Altura Nutcracker Round 1 Whinlatter
This weekend's race was a bit of a mess although looking back it probably wasn't as bad as it could have been. Race day began with waking up at 7:00 in the Penrith Travel Lodge to a sore throat which wasn't brilliantly motivating.
The course at Whinlatter could only be described as an epic. Structured from the start of hellishly steep climbs which twisted up the hillside for around 170 vertical metres which were followed by a sketchy but fast descent back to the finish, I knew this would be tough.
The race began at 11:30 giving the sun enough time to really crank up the temperature. A fast start from my fellow junior riders meant that the sharp end of the field split quickly. I decided to hold back after summiting the first lap's climb as I wasn't sure my current form (thinking about my throat) would allow me to continue at such a blistering pace for 6 laps. The next 4 laps were paced but still fast with myself focusing on catching the next rider. Ultimately this resulted in me neglecting the need to feed and so inevitably the hour and a half of high paced racing caught up with me and I was left with heavy legs. My final lap was the worst to date. I just didn't have the energy or the legs to push on so I spent almost double the time it had taken the previous lap to reach the finish. Despite this I feel like I found my limit out on the course which is what I set out to do.
Thanks to the Nutcracker organisers and to the volunteers who gave up there time for this race to happen and also to the great people who offered help on my last lap. I'll see you again next round although hopefully I will be a lot closer to the front on the last lap!
The course at Whinlatter could only be described as an epic. Structured from the start of hellishly steep climbs which twisted up the hillside for around 170 vertical metres which were followed by a sketchy but fast descent back to the finish, I knew this would be tough.
The race began at 11:30 giving the sun enough time to really crank up the temperature. A fast start from my fellow junior riders meant that the sharp end of the field split quickly. I decided to hold back after summiting the first lap's climb as I wasn't sure my current form (thinking about my throat) would allow me to continue at such a blistering pace for 6 laps. The next 4 laps were paced but still fast with myself focusing on catching the next rider. Ultimately this resulted in me neglecting the need to feed and so inevitably the hour and a half of high paced racing caught up with me and I was left with heavy legs. My final lap was the worst to date. I just didn't have the energy or the legs to push on so I spent almost double the time it had taken the previous lap to reach the finish. Despite this I feel like I found my limit out on the course which is what I set out to do.
Thanks to the Nutcracker organisers and to the volunteers who gave up there time for this race to happen and also to the great people who offered help on my last lap. I'll see you again next round although hopefully I will be a lot closer to the front on the last lap!
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| Photo courtesy of John Horner |
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