2013 Xc National Champs Garvagh, Carn Wheelers

So last weekend (21st) the Xc National champs were held in Garvagh by Carn Wheelers. The weekend started at 9 o'clock when we left the house in the car, Kyle with us as well. After 3 1/2 hours travelling in the car we arrived in Garvagh. At 2 pm we met up with the rest of the squad and we headed off to do some practise laps. The course was brilliant with no real long climbs and short fun singletracks. James, Kyle, and myself did 2 laps of the full course and then a lap of the U14's lap. After that we had a short meeting and then headed off to our separate B&B's.

Race Day

So the aim for race day was to try get a top 5 finish seeing as I had been away for 2 1/2 weeks in Spain with no biking. We arrived at the course around 10 and then went to watch the kids and U16/U14 races. There were some great races with some fantastic battles for the titles. After the races I started to get warmed up. At around 2 o'clock we lined up on the line ready to go behind the elites. Off the line I got an alright start and slotted into 6th on the fireroad. The lead guys started to pull away from me a bit on the first long fireroad but caught back onto them as we entered the first section of singletrack. After that the lads in front pulled away and Dan and myself were left a bit behind. We worked together to try catch up with the group again by drafting down the fireroads. As we came through the start/finish line I got a bottle while Dan sprinted on past me and put a bit of a gap between us on the next lap. I kept the gap at about 10 seconds until near the end of second lap where he got pulled away by some of the Masters going past us. On the third and forth laps I kept pushing on as hard as I could trying to keep ahead of Kyle who was behind me. For the rest of the race I just tried to get all my lines and have fun at the same time. In the end I finished 6th just over a minute off 5th and the work on the last 2 laps payed off as I put 3 minutes into kyle.

Credit goes to Carn wheelers for putting on a great National champs this year and Max Power for his work as Xc coordinator throughout the year.

I'd like to say a big thank you to Jon Hynes for all his work through the year with the squad,
 Bike Addiction for looking after me at race days if there was ever anything wrong with the bike and Dare 2B/Spin 11 for all the squad kit they provided us this year.

I'd also like to Expert cycles for their support of me this season and I look forward to continue working with them in the remaining Enduro's this season.

Finally congrats to all the new National Champions and I look forward to next seasons Xc Nps