It was lovely and dry all morning, but quite cold. My girls had a great time "racing" under 8, and under 10. Then after few hours it was my turn. Turnout was fantastic, there was over eighty of us "Baggy Shorts" and over forty "Super Pros". So it was a quite a crowd at the start line.
When Super Pros started, I looked around to see who I'm going to race with. It was pretty obvious, that the competition was strong. If I was to finish in top three, I'd had to be in a top form. Well I wasn't, and I never raced such a distance before. I decided that I start as strong as I can and then I'll see what I can do.
When the countdown was finished, I started from a third line, but before the first bend I was in the top three. I pushed as hard as I could and before long I was first!
It was a great feeling, to lead up on fist climb, and first two single tracks. When I reached the next climb, I knew I can't keep that up. Four or five people overtook me near the end of the second climb, and before we reached the next downhill section I was way behind the top three lads. Than I got stuck behind someone on the descent and there was no hope for me catching up with the leaders. I rode the trails fast and I could see that I was catching up at the descents, but my climbing wasn't fast enough to actually catch them. At the end of first lap I was tired, but when I saw my wife with the kids shouting "Daddy, Go!" and "You'r eight, well done!", I got an extra boost.
At the tarmac climb, I went to push on again on locked out suspension, and I started to feel the pain in my knees. I knew than it was the first sprint climb that was responsible. It was too much torque too fast. Clipless pedals surely are faster on the climbs but not great for your knees. I struggled thru the second lap, steady pace, and finished eight.
It was a tough race, but quite enjoyable. Looking back on Strava, my times confirm, that I did my best, and I'm really stoked to finish so high.
Once again I'd like to thank Mad Elk Cycles for great support, Absolute Black, XfusionShox and of course Intense Cycles for fantastic products. Big Thank You to my wife Maria, my family, and friends for the help, support and encouragement. It really means a lot.
That's it for 2016 Blitz. I'm not sure yet which races I gonna train for next.
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