World Masters Cyclocross - 29 November 2025
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John and Karen travelled to Varese, Italy for the World Masters Cyclocross, where John won the silver medal! Full write up from Karen below.
Men's Masters With the training and work he’s put in this year, and as British national champion it was perhaps no surprise for him to be at the front end of the race. But there are no certainties and with the Worlds you never quite know what to expect, with new, younger riders coming into your age group and the randomised gridding. Both factors played their part in Varese. John was relieved to find he was gridded 12th, giving him a second row start. Last year’s champion Ron Veeke was on the front row and newcomer to the 60s, and European champion Simon Hale was also second row. This put three of the big hitters at the front and set up a thrilling race. Simon and John shot off the start like champagne corks and within a very short time had established a gap from the chasing pack. On the second lap they were joined by Ron Veeke and from there to the finish the three shared the lead, and there was little chance for others to catch up, given the speed of the race at the front. The 2.8 km course took them over muddy rutted sections, sand, two bridges, knee high planks, and some long bumpy straights, but nothing separated them for the six laps of the race. No-one could predict who would take the victory, all three looked strong throughout. In the end it was Ron who just edged ahead to take the win from John (on the same finish time), and Simon just 2 seconds behind in 3rd. It was arguably the race of the weekend and a superb demonstration that competition at the highest level is not defined by age. |
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Women's Masters
I also entered, not least because it seemed a very fitting way for me to celebrate progress since having my right hip replaced 12 months ago. My objective was to get round the course, enjoy the event, and try not to be last. All three goals achieved! The course was great for me, no slippy off camber or tough climbs to contend with and just the mud and bridges to get through and over. However, being a flat course didn’t make it was easy and there was no respite or opportunity to recover.
The strength, speed and skills of the women around me was very impressive. I’ll be going up an age group next year and it’s a real inspiration to me to train consistently on improving my aerobic capacity and cx skills for the next 12 months and see what I can do in 2026. No expectations though – the winner and second in my race also move up next year!
We understand that Varese will be hosting the championships again in 2026, and can’t wait. The organisers did a superb job hosting a weekend of top class competition for the 600+ competitors from around the world, with races in five year age bands for men and women from 35 to 80+ (yes really – three 80+ year olds competed).
I also entered, not least because it seemed a very fitting way for me to celebrate progress since having my right hip replaced 12 months ago. My objective was to get round the course, enjoy the event, and try not to be last. All three goals achieved! The course was great for me, no slippy off camber or tough climbs to contend with and just the mud and bridges to get through and over. However, being a flat course didn’t make it was easy and there was no respite or opportunity to recover.
The strength, speed and skills of the women around me was very impressive. I’ll be going up an age group next year and it’s a real inspiration to me to train consistently on improving my aerobic capacity and cx skills for the next 12 months and see what I can do in 2026. No expectations though – the winner and second in my race also move up next year!
We understand that Varese will be hosting the championships again in 2026, and can’t wait. The organisers did a superb job hosting a weekend of top class competition for the 600+ competitors from around the world, with races in five year age bands for men and women from 35 to 80+ (yes really – three 80+ year olds competed).
RCR Goodwood #6&7 - 24 June & 1 July 2025
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Let’s go racing! - Steve Summers
Apart from some Zwift racing, (where I once got a podium by virtue of everyone else having left the race in favour of doing something more interesting), I do not have any race experience. Yes, I have been in a few timed sportives, and even found myself in the British Gravel Championship by mistake once (spoiler: I didn’t win), but I haven’t done close quarters road-racing - and I really, really wanted to give it a go, for reasons I still don’t understand. So with the encouragement and support of Ali and Emma, (the hub of road racing at WECC), I thought I’d give it a go, and signed up to races 6 & 7 of the Goodwood RCR FatCreations Race series. Here’s how it went…… |
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Race 6
As the days ticked down to my first race, the feelings turned from strong, nervous anxiety (with just a hint of excitement), to a feeling of accepting my fate, given it was one I had signed up for myself. Rather like a war-time spy going out to meet the firing squad, but confident that the cause had been just. So all very positive…...
But this did bring with it a sense of calmness and clarity, and as I lined up on the starting line for the first time, I was able to focus on my ‘plan’ without the distractions of the ‘what-ifs’ that had been plaguing my thoughts the preceding week.
My goal was to a) not have an accident (or create one), and b) not get dropped embarrassingly early. Hopefully a low-ish bar….. And so my plan was to hide at the back, or ‘stay out of the wind’ as Dom Maxwell had coined it, until such time as I knew what the heck was going on. In doing so I would save valuable watts, hopefully with the front of the pack still in view.
As we set off, (and I finally got clipped in…), the noise of the peloton was suddenly very real. Quite different from watching YouTube videos, or being on the Sunday club ride - the clacking of drive-trains and rush of wind now surrounding the pack was totally immersive. I was pulled in and along, until I was very quickly doing speeds I would not have thought possible.
And in fairness, this draft effect made staying with the group ‘relatively easy’. Yes, there were a few surges in response to minor attacks, but there was also some free-wheeling and moderate power output, allowing me to get used to the racing lines while sharing the apexes and chicane with others - quite different from my time trialing at Goodwood.
