Lanzarote 4 Stage MTB Stage Race

The early season has become dominated by stage races and “classic” mountain bike races throughout Europe with the Cyprus Sunshine Cup, Andalucia Bike Race and Lanzarote 4 Stage race all happening within a few weeks. These have become favorites for us Brits escaping the harsh conditions of winter in search of some sun, and some early season racing form. This year I jumped on a plane to head out to Lanzarote for the UCI Club La Santa 4 Stage MTB race. Here’s how it went down:

Saturday - Stage 1: 42km / 678m Elevation

I was racing in the Elite class, lining up around 40th on the first day (random gridding behind the usual big hitters). Rolling out from Club La Santa on the tarmac and down the road to the seafront speeds were hitting around 65kmh before the initial left swing onto the gravel track taking you inland. Going with the wind at this point meant the pace was blistering, putting you in top gear for most of the opening km’s. The next 5km everything settles slightly and groups start to form. It’s very much a case of keep up, or you’re getting dropped (I learnt this the hard way through the week).

Heavy winds dominated on stage 1, with one section in particular becoming nearly unridable as you got blown off an exposed ridgeline. Hard enough for me, let alone the 50kg racing snakes! The short day with mix of gravel track and twisting walled singletrack combined with just 678m of elevation gain meant we were all home quickly to nurse the legs for the next few days. I got a feel for the pace of the guys around me and It was pretty clear who I should be looking out for to form a group for the next few days.

Race time: 1:41:59
Position:  28th Elite

Sunday - Stage 2: 60km / 967m Elevation

With the morning of day two the winds had calmed (Slightly) and a longer day in the saddle was looming. The same stupidly fast (but fun!) roll out from Club La Santa and left turn onto the gravel before heading along the coast in a southerly direction. Much more volcano actin today, with most of the climbing coming before half way as you skirted around a crater in the Volcanic National Park.

I settled into my group from the previous stage early on, but started to struggle with the pace as the trails went upwards. I eventually went pop  and dropped out of the group as we made the turn at the halfway mark. I found myself isolated, wasting vital energy pushing into the wind. I tried (but failed) to jump onto a few passing groups of riders. But to no avail.

The raised singletrack separating the walled gardens and fields was pretty testing (in both skill and patience), with a base of loose lava cobbles ready to catch you out at every turn. There was loads more fun singletrack in today's stage however, so I took my foot off the gas and enjoyed the rest of the riding.

Time: 2:25:04

Position: 38th Elite

Monday - Stage 3: 21km Time Trial / 837m Elevation

A slightly later start for the mountain time trial meant some extra vital recovery after having ruined my legs the previous day. Much appreciated. The course for the time trial starts virtually on the beach in the town of Caleta De Famara, approximately 15km from Club La Santa, and winds its way up to one of the highest points on the island.

I started steadily, not wanting to burn all my matches knowing it was going to be over an hours effort for the heavies like me. I caught my 30’s man within the first few minutes of the TT, which was alarming, but I felt comfy so kept the pace. Double track gravel road snaked off in front of me going with the wind, before a sharp left turn back into the wind and a steep singletrack climb.

Apart from my eyeballs popping out, all was going well. A few rocky fun singletrack descents followed into a super fast flat section. It was here my drivetrain decided to lock up. Fun.

With a touch of idiocy, i just ploughed on even though my rear mech was crying for mercy. It quickly freed up though, so maybe it was a stroke of genius? A turn at the feed station and back upwards for more vertical induced suffering. It was here I managed to pick up a suffering rider (with a disregard for the no drafting rule) who decided I was just the right size shape for hiding from the wind.

Double track the rest of the way to the top before a cruel glimpse of the finish as you disappear past it, and turn back again. One final sprint for the line and that was stage 3 done.

Time: 59:42

Position: 33rd Elite

Tuesday - Stage 4: 85km “Queens Stage” / 1633m Elevation

With three hard days of racing in the legs already, this was always going to be the sting in the tail of this race. An undulating 40km to start before heading skywards, with a long climb back up to the observatory at the top of the island, before heading for home on some really fun descents.

The start was as fast as ever and i struggled to get going in the opening stages. A few more drivetrain issues combined with sore legs saw me constantly getting dropped from my usual group, meaning matches had to be burnt early on to stay in contention.

It all settled down and I was comfortable in my group at feed station 2 and midway point to start the major climb. A fairly steady affair at the beginning but with the group fracturing and separating by the midway point of the climb. This was my que to settle in, and ride it at my own sustainable pace, before opening the taps on the descent.

