Next day, we just did the white & brown loop, as the blue and red were just too tame, through scrub land and lots of crap frieroad.
A good weekend, could do it in a day easily!
Boardwalks everywhere!
Handy bikewash
The trailcentre was well setup
My 2007/2008 XC MTB Race diary.
Boardwalks everywhere!
Handy bikewash
The trailcentre was well setup
Race day came, sunny, dry, but a little windy. Held on an old quarry, the course was actually quite good, flatish, nice drops and kicker climbs, lots of ST too. Very bumpy though, and I brought the vertex and not the element, bad choice. However, the venue was grim, crap start/finish area, cars parked 500 mtrs away, and no atmosphere…..not good enough for NPS imo.
The start was v fast, Luis Ferguson was flying, his first MTB race this year as he was concentrating on the road. His almost complety slick tyres were a ppor choice, and I’m sure this contributed to his race ending shunt on the 2nd lap. Anyway, I was 3rd after 3 laps, 50 secs back on Peter and Ryan, a long way back on such a fast course. I stuck at it, got better legs, and eventually caught them with 1 /12 laps to go. Starting the last lap we were all together, howver, Ryan attacked and I didn’t have it, I kinda sat up then, rolled in 3rd, good enough to hold onto 1st in the league.
Next up is Djouce on 15th June, cant wait, hope its dry……..
Off we go!
My first win!
The slippy river crossing
Evan and Richi chase hard
Flyin on the new trails
Ryan took the win. Peter and Liam follow close behind
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
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
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
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
Flat out in the friday night crit
On the way up the vally not far from the start
Riding the canyons in the marathon
The new hardtail got a hammering!
Hazel at the infamous fuel stop!
Results
http://nyx.at/canary/_uploads/_elements/1730_file1.pdf
Photos
http://nyx.at/bikeboard/Board/canary-open-mtb-2008-fotos-ber80645
http://www.sportograf.de/index2.php?section=events&event=268
Phil and I do Battle
Roger takes the win
Robin in 2nd
Philip in 4th
Report
http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_2768.shtml
Images
http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_2769.shtml
Cross bike ready to go