K Capital Cup # 4, Castlewellen, Co. Down – Sun 20th Apr 2008

Another K Cap, another incredible race. An amazing lap designed by XMTB legend Robbi Lamont, Savage singletrack climbs, deadly single track descents, off cambers, drops, rock garden, quick fireraod, everything. The icing on the cake was the conditions, dust dust dust…..and we are still in april!
I was gridded on the second row for this race, but the usual mix of international riders was down on previous races, with some of them attending the World Cup opener in Houffilize. Not too worry, there was still a couple of foreign riders to focus on. Off we went and I felt good at the start, staying with the lead group until the first singletrack. I backed off here, as I knew the race would be long and I did not want to blow up aka K Cap # 2.

The leaders on the first climb

I made a push before the long singletrack descent to get ahead of a polish rider who seemed to be struggling technically, and this paid off as I had a 20 sec gap on him and the chasing group by the time we were shoot out on the fireroad. I remained comfortable in 6th position for the whole race, loving the singletrack and taking it a bit easy on the hills.
Niall took the win from Gareth Montgomery and Robin in 3rd. Conor came in 4th with Ryan in 5th.
I got 5th overall in the series which was my main goal for the year so I am happy with that. Big thanks to all the race organizers and to Robin and Geoff Seymour for their vision. Also a big thanks to series sponsor and our team sponsor Mark of K Capital Source.
The NPS races start next week in Ballinstoe, I must keep the head down from that and stay off the Pringles!

Big 'n big

Race winner Niall Davis

2nd and 3rd place riders Gareth and Robin

Wonderful singletrack!

Report
http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_2971.shtml

Pics
http://imbrc.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=26&g2_itemId=10697
http://imbrc.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=26&g2_itemId=11169

British NPS # XCO 1, XCM # 1, Thetford, Norfolk – Sat/Sun 12th/13th Apr 2008

My first Elite XCO race in the UK for 11 years, what could I expect. Evan and I got an early morning flight to Standsted, hired a car, and set off for Thetford. The race was at 3 so loads of time…..until a text from Robin at 12 said the race was now at 1! AGGGGGGHHHHH, mega rush to find the course, build the bikes in record time, straight to the start line, no lap, no warmup, but at least we were there!
The weather was great, and the tracks looked very dry.
Looking around the startline things were not as I remember. There was only about 45 elites, compared to the 70 I used to race with. Plus the whole event was missing something, maybe it was missing the stars of the mid 90s, Baker, Ford, Gould, etc…..Anyway, of we set, superfast flat fireroad, stones flying everywhere. I had heard the course was all singletrack, so I tried to stay in a reasonable position here. I got into the singletrack in a good place, and held on for a while. However, the pace was like the last 2km of an A road race, so I backed off a bit towards the end of the lap. The rest of the race was damage limitation, but I did manage to pas some riders.
The course was pretty cool, pancake flat, with 90% amazing singletrack, flat out, 30km/hr average, fast MTB ever for me!
I ended up 21st, a good bit off the front guys, kinda brutal. Evan pulled out on the 2nd lap, not fully recovered from his illness earlier in the week. The other Irish had a mixed race, Ryan had a huge crash after been cut up, Robin flatted out while int eh group for 3rd, but Conor had a great race to finish 3rd. Mel got an incredible 2nd in the Elite women, well done to her.
Back to the hotel to get ready for tomorrows marathon racing. I was doing the 50km race (shorter than the XCO the day before), and Evan was trying the 75km race in prep for the Trans Rockies in July. A good dinner and a crap movie and we were ready for bed.
Brekki was at 8 the next day for the early race start at 10. A similar day to sat and a similar course. I was in the 50km race, with about 100 riders. Off we went, and I immediately got into a good group of about 6 riders, with the 2 leaders off the front. I attacked a few times during the race and shed a couple of riders, down to 3 of us for 3rd. A couple more attacks from the other riders and I went out the back, but I managed to pass the 4th place guy before the finish of the race. 4th it was, not too shabby. Evan got a great 5th in the 75km race, buzzin at the finish. Ryan got an even better 3rd in the 100km race. Mel repeated her 2nd place from the day before, excellent.
All in all a good trip, not sure if I’ll do another, something seems to be missing from the races.
Busy few weeks coming up, K Cap Cup # 4 next weekend and then the NPS kicks off the week after that. Ohhh the legs are hurting already.

