I am now mid-way through the cyclocross season, and I have had a bit of a break. I have only had two races this month, with the first at Fife College for the fourth round of the Scottish Cyclocross Series (SCX) and Knockburn Loch for the Scottish Cyclocross Championship and SCX round five.
Starting at Fife College for the fourth round of the Scottish Cyclocross Series there was a fun course with some deep muddy sections and slippery corners but also some firmer grass straight and a steep switchback downhill. We started 30sec behind the vet 40 riders meaning although I got a good start and the whole shot, I still had many people in my way. In the end I was not able to catch the winning last year’s elite Scottish Champion, Gary MacDonald, who is now a V40 rider, and I finished 15 sec behind him. I enjoyed the course and was happy to take the win in my category.
Despite the lack of racing, I was still able to pick up a minor injury. During a Scottish cycling residential MTB camp, I fractured my hand after bashing it on a bollard. Despite this I was still able to train hard on the turbo and was still able to race.
I then moved on to Knockburn Loch where I found an exciting course with a small sand section, a wooded section, a steep runup, UCI height hurdles and plenty of climbing. Starting before the V40 meant a clear course ahead but a poor start meant I had ground to make up. Luckily due to the small field I was able to make my way back up to the front quickly. Not long after I reached the front and started setting a good pace, I fully washed out on a deceptively slippery corner and lost a few positions, luckily, I was able to make it back to the front where I attacked and got away. I managed to hop the hurdles every lap despite my recently broken hand. I grew my gap through the rest of the race and finished taking the win.
It has been a good month's racing and training despite the injury, and I am looking forward to getting back racing in the British scene and looking forward to Belgium at Xmas.
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