With one week to go before the Commonwealth Games the National Championships were held on a hilly course at Hopton Woods. The climbing was mainly on wide firetracks and most of the descending on singletracks in the trees. Non of the climbing was particularly steep but it seemed to go on for ever and with lap times around the 30 minute mark this made for lots of up per lap.

Oli Beckingsale set the pace from the start, this was a fast pace which only myself and Nick Craig could hold. The three of us disappeared from the rest of the race gaining over a minute on 4th place rider Zak Toogood. (Liam Killeen was not in our race as he is in the under 23 category that has their own championship).

After a lap the strain was beginning to show - I was not comfortable - the pace was just that like bit too fast. Part way up the second climb the elastic snapped, first I let a gap go but shortly after Nick had the same trouble. This meant Nick & I rode around for the rest of the race together. There was not much difference between us as normal. With a lap to go and not much sign of Oli slowing, Nick & I began to race each other for second place. This meant his gap grew even more. We both tried to shake the other off and open a gap but in the end it was a sprint for the final singletrack section with 1km to go. I was first into this section and was able to hold my ground before the short grass section to the finish line. Silver medal for the second year to Oli.

Caroline Alexander won by nine minutes in the women's event, showing good form for the Commonwealth Games.

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