Hoofin it on the only kicker in the race!

XCO Report, results and pics
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/mtb/EventReports2008/20080412_nps_xc_round1_results.asp

XCM Report, results and pics
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/mtb/EventReports2008/20080413_whyte_enduro_round1.asp

K Capital Cup # 3, Djouce, Co. Wicklow – Sun 6th Apr 2008

WOW, what a race, by far the best ever held in Ireland. An amazing 8km loop set out by Robin. All our favorite single track with some new bits added in. 15 foreign riders were promised on the start line to add to the competition. This was also the final race in the Irish Olympic qualification so the heat was on!
I picked Kev up on Saturday at 11ish. We helped mark some of the course and rode to practice laps. Kevs loved the course, nice and technical with some real nice fast climbs too. The weather was dry all week so there was very little mud, great stuff.
Sunday came, and I warmed up on XTC to prep the tech skills. Sure enough, there was a good international presence, the UK team, Chech republic, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Wales, Swedan, etc…..all looking very pro. I got a second row grid place based on my previous result, not bad.

The team before the start

BANG, we were off. Pace was savage from the start, all the way to XTC in one long line. Kev and I stayed together on the 1st lap until the main river crossing, when Kevs rear mech was ripped off, race over for him!
I continued on, very comfortable at this stage, I passed the Swede, Micke Haggquist, on the second lap, and caught a glimp of George Hudeckova from the Czech Republic starting the 3rd.

I had a great race with Hudeckova

By the last climb on the 3rd lap, Hudeckova and I were together, attacking on the fireroad, savage. I then caught and passed German rider Jochen Cochonelli on the last lap, but Hudeckova was still hot on my heals starting the last climb. Ryan was only about 10seconds ahead here, so I was trying to catch him and at the same time stay away from Hudeckova and Cochonelli, amazing racing.

I had a great race to finish 9th

At the end I came in just behind Ryan with Hudeckova and Cochonelli not far behind. 9th place, very happy with that.
Brit Ian Bibby took the win late in the race from Robin. Robin has now qualified for Beijing, congrats Bob!
A big thanks for Team WORC and all the Seymours for all their hard work to make this the best event ever in Ireland, I wont forget it!

Ian Bibby took the win

Robin took second and the Olympic spot

Results
http://www.kcapitalcup.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=57

Pics
http://epicmtb.com/gallery/browseimages.php?c=3&userid=467
http://imbrc.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=26&g2_itemId=5795

Kevs Ireland Visit

Rocky Mountain/K Capital Source team manager and all round savage Kevin Calhoun took time out from his busy schedule to visit us in Ireland. Kev got to ride every one of the 11 days he has been here. The weather was mixed, from pouring rain to 18 degrees, weird stuff. Lots of trails, and a few pints too.
Thanks to Mark for ‘sponsoring’ the trip, and putting Kev up in the luxury attic room.
I am looking forward to making a trip to Vancouver some day!

Team RM Ireland. L - R, Craig, Paddy, Mark, Joe and Kev

Kev and I on top of Lugala, 120km/hr winds, mad stuff

Kev and I at the top of the Spinx, with Glendalough lakes in the background.

Powerscourt waterfall

Kev on the miners trail above Glendalough lake

Craig on the sleepers....2 km of northshore

K Capital Cup # 2, Moneyscalp, Co. Down – Sun 22nd March 2008

Back to Ireland with a shock. My first elite race in years and I was brutal! A v tech course with no rest made the going tough. Together with a crappy start/finish area things were not looking good (why do people continue to do this for UCI races).
I raced the first 3 laps ok, I was in 9th place with 2 Belgian guys. But then I started to feel it, and I blew up after only 1.5 hours. I got into a slow pace to get lapped and hold the position.
Robin won from UK rider Aido Lansley, with conor in 3rd and Niall in 4th, all within 1 min of each other. This almost guarantees Robin the Olympic place.
A poor ride, an ok result and 2 UCI points. Roll on K Cap # 3!

Watch the drop!

Robin takes the win

Results
http://www.kcapitalcup.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=54

Photos
http://imbrc.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=26&g2_itemId=8335&g2_page=2