National Cyclo-Cross Championships – Abergavenny, Saturday 10th Jan 2015

Bryan Holland represented the club in the Men’s Veterans 40-49 race on the first day of an action packed weekend at the National Cyclo-Cross Championships in Abergavenny, South Wales. Initially 3^rd reserve he was pleased to hear well in advance that he was definitely on the start list, and could travel in the knowledge that he would be racing. The organisation at the Nationals was a step up from the usual races with gridding published and completed all the way to the last of the 103 competitors entered. Positioned 73^rd on the grid Bryan wasn’t expecting too much from the start, but on the positive side at least wasn’t on the back row.  An early arrival allowed a walk of the course watching the Vet 50+ race and a chance to pick up tactics and spot the course. The course was excellent with a mix of cross challenges, from muddy corners, off camber turns, short sharp climbs and many changes in surfaces. Watching the Vet 50+ race it was clear that there were advantages to be made in the lower ranks by choosing to run and being decisive to do so when in doubt.

 

Race started on a temporarily closed local road with an slow incline up the road before a steeper section into the pits area and then an sharp turn off road. plenty to cause some early excitement. Bryan decided to take it steady in the initial start and look to avoid any potential pile ups. Despite this a few gaps in the field opened and he found himself making good headway in the initial stages catching up with some of his fellow Eastern League riders who started ahead on the grid. With a competitive field there was a lot of jostling for position through the initial lap. Bryan settled into a good rhythm and was definitely gaining small chunks of time with early runs and electing to shoulder the bike when doing so against others around him riding or pushing at the same point, but still well back from the main competition.  The course proved as tricky as it looked with a great mix of muddy and dry conditions and with every corner challenging the rider that little bit more than normal.  Bryan continued to race hard to hold position through the next few laps. The mud was not too sticky which meant that the advantage of those with pit crews (some riders appearing to have 3 people crewing the pits) able to swap to a cleaned bike every lap would, in the main, be negated. With just under 40 minutes gone Bryan passed through the finish line only to see 2 laps to go on the board.  With the race scheduled at 40 minutes this was not the best news, but was soon explained as the bell rang behind him and the leader came through to lap him shortly into what was now also his final lap.  Bryan pushed on knowing there was a group of riders just behind and a drop of pace or mistake would drop him down the field significantly (no last lap rests at the Nationals it would seem).  Through the lap, the remaining two podium riders slipped by, but Bryan was pleased to enter the final straight without being passed further and having protected his position from those behind.

 

Bryan finished 57^th of 78 finishers, 1 lap down on the winner Nick Craig (Pioneer Scott Syncros), having thoroughly “enjoyed” the experience, feeling he’d had a good race. Lots of takeaways for next season!

 

Helen Wyman (Kona/ FSA Factory Team) and Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles - Ridley RT) won the main titles on the Sunday making it their 9^th and 4^th British Championships respectively.  Chapeau to both!