Premier Series 1 and Trek 2-4-6...
PREMIER SERIES Rnd 1
On Saturday we were blessed with stunning weather for the Premier Series & the course was running super-fast, twisty, dry & dusty. The speed of the course & the fact that it was not particularly technical meant that the racing was going to be extremely tight.
On the first lap a lead group of 15 had formed, Robin Seymour was riding strong in this group. The chasing group, also of about 15, was not far behind. Gareth Montgomerie was riding towards the head of the second group & our third rider, Rab Wardell, had worked hard & managed to get to the back of this group despite starting at the back of the grid of 53 riders.
This was pretty much the pattern of the race for the next few laps, the two big groups riding together, riders in each try to make a break, but no one making any real headway. Then on the last lap the groups fragmented as everyone made their last efforts to pick up places. Robin eventually crossed the line in 13th, Gareth 17th & Rab 21st. Bearing in mind the extremely competitive state of the elite category & the type of course, it is really satisfying to have all the lads finish within the top 25. This said we expect even better rides once we get onto some more technical courses!
TREK 642
Sunday was a completely different kettle of fish.... Constant driving rain had made the course very muddy & greasy, transforming the wooded singletrack sections into real hard work where good bike handlers could easily gain time. The Endura/Voodoo/Singletrack riders were competing in the 4hr elite race. The first two laps made it look like to would pan out much like the day before as a group formed featuring Robin, Gareth & Rab as well as the 3 Scott riders Nick Craig, Dave Collins & Stu Bowers.
By the time the third lap had been completed Robin & Nick had pulled out a considerable gap over the others. From then on it was a fight for the top honours between these two. It was exceptionally close, but in the last mile of the race Nick managed to get away from Robin. Still, Robin wrapped up a great ride taking 2nd place & full 4 minutes ahead of 3rd. Rab & Gareth also had solid rides (bearing in mind the previous day's exploits!) coming in 5th & 7th respectively.
On Saturday we were blessed with stunning weather for the Premier Series & the course was running super-fast, twisty, dry & dusty. The speed of the course & the fact that it was not particularly technical meant that the racing was going to be extremely tight.
On the first lap a lead group of 15 had formed, Robin Seymour was riding strong in this group. The chasing group, also of about 15, was not far behind. Gareth Montgomerie was riding towards the head of the second group & our third rider, Rab Wardell, had worked hard & managed to get to the back of this group despite starting at the back of the grid of 53 riders.
This was pretty much the pattern of the race for the next few laps, the two big groups riding together, riders in each try to make a break, but no one making any real headway. Then on the last lap the groups fragmented as everyone made their last efforts to pick up places. Robin eventually crossed the line in 13th, Gareth 17th & Rab 21st. Bearing in mind the extremely competitive state of the elite category & the type of course, it is really satisfying to have all the lads finish within the top 25. This said we expect even better rides once we get onto some more technical courses!
TREK 642Sunday was a completely different kettle of fish.... Constant driving rain had made the course very muddy & greasy, transforming the wooded singletrack sections into real hard work where good bike handlers could easily gain time. The Endura/Voodoo/Singletrack riders were competing in the 4hr elite race. The first two laps made it look like to would pan out much like the day before as a group formed featuring Robin, Gareth & Rab as well as the 3 Scott riders Nick Craig, Dave Collins & Stu Bowers.
By the time the third lap had been completed Robin & Nick had pulled out a considerable gap over the others. From then on it was a fight for the top honours between these two. It was exceptionally close, but in the last mile of the race Nick managed to get away from Robin. Still, Robin wrapped up a great ride taking 2nd place & full 4 minutes ahead of 3rd. Rab & Gareth also had solid rides (bearing in mind the previous day's exploits!) coming in 5th & 7th respectively.
posted by Ginger Fool at 6:22 AM
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