A 70kmh descent to begin with from the observatory and into blustery singletrack from the previous days time trial kept everyone on their toes. I caught fellow Birt and member of my original group Joe Norledge, joined by two riders in the lead of the masters race. An effective quartet, and my legs feeling good it was full steam ahead till the end!  A classic bad luck moment of a chain drop for me in the last 5km lost me my group and a few extra places on a day I was looking for my best finish. But thats racing for you…

Time: 3:38.02

Position: 31st Elite

In all, a quality weeks worth of racing putting some speed into the legs after the winter period. If anyone reading this is thinking of potentially making the trip to Lanzarotte or similar for a sport of racing, I urge you to do it! The Lanzarotte 4 Stage MTB race is a relatively cost effective and friendly introduction to stage racing. Get it booked!

2018 Race Rig Dreaming...

  Things have been quiet on my blog front for a few months. Since the end of the 2017 race season, a great off season of riding and resting was had, before cracking on with the winter training.

I'm stoked to have support from Specialized UK along with Hot Pursuit Cycles for the 2018 season, and will be running two awesome Specialized Epic 29 full suspension bikes for the year.

Full carbon frame, Roval Control SL wheels, Sram Eagle XX1 Groupset, Sram Level ult Brakes and S-Works Finishing kit. Total weight 9.66kg.

To find out more about this bike, click HERE.

I will also be running the Specialized Epic 29 Expert for training and as a back up bike during long endurance races. I have already put a fair amount of Km's on this bike over the winter so far, and it feels amazing to ride. The new improved Rockshox Brain is so sensitive and provides an excellent ride!

  My first race of the 2018 season will be on 3-5th February for the UCI Club La Santa MTB stage race in Lanzarote. It promises to be some tough racing over 4 stages with (hopefully!) some winter heat to get the legs moving at speed again!

Pivot TwentyFour 12 - Exposure British 24hr Championships

Could this have been one of the most hyped up 24hr events in the British endurance racing? With the amazing performances of the Brits just eight weeks prior at WEMBO in Finale Ligure in Italy, the British Champs was destined to be a clash of horns, with at least a dozen names on the start list that could snatch the win.

The weather did its best at doing the whole "British summertime" thing and there was no shortage of war paint for the riders to decorate themselves in. Heavy rain and drizzle from Friday morning to the race start on Saturday, and then right until the early hours of Sunday morning ensured course conditions were less than ideal. A perfect setting for a Battle Royale then?

Wet, windy and wild.

 The mass start at Newnham Park is never a slow affair with the team and pairs riders quickly taking charge on the outlap (This was a good thing as it pulled us diesel engined solos around for a bit!). I had seen a few solos around me in the opening laps, but had no idea what was really going on for a good 8 hours. I knew some solos had gone off super fast, but I wasn't mixing with these guys early doors. The rain was persistent, with the course now resembling a muddy river than a mountain bike event. Maybe a kayak would have been a better bet? Mud spike tyres helped in the slop, and whilst the course was this wet, it was actually super fast! I've raced a lot at Newnham in the winter, so these conditions didn't really bother me too much, and decided to just push on a bit through the early hours of darkness and into the early morning.

I normally avoid the watersplash in favour of the bridge - this time I wanted to clean off!

Sometime in the relentless darkness, the race really started.

My pit crew were keeping me informed of positions and retirements of the other racers. In the early hours of the morning (I think - 24hr brain never works too well) they had said I was in the lead with a small lead from the King of the Mud, and reigning British Champ, Matt Jones and with a bigger gap to third place Michael McCutcheon. The pace felt comfortable, but I knew it was likely to get messy towards the end.

My pit crew were doing a truly heroic effort with the bikes. The entire race we were doing cyclo-cross style changes, with a clean bike every lap to keep them running well. This was becoming super important in the later stages of the race, as the course dried out and turned to glue with the bike suffering the most. Brake pads were taking a hammering with the mud and grit and were frequent casualties. I was lucky enough to only have one puncture during the race, ironically in the pit field due to a broken spoke, and that was quickly dealt with.

Chris's poor bike getting the works in the middle of the night.

Back to the race, and with the sun now up, Matt had decided to turn the heat up. From my information the lead had seamed to drop from nearly 30 minutes to 17 minutes in a matter of laps, which triggered panic stations. Craig Bowles in my pit was feeding me all the information needed, and it really was down to the legs to see what they could do. My feed rate nearly doubled per lap with the added effort and my legs appeared to be delivering. At the end of every lap i was convinced I couldn't do another, but the lap times kept falling and the legs kept delivering. Word got to me that Matt had slowed, and he wasn't too far ahead. I ended up catching Matt on what we knew would be my last lap, and we had a good chat whilst riding together for the last part of a truly epic 24hrs. We both knew it was over, we just needed to cross the line.

A few quick stops in the pits allowed us to clean our bikes for the final mile, and cross the line together after a truly epic battle, with a British and European 24hr Champion holding my arm aloft. A truly fantastic way to finish such a hard race, showing the amazing sportsmanship on show at these events. Chapeau Matt. Enemies in Battle, but friends away from the track.

A strange yet special moment to cross the line with your rival!

