There will only be two races in 2020 for me. Seven months after the first in February, when we had no idea what lay ahead, I was back at the same venue, with a different course and a very different experience.
We were racing in small "bubbles" of riders spread out over the entire weekend. My bubble consisted of only 13 riders and as I looked around before the start it seems I had the group with all the hot shots in it! All the fast boys were here, out of the dozen other riders there wasn't one I was confident I could beat!
The grid was selected in alphabetical order which I think is something they should always do! It was of negligible benefit in a 3 hour race, but I lined up on the front row! Each position was marked on the ground 2 meters from the next. This wasn't going to be the usual elbows out battle to the first corner!
From my great grid slot I got away in 3rd place heading into the base of the opening climb. I briefly held my own, but then began to drift back through the field over the course of the first lap. I wasn't swamped and barged out of the way, each rider politely asked to come through, carefully picking a wider section of trail to give me space and allowing me to get well out of the way. I lost count of how many had passed me, but I knew I could well be in last position!
The opening lap was 22 minutes which meant I was in for a 7 lap race. With only 13 riders I'd expected a very lonely day once the field spread out, but I kept those ahead in sight; the next two laps the gap hardly changing at all. I could constantly assess the distance in front and compare it to the previous laps as the course snaked backwards and forwards. On the 4th lap the group ahead split and two riders began falling back towards me.
I paced myself for a strong finish and with 2 laps remaining I had closed up on the two ahead. As one took a drink and was struggling to refit his bottle onto his bike, I called out "On your left!" He pulled aside very different to normal racing etiquette where you defend your line for as long as you can!
Strangely the gap now grew to the other rider, perhaps he was spurred on by my arrival. It was also the flatter, twister section of the course which doesn't suit me as well as the climbs. The track conditions were absolutely perfect. Bone dry with only a couple of loose sections. In one such corner I noticed the rider ahead send a plume of dust up into the air as he slipped slightly offline. At least I knew he was pushing hard and not just coasting away from me.
Into the final lap, with a final energy gel in my stomach I rocketed past him on the first climb. I realised there was another rider I could catch up ahead so kept pushing hard. I scrabbled past him too with about half a lap to go. He however was now glued to my rear wheel and in this new era of racing I let him back past when he asked. On the flatter section of the course again he put the hammer down. I felt good and stepped on the pedals to prevent the gap opening, but it quickly became apparent I was closer to my physical limits than I had realised. Cramp ravaged my legs and I had to ease back. After a minute or two I had another dig, but by then it was too late.
I finished 11th out of 13. I'd had a really great time, but the result did put a damper on my mood. In February at the first race, a whole year of opportunities awaited. Now all I have to show for 2020 are two disappointing results. However, when I checked the details of the afternoon race, which was the same category and age of rider; I think I would have finished in the top 5 out of the 19 racers. It looks like I might also have done well in the Sunday afternoon races which were an hour longer and given how I finished may have suited me better. So in a more positive frame of mind I can look forward to next year.
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