The Xc NPS race season kicked off on Sunday with the first round in Slade Valley held by IMBRC. Being mainly concentrated on Enduro this year, I hadn't had any time on the cross country bike before the race but decided that it would be good training for the year. Dad and I arrived at the track early Sunday. I went for a practise lap just to make sure the course hadn't changed from last year which it hadn't. At 2 o'clock we lined up behind the S1 and got ready to race. I got a good start of the line and got up to the kicker on the start loop in 5th but couldn't hold the spot into the singletrack and dropped back to 8th going into the dh section of the start loop. After going through the start finish to start the first lap 6th and 7th started to pull away a bit up the first fireroad. Marlena went past me and I pulled in behind her and drafted behind her all the way back up to 7th again. The group of the 4 of us stayed together through the first single track and down the fireroad to the next section of singletrack. Just before the entrance I put in a sprint and got into the singletrack ahead of 6th place.
I pushed hard down the singletrack and opened a bit of a gap.I held 6th into the "Rabbit ride" section of the course which was the most technical section on the course. I managed to catch 5th place on this section but lost him on the fireroad after it again. I stayed in 6th for the next lap not making any mistakes and keeping it clean and fast. Towards the end of the 2nd lap my back started to get pretty sore but I pushed on. Half way round the 3rd lap I got passed by 2 other riders as I had slowed down a good bit due to my back. I got a gel into me towards the end of the lap and then put the hammer down. Even though my back wasn't right I pushed hard and caught back up with 7th place and passed him. Towards the end of the last lap I had to make a quick stop before the last climb to the singletrack to the finish as my saddle had dropped about 3 inches. After that it was straight forward to the finish with no problems. I finished 7th in the end a good bit behind the winner but I'm happy with my result considering having had no real training and a sore back. Well done to Paddy, James and team mate Dan on 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Big thanks as always to Expert Cycles for their support. I'd also like to thank Adrian Van Der Lee for the amazing photo's. Check out his gallery here: http://adrianvanderlee.zenfolio.com/p981573289
See you guys in 2 weeks for Rd2 on my home turf, 3Rock
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