Other great rides were had by Michael McCutcheon in third, and my good friend Chris Noble in fourth. I was pitting with Chris, and we ended up riding together for a small bit during the night. He came from 10th to 4th place during the night, showing amazing grit, and just how much these things are not over until you cross the line!

Some stats on the race:

- 213 Miles (343km)

- 5,070m Elevation 

- 2 Bikes

- 8 Tyre swaps

- 4 sets of brake pads

- 50 bike washes (Between two of us)

- >800L of water used to wash bikes

To become a World and now British Champion in the same year feels like a dream. Although its been said time and time again, 24hr Solo racing is done alone, but its actually a team sport. At one point we had 8 people in our pit looking after two riders. Unbelievable.

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2017 Exposure 24hr National Champs Mens overall podium.  

My list of thanks runs pretty deep, and I may have missed some of you out. If you helped in anyway or shouted words of encouragement (or abuse) then a big thanks to you! A special thanks goes out to my parents and family for putting up with the training, and running such a solid pit during these events. They put up with a lot of shit from me.
  Craig Bowles from Big Heart Coaching - I met Craig at this event 4 years ago and he has coached me since, becoming great friends. A fantastically wise coach who always knows exactly what to say at 3am. Be sure to check out Big Heart Coaching for your sport goals!
  Greg Berry and Chris Berry from Hot Pursuit Cycles, both working like absolute troopers in the pits, shifting that amount of water by hand, and dealing with my poor bikes!

Big hand to Matt Carr for being his usual energetic self on the mic all weekend!

WEMBO World 24hr Championships - Finale Ligure 2017

  The dust has (perhaps) settled on the 2017 WEMBO World 24hr Championships in Finale Ligure, and having just returned to the UK with a lengthy drive (Reflection time!), I thought it may be time to put some words down about how the race unfolded for me.

  Finale Ligure is a mountain bikers heaven, and since it was announced that WEMBO was visiting in 2017 its been top of my priority list. The trails there are a mix of pristine wooded singletrack, and sun-baked  sharp rocky open sections, with killer climbs thrown in the mix just for some added torture. The course was without doubt the best, and the most vicious endurance courses I've ever ridden.

  The race started at 10.00am and the start loop was a 500m (Felt like 500 miles....) off-road run around the arena and pits, into transition before collecting the bike and starting the real lap. Now I am no runner, so I took this super steady and chilled, yet still managed to contract a blister on my left ankle from running in my bike shoes. Doh!

  The first 6 hours of the race went pretty smoothly. Got my bike changed and lubed up a few times, got a big boy plaster for my blister, and generally settled in. The temperature was in the high 20's and keeping fluid in was a task. Many people were feeling sick and I was one of them, struggling to keep food going in as night fell. A couple of punctures through the night made it a little spicy, but nothing a quick couple of wheel changes couldn't cope with!

  The night laps were wicked. I settled into the darkness, just riding my own pace and not really worrying about anyone else (I had no idea where in the race I was at the halfway mark). Water was soothing the stomach and in the early hours my pace began to rise again with a few hot laps. I was starting to catch people I knew from the  British and Australian crews and moral was good as I turned a few laps with various people chatting about random topics. 

  The sun came up and the legs were good to go it seamed (Hands and ass feeling less fresh...) so I decided to make some progress while the going was good. My pit crew were telling me I was leading my category, but I didn't know by how much (the live timing systems had a little melt down in the Italian heat). 

  At 09.35am on Saturday morning, my crew were telling me I'd done enough to win my category, and after a quick chat with pit neighbour  Peter Nadin (who ironically was one of the first Brits I met in Finale, and who also won his class with a phenomenal performance), crossed the line just after 10.00am to secure my  World Champion position! Absolutely stoked!

Some stats from the race:

Laps: 33

Distance: 330km (205 miles)

Elevation gain: 8300m 

Calorie burn: >10,000kcal

  This race for me has been  long time coming, having stopped training for XCO in favour for endurance this year. The emotion to see it come through in the best way possible is something I will always cherish. Although its a solo race, there is always a suffering team behind it who have to deal with an aweful lot, so a massive thank you goes to my pit crew:  Seb Lloyd, Pete Robinson, and my parents who deal with all my crap. Craig Bowles who without a doubt is one of the best coaches / friends out there, whithout him, this dream wouldnt have been able to come to fruition. Chris Berry, Greg Berry and all at Hot Pursuit Cycles with all the help with bikes, kit and putting up with my constant jabber about Italy in the past 12 months. Caroline Goward at Scott Sports UK for getting me the best bike in the game.

A massive well done to all the Brits who raced in Finale. Three other world championship jerseys made it back to the UK from Steve Day, Carwyn Davis and Peter Nadin. Lots of other podium positions were had, and loads of really strong rides from the Brits meant we were possibly the strongest nation at this world champs!

British Champs will be my next focus in a few weeks time at Pivot Twentyfour 12 in Plymouth. A truly great event!