First race of 2012, Start as you mean to go on.

I'm pleased to say myself and Mick Bell got 2012 underway with a win at the Madison Cross at Herne Hill today. It was a great race, fun and enjoyable, with short fast laps preventing resting riders from standing about in the cold and rain for too long. It's not a particularly competitive race, however with the National Championships next week, its always nice for morale to get a win, of any kind. It means a lot to Mick who has such a great chance to win the Vets 50+ Jersey and I'd like to think I will also have a chance in the Under 23 mens race.


Back to the race today...Mick was the starting rider in our pair and got a decent start, sending me on my way after a lap in 4th a couple of seconds from the front. I came back around the next lap slightly ahead and from then on the pair of us gained seconds here and there every lap, comfortably positioned in 1st. It wasn't assured though, as the 2nd placed team kept us on our toes but on the last lap we still had a good 15-20 second gap, and we held it to the line with Mick taking the victory celebrations.


The next time I will be riding my cross bike will be at the National Championships next weekend. The nerves are starting to kick in now as I feel I have a genuine chance of a good result in the closing weeks of the cross season. I will need to be riding at my best though, to have a chance of a good result, as there is some tough competition in the under 23 category, but hopefully all my hard work over the past couple of months will pay off.




Picture from today's race, taken by Pauline English.

Good luck to everyone riding the Championships next weekend, I'm sure I'll see some of you there.

Taylor