The UK is very different from back home, a lot of old culture, beautiful views and a TON of rain. Oh and did I mention....COLD. I have been living in Arizona for over a year now so I am used to hot desert living. This past week in Arizona it has been around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 32.2 degrees Celsius. The past few training days I have come back completely soaked and lost. In America we have a lot of bike lanes and around Trevor's house, there are none. The roads are very small here and I was told to train on the small single lanes which wind all over the place... oh and did I mention, I am NOT use to riding on the opposite side of the road either... Had a few close calls, especially when turning onto another road. What a fun experience this trick has and will continue to be. :)
So, two days after my arrival into the UK, still suffering from jet lag and culture shock, we drove overnight on Thursday to the second MTB World Cup in Belgium. I was able to experience the train ride through the Eurotunnel while still in the van...amazing and very convenient. Once out of the Eurotunnel, we drove straight to the venue, picked up our race numbers and prerode the course.
The course was a lot more technical then I was used to back in the US doing the Pro XCT series events. But it was fun and I was able to do most of the "A" lines on my new Bianchi SX2 Methanol carbon bike. Very sweet bike, which stood out during the race. Spectators kept shouting out "Bianchi" as I rode by them and my family could easily see me while they were watching the race online by the bright yellow bike. Here is a view of the venue...
Sunday for the World Cup race I was lined up 90 out of 93 Elite women... Yeah... fun. The race went into a steep climb where that started my walking venture for the day. With so many women on the course, most of the first lap was on foot. Finally about two laps into the race, I was clear of most of the women holding me back... I could now race. I was catching people and moving up, but then on my 4th out of 5 laps, I was pulled... so I had made it to the 76th spot. Bummed, but live and learn. Next, we packed up and drove overnight on Sunday after the race and was back at Trevor's house by mid-Monday morning. What a week. Fun, exciting and caught a cold. Yeah, I'm sick now :(
Next up, British National Series #2 the following weekend in Dalby Forest where they have had a World Cup the last few years. I really wasn't able to lose my cold during the week after coming back from training rides soaked from the rain. On Friday morning we drove the van 4 hours to the race venue where I was lucky enough to get 2 laps in on the course since I have never been there before unlike most of my competitors. I was able to do all the "A" lines except a rocky climbing section which I was told usually bogs down with people messing up and is faster to take the "B" line. I was really happy to have been able to make all the "A" lines. Huge accomplishment for me and on terrain I am not used to riding on--slick mud drops, roots, etc.
Saturday I only did one lap of the course so I could save my remaining energy that wasn't already zapped away from being sick. The morning of the event I wanted to stay in bed. I felt terrible, but..let's race!! :)
I was lined up once again with the back of the field and yes, it had been pouring rain all morning. The grass field we had to ride through was a mud pit. I felt like I was on snow. My start was so terrible. Mud was flying in my face, I was sliding everywhere. How embarrassing. :)
So once again I am running sections of the start loop from all the bottle neck sections. But luckily, knowing the "A" lines allowed me to get around a lot of the riders. But every time I got to the start/finish area in the slimy mud, I felt like a beginner trying to ride on snow. I think by the last lap, I was getting the hang of it. I managed to work my way to 7th place. By the end of the race my head was about to explode from all of the sinus pressure. I really wanted the podium, but now I know of a few things I need to work on.
Here is a pic of me after the race...
So now we have two weeks off from racing. I am really hoping to get over this cold or whatever it is. After the two week break we have three events (2 World Cups and one British National series event) back to back. Then, I head back to the US where I am currently leading the Pro XCT series.
Thanks for reading :)
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