Did this yesterday, finished in first 10, should have done better, left things too late at the end and then was stuck behind a guy who wasn't making progress, I was shouting at him to get a shift on but to no avail. Race was just over 60km according to Garmin, it started with me feeling out of sorts, legs were not happy at all, my past month has been nuts, it started the Friday night before Lady Dixon and ended up with no bike for 4 weeks until X-Ride, was knackered after that been but did two road spins and the Epic league race last week so was just feeling the effects.
Course left Roundwood towards Anamoe, turning left before the right hander before the bridge, then joined the circuit for 5 maybe 11km laps, lumpy one would call it, over 5 laps a lot of short efforts over kickers, but while none is a 'hill' these do add up. I got 'going' on the 3rd lap, so was feeling ok by the end, a few efforts at breaks were made but nothing worth talking about, the bunch was in no mood to let anyone away. I had a go with just over a lap to go and hung off the front for a few kms, never getting a decent gap, then the finish was fun. Over some lumpy roads, managed to stay near front, then down into 90 degree left hander before sprint, bolted down into that and came through in about 4th behind Redmond O'Toole, then some lads took off, it was still a bit from the finish so I didn't commit, a mistake in retrospect as I had too much to do once I got going, as alluded to above was a bit sick about the closing bit as I had more left and could have passed the lad in front and perhaps got up into the places, but I couldn't squeeze past. Really annoyed with myself for my 'brain freeze' when I should have been going for it.
But great race, well organised, good safe riding, no crashes, sunny, warm, what more could one ask for... I can foresee the response..... Mountain biking single track!
Course left Roundwood towards Anamoe, turning left before the right hander before the bridge, then joined the circuit for 5 maybe 11km laps, lumpy one would call it, over 5 laps a lot of short efforts over kickers, but while none is a 'hill' these do add up. I got 'going' on the 3rd lap, so was feeling ok by the end, a few efforts at breaks were made but nothing worth talking about, the bunch was in no mood to let anyone away. I had a go with just over a lap to go and hung off the front for a few kms, never getting a decent gap, then the finish was fun. Over some lumpy roads, managed to stay near front, then down into 90 degree left hander before sprint, bolted down into that and came through in about 4th behind Redmond O'Toole, then some lads took off, it was still a bit from the finish so I didn't commit, a mistake in retrospect as I had too much to do once I got going, as alluded to above was a bit sick about the closing bit as I had more left and could have passed the lad in front and perhaps got up into the places, but I couldn't squeeze past. Really annoyed with myself for my 'brain freeze' when I should have been going for it.
But great race, well organised, good safe riding, no crashes, sunny, warm, what more could one ask for... I can foresee the response..... Mountain biking single track!