannondale Slice which they very kindly loaned me for this possibly my only road tri of 2010. I was about 3 minutes down on the leaders.
The bike was predominantly head wind for the first half and a group of 4 Korean pros took advantage of the lack of draft busters and held a commanding lead, while first Jason Chalker, then Mike Vine and finally I struggled to catch them. When I did make the junction I attacked on the opposite side of the road, so no one was going to get on my wheel. From here it was a do or die effort to gain enough time on some potentially very fast runners that I knew little about. I must thank AW cycles for lending me some posh carbon Fulcrum wheels before I left the UK, which certainly helped today. Over the next 40km I managed to build a 3 minute lead, over the chasers. I had been careful to consume plenty of Maximuscle viper to keep my carbs and fluids up in the heat, but there was still 15km left to run and last year I knew how I faded last year and didn’t want the same to happen.
The run turned into a repeat of the Xterra with Mike Vine chasing hard and gaining time, but eventually running out of road, and I took the tape with less than a minute to spare yet again, but extremely happy with the result after 2 years of taking the lower steps on the podium, I was great to finally get my name on the same trophy as Mike Trees! Michael Hiscott ran the 2nd quickest run split of the day to move from 8th into 3rd at the line. Emma Ruth Smith finished a superb 4th and Daz raced very well to finish 7th in a large 30+ pro field.
Winning both these races guarantees me the prestigious PIC double prize, which as well as some cash includes 7 nights accommodation next year at the PIC resort. Next week is Xterra Guam, where I again hope to defend my 2009 title, Emma and Daz are racing again too.
With a week of acclimatisation to the 30 degree heat and high humidity, I was disappointed on race day to see it raining like back at home (almost like the UK, except it was still 25 degrees). The sea was pretty rough when the gun went at 6:30am, making it difficult to see the buoys, and impossible to swim in a straight line. With the swim completed, I was in 5th place just behind fellow brit and training partner Michael Hiscott, 2 minutes down on my major rival Mike Vine and a minute behind another previous winner Aussie Jason Chalker.
After a reasonable first transition Michael and I set off to chase down the opposition. On the first major climb I could see Jason ahead, but it took me until the second climb of this very hilly hard course to pass him.
Not long after this, I got my first glimpse of Mike Vine. I was not reeling him in as quickly as hoped however and it took a longer than last year to catch him. When I eventually did make contact, I attacked almost straight away and worked on getting a decent lead in the remaining half a lap. My new 17lb Cannondale Flash with its single front chain-ring danced up the 30 minute long climb to the top of Mt Tapochao.
Into T2 I had a 2 min 15 second gap over Mike. Little did I know the carnage that was occurring further down the field with Jason taking a tumble and cutting himself to the bone and Michael spending more time on the dirt than on the bike!
The run starts with 2 km of flat paved paths round a park, where I tried to get in a rhythm before it hit the jungle proper. I didn’t look back and just concentrated on the rocks and roots in front of me. Entering the dreaded ‘gully’ towards the end of the course, which is a deep rocky ravine with a 100ft long cave section where the Japanese soldiers hid from the Americans in the 2nd World war, I apparently had a 2 minute lead still (which I found out afterwards). The rocks were covered in a thick coating of slippery moss from the recent rains, and a rockfall since the 2009 race had changed some of the route. I thought I ran this pretty well, considering there are sections where you have to clamber down 10ft drops where European Health and safety would suggest the use of ropes and harnesses, I had one nasty moment where I slipped over on a slick rock and bashed my hip pretty badly, but somehow Mike had closed the gap to 45 seconds.
Luckily I looked back on the straight section and saw him chasing. From then on I just dug in for the last 2 km along the beach back to the finish. Breaking the race down and treating every palm tree as the finish. Amazingly I only lost another 2 seconds to defend my title and carry a 43 second advantage into the Tagaman middle distance road triathlon the following weekend.
The other british contingent finished nicely in the money and raced well, with Michael getting 5th in the mens pro race, Emma Ruth-Smith and Daz Parker (both in their first ever pro race) got 4th and 5th respectively.
Tagaman is the final event in the Saipan sports fest (which had a Marathon also the week before Xterra). It consists of a 2.2km swim, 60km bike and a 15km run. This years event had a great international field including most of the Xterra pro competitors and a large contingent of Korean pros, a Japanese Olympian and also several Aussie pros. In previous years I had got 3rd (2007) and 2nd in 2009, not matching the record of Tagaman legend (and my very kind 2XU sponsor) Mike Trees who won this event several times and podiumed plenty more. In order to be fresh, I had a relaxed week of light training, scuba diving with my wife to be and eating far too much fantastic food at the host hotel, the PIC.
The swim started with a false start possibly caused by your truely, and we were all called back! On the second attempt we got way properly and I realised why I was leading the first time around, as the Korean ITU pros got to work at the front and got a good gap. A bad line by all competitors on the first lap (in the half light at 6am) led us over beautiful but razor sharp coral in very shallow water. The fastest swim of the day was by one of local guys called Kai who also put us all to shame in the Xterra swim too.
I exited the water in 17th, 2 seconds behind Michael Hiscott (as he continues to mention to me), had a good transition and got on my new Cannondale Slice which they very kindly loaned me for this possibly my only road tri of 2010. I was about 3 minutes down on the leaders.
The bike was predominantly head wind for the first half and a group of 4 Korean pros took advantage of the lack of draft busters and held a commanding lead, while first Jason Chalker, then Mike Vine and finally I struggled to catch them. When I did make the junction I attacked on the opposite side of the road, so no one was going to get on my wheel. From here it was a do or die effort to gain enough time on some potentially very fast runners that I knew little about. I must thank AW cycles for lending me some posh carbon Fulcrum wheels before I left the UK, which certainly helped today. Over the next 40km I managed to build a 3 minute lead, over the chasers. I had been careful to consume plenty of Maximuscle viper to keep my carbs and fluids up in the heat, but there was still 15km left to run and last year I knew how I faded last year and didn’t want the same to happen.
The run turned into a repeat of the Xterra with Mike Vine chasing hard and gaining time, but eventually running out of road, and I took the tape with less than a minute to spare yet again, but extremely happy with the result after 2 years of taking the lower steps on the podium, I was great to finally get my name on the same trophy as Mike Trees! Michael Hiscott ran the 2nd quickest run split of the day to move from 8th into 3rd at the line. Emma Ruth Smith finished a superb 4th and Daz raced very well to finish 7th in a large 30+ pro field.
Winning both these races guarantees me the prestigious PIC double prize, which as well as some cash includes 7 nights accommodation next year at the PIC resort. Next week is Xterra Guam, where I again hope to defend my 2009 title, Emma and Daz are racing again too.
Monday, 26 October 2009
World Champs Maui DNF
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.
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.
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.
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