The week leading into the 3rd XC mtb world cup in Czech Republic was a good one with lots of sun and warm weather, getting as hot as 25 degrees (really hot after living in the snow). The track was awesome with a bit of everything, root, rocks, and the dirt was just like back home as well.
Unfortunately it was forecast to rain on the Saturday, race day, and be the coldest day as well which so far had been the same for all the races I have done in Europe this year..
Race day came and it was cold.. and raining, lucky for us though the rain stopped and the dirt on the course had soaked it all in nicely not leaving much mud behind. Warming up took a while and I stayed out of the seeding boxes as long as possible to keep warm.
When we all got called up to the start line everybody took there jerseys off and all the goose bumps came out, it was freezing.
Race start wasn't too fast and I could handle the pace but 200m in the World Cup leader got chain suck and came back through the field, the guy in front of me tried pushing him and slowed me down as well, but I was still in an alright place in the pack. But when we got to the first climb another rider in front of me had a problem with their chain and started turning to the side, I tried to pass but he led me into the side barrier and I came to a dead stop, the field had pretty much gone past when I started up again. Luckily the start loop wasn't short and I could get back into 80th by the end, but this had ruined any chance of a top 20 for selection into world champs. I spent the next two laps struggling and feeling a bit gutted, but then in the 3rd lap I got some sense back and started going back up the field, the downhills on this track were heaps of fun and they were wide enough to sneak past riders as well, I managed to finish in 54th by the end which is my best result so far but I know I can do so much better.
Which will hopefully be proven this weekend in the 4th World Cup in La Bresse, France.
Cheers
Sam
Unfortunately it was forecast to rain on the Saturday, race day, and be the coldest day as well which so far had been the same for all the races I have done in Europe this year..
Race day came and it was cold.. and raining, lucky for us though the rain stopped and the dirt on the course had soaked it all in nicely not leaving much mud behind. Warming up took a while and I stayed out of the seeding boxes as long as possible to keep warm.
When we all got called up to the start line everybody took there jerseys off and all the goose bumps came out, it was freezing.
Race start wasn't too fast and I could handle the pace but 200m in the World Cup leader got chain suck and came back through the field, the guy in front of me tried pushing him and slowed me down as well, but I was still in an alright place in the pack. But when we got to the first climb another rider in front of me had a problem with their chain and started turning to the side, I tried to pass but he led me into the side barrier and I came to a dead stop, the field had pretty much gone past when I started up again. Luckily the start loop wasn't short and I could get back into 80th by the end, but this had ruined any chance of a top 20 for selection into world champs. I spent the next two laps struggling and feeling a bit gutted, but then in the 3rd lap I got some sense back and started going back up the field, the downhills on this track were heaps of fun and they were wide enough to sneak past riders as well, I managed to finish in 54th by the end which is my best result so far but I know I can do so much better.
Which will hopefully be proven this weekend in the 4th World Cup in La Bresse, France.
Cheers
Sam
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