30th
June
2011

Hot and hilly; my favourite conditions. Hills, as I’ve said before, are something I feel I have some talent for. Heat makes the racing feel that much more epic, sweat rolling down your face like climbing the alps in a Grand Tour, creating a distraction from the tourment you’re commanding. So, you would’ve thought the race at Margam Park on Sunday would have provided me with a career best National result, as did I…

Similar to the last round, the conditions for practice were vastly different to that of the race; all be it, the other way around. Saturday was moist all day and I felt out of my depth on my first lap of the course. Second attempt however, and I was ‘foot out, flat out’ drifting the off-camber hillside, cleaning the lap and feeling confident in my ability.

Sunday’s heatwave came true and for the start of the Elite men’s race we were lining up in 30deg heat. On the second line of the grid, I had a good start and was sitting comfortably going up the first climb near the head of the lined out field. The climb switched-back into two off-camber rooty sections and as expected, it got messy as people lost traction around others trying to run ‘round them. It is always difficult dismounting and running with start sprint jelly legs and the red mist hindering your ability to think. Exiting the second section off my bike, I fell foul to this, stupidly running to the top of the first decent; a straight, rock laden, greasy gully.

In my pressure not to loose places, I set off down the decent still not clipped in and mounted on my bike. Try riding your bike without feet on the pedals and you will find the balance is completely of. Try riding a wet, rocky, hillside like this and it will quickly end in tears; as I was hastily reminded. 

I was buck-buck-buckaroo’d off my bike as it kicked up off one of the many rocks. Landing awkwardly on my leg, then falling and banging my knee. Getting up and struggling back up to my bike, I watched as the rest of the field slid past, my crash scene adding to their obstacles and stopping me from getting back on. 

Once back and off the decent, I went into overdrive trying to make the places back. It is not a good state for me, I go way too hard with no rhythm or sense, just waste energy. After making a few places, I noticed my bars were off centre; too much to just get by with, I had to stop and knock them back in place, loosing progress. Next on the list was my front derailleur, my outer cable had broken in the crash and caused tension to reduce; eliminating my big ring. Finally, as the adrenaline wore off, the pain my knee became more and more and along with the swelling, I was unable to put power through it. I limped through the remainder of lap two and pulled out. 

Another Margam ruined for me by knee problems, it clearly doesn’t like me as much as I like it. I haven’t been able to complete an Elite race there during my three years as an Elite, despite it being my course of preference. I build myself up every year knowing I can get a result (the results sheet is turned on its head as the climbers shine) and am just left with the worst result for any athlete: ifs. 

It really hasn’t sat very well with me, but at least I can be happy I didn’t really injure myself, writing off the rest of my season, and am only left with a swollen knee and what will be some even more ridiculous tan lines from the Kesio tape.

John.