After the first round at Thetford held last month round two of the national series was my chance to have my revenge. The opening race of the series produced a shock result with some new faces at the front, could the likes of Jody Crawforth, Sam Gardener and Stuart Bowers do it again? I only managed to finish 6th, my lowest result in years.  Added to this the Lottery funded national team were riding, they had missed Thetford as they were racing in America. Everyone should be in form as the World Cup rounds begin next week in Germany with the second round in Scotland a week later.

It was the same course as last year but this time it had rained and was quite muddy. The elite race which does not start until 2:30pm had the best conditions of the day. The morning races where real mud-plugs, but by our start it was less sticky and drying out fast. The riders were gridded according to their Thetford finish position, this meant the national team riders were a few rows back.

The gun was fired and we all charged across the grass fields, I made a good start in about 3rd place. Oli Beckingsale and Jody Crawforth were there abouts. After a short muddy descent, half the way up the following climb most of us were forced to run, only for about 100m before were could remount. About half the way around the lap the pace seemed too slow so I attacked. To my surprise no one came with me. I opened up a gap quickly, this was only lap one of five. I was expecting the national team riders to start to come through after a lap, so the more time I could gain the better. To my surprise the first rider I saw behind me was my team mate Elliot Baxter, who had escaped the field as well. He caught me and we rode together until I opened a gap on one of the muddy climbs. There was still no sign of the national team but Liam Killeen was closing fast. He caught me on lap three and we stayed together for half a lap until he drifted away from me. He was just going a bit faster than I "could/wanted to" everywhere!

At the finish Liam had a good lead, I finished second and my Giant team mates Elliot third & Paul Oldham forth . This is probably Elliot's best result since he was junior national champion. The winner at Thetford Jody Crawforth was fifth. Most of the national team did not finish the race - I hope they can turn it around for the World Cups.

               Results - 2003 Giant NRS NPS Catton Hall
 

Results www.timelaps.co.uk

my Thetford 2003 report

my Catton Hall 2002 report

(written 19/05/03)

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