A quote from a young spectator, which on my last lap, cyclo-crossing it though the steps, brought a smile to my face. Seems 24 isn’t too unfavourable to me either. 

Racing at Dalby yesterday was as great as ever. It’s a course which never leaves you time to contemplate why you are putting yourself through all the suffering, with each lap seeming never too far off.  Another stacked international field added to the quality of the race. 

My start was good for once and I was around 18th entering the singletrack, still not a great place to be with the concertina effect slowing some parts. Hitting the cottage climb I did what I always do on climbs and smashed it, clawing back some places and pulling Kenta and Nick with me. They would have been a nice pair to stay with but I unfortunately fell off the pace near the end of the lap. From then on I rode consistently and taking a few places on the way, in around 16th position. On my fifth lap I cocked up my gearing at the base of the switchback climb. It’s a climb you have to change down in preparation and thinking I had, put the power down at the base ready to spin only to stop dead in my 11t. Not being able to get back on until it flattened out I had to run, with the places I had caught spinning past. 

I was fading and couldn’t make the time back, leaving me to finish the race in 21st (13th Brit); frustratingly only 28s off 16th place. Still, a performance I am pleased with again, and a level I know I where I can find improvements. Looking forward to heading back for the World Cup in a few weeks and now with a bit of a break from racing, some good training.

John.