I raced my second cyclocloss race of the season, followed by the fourth Scottish series race over the weekend.After winning my 1st race of the season on board my mountain bike and having caught the cyclocross bug, I made the decision to invest in a cyclocross bike… mostly thanks to the sponsorship I receive from Loch Duart. My mechanic, Carl from BikeLove Glasgow got the bike ordered and delivered just in time to get a practice ride in the day before the Lochore race! It’s a lovely Genesis Vapour CX bike, which will come in very handy for some road rides through the winter.
I had raced the course last year, so I was very familiar with it. It was pan flat and not particularly technical, so a cyclocross bike would be much better suited. I’m very glad I got the bike! I’d planned to sit in for the first couple of laps of this race as I’d been feeling a little under the weather and was unsure how I’d feel racing.
The pace started off quite gently as I sat in as second wheel. With half a lap down, I got too itchy at the pace and decided the only thing I could do was take the front and go! One girl came with me, Eileen Roe and for the six laps of racing, I led the race with Eileen glued to my back wheel and the rest of the riders over twenty seconds behind. I pushed hard but stayed within myself for the race and actually enjoyed the pan flat course! It’s a peculiar race because 70% of it is just going around in spirals!
There were 2 hurdles to navigate and also a set of steps to run up. With one lap to go, Eileen stayed glued to my back wheel so I knew we would be in for an exciting finish! I tried everything I could to drop her in the last ninety seconds of racing and actually allowed myself to believe I was going to take the win but on the final corner, with 50m to go, Eileen snuck through on the inside line to take the win!
Rather than be annoyed, I was again just pleased to be near the end of the race and take Eileen to the finish line. I also loved the close racing and loved being on a cyclocross bike, wearing my new Loch Duart kit. I was delighted to have another podium and I am looking forward to the Scottish Cyclocross Championships this coming weekend in Aberdeenshire.