Nevertheless, by lap 4 (of 10) I was thinking I had to get involved, (rude not to), so a brief foray to the front would be in order, to see how much wind there actually was. So as we left Madgwick corner I slipped down the left flank, while everyone else seemed to be taking another breather.
As I rather quickly came to the front (to my own surprise and the surprise of others), there was a serious attack happening from someone on the right who looked like they actually knew what they were doing - yikes! I had to quickly decide whether to follow through on my momentum and chase him down, or sit up and stay with the main group.
[This is otherwise known as the “do I chase James Amy down Spithandle?’ dilemma]
Well in the end I did both - of course. Just like the Sunday ride, I couldn’t help myself and chased him. Two others were also chasing the break and were making ground on him. I was burning matches, candles and getting a lantern out, but it was rapidly becoming clear that I was not going to bridge to them, and so I sat up as nonchalantly as I could, and slid back to the group as if this were a normal day of attack-chase for me.
(That break-away turned out to be the winning one. So if only I had managed to catch/stay with them… as if….)
For the next 5 laps I rather repeated my exploration of the peloton, falling to the back to get a view and a rest, then moving around to the right/left, edging to the front once more, testing how everyone reacts, and where any passes might work in future. I thought this seemed like a good learning experience, while others might have wondered why I was wandering around all over the place…
What was clear was that the final right hander at the end of Lavant, followed quickly by the chicane, would require some skill and big kahunas to navigate if one wanted to compete for a placing. I had the speed up Lavant if required, but was so far lacking the courage to make an impact.
I reminded myself of my goals, (& listened to my wife’s voice in my head), and recognised I could be happy with the realisation that I could stay with the group, and would see the end of the race on two wheels. This certainly felt like an achievement; I had seen some drop off behind me, and there were others who looked to be working at threshold to stay in, so others were certainly feeling the pain.
So as we ended the last lap I took the chicane in safety, and focused on my ‘sprint’ to make some final places before the line. My sprint is not a big tool in my toolbox, (tiny in fact), so I was pleasantly surprised to mop up some places before the line.
Perhaps others didn’t know they were still in a race, but in my head I was winning something epic at the throw. In reality I was taking 23rd place (of 32), but that is mere detail. I had done it - I had raced for the first time, and met my modest goals. And more importantly I was quickly thinking about what I might do differently next time round……
Race 7
‘Next time round’ was just a week away. I had booked a place while on the high of finishing my first race, and was now re-thinking what my goals could be. Could I get in the top half of the field? Is there any chance I could actually follow an attack if it happened in front of me, and make the top 10? I certainly wanted to be more involved.
30 degree temperatures put a certain spin on it, but I quite like the heat. I did drop the long-sleeve skin-suit for short-sleeved club kit, and vainly hoped that others would wilt under the sun. Disappointingly the field had inflated to 48 riders, while the average age seemed to have dropped to about 30.
I suddenly felt old. I seemed to be surrounded by youthful, v-shaped torsos adorned in Le Col kit, all looking very machismo. They looked fast, even while standing still. I suddenly had more nerves at the start than on the first race, literally doing a double-check with my neighbour that I was actually in the 4th Cat line-up, not the 3rds by mistake. No mistake.
Despite the heat beating down on the tarmac (was it melting?) the race took up a faster pace than the previous week, and regardless of my bolder intentions, I rather adopted the same plan of hiding behind the big guys at the back. The pace meant any break-away was going to have to work a lot harder, and the amount of jostling and hostility at the front was translating into an edgy peloton. I was safer where I was for the moment.
Eventually I did my ‘trademark’ slipping around the group with no real plan… as much as anything to observe the relative strength of the riders, and who seemed keener than others. The high-speed Lavant corner and chicane were again testing the skills and mettle of the group, and with a bigger, more ambitious group, it felt like the risks were going up, while my ambition was going down.
With a higher average pace and challenging surges, I was now working hard just to stay in, and was starting to think that finishing in the bunch would be a good result, never mind top half. So I plugged in to my TT mindset, got aero and worked to stay efficient in a safe, reasonable position in the group.
Come the last lap I thought I was going to pop going down the Lavant straight, such was the exertion, but the double-apex corner arrived just in time, followed by an edgy coast through the bottle-neck chicane. And then straight on the gas for a final ‘sprint’ which surprisingly saw me make places once again. At the time of writing my placing is TBC but I’m guessing around 30th (of 48).
So two races safely completed, and a healthy dose of adrenaline has been inhaled. I have definitely ‘ticked the box’, learned a great deal about racing, and definitely challenged myself. I can now look forward to new challenges on the bike, wherever that takes me.
As the days ticked down to my first race, the feelings turned from strong, nervous anxiety (with just a hint of excitement), to a feeling of accepting my fate, given it was one I had signed up for myself. Rather like a war-time spy going out to meet the firing squad, but confident that the cause had been just. So all very positive…...
But this did bring with it a sense of calmness and clarity, and as I lined up on the starting line for the first time, I was able to focus on my ‘plan’ without the distractions of the ‘what-ifs’ that had been plaguing my thoughts the preceding week.
My goal was to a) not have an accident (or create one), and b) not get dropped embarrassingly early. Hopefully a low-ish bar….. And so my plan was to hide at the back, or ‘stay out of the wind’ as Dom Maxwell had coined it, until such time as I knew what the heck was going on. In doing so I would save valuable watts, hopefully with the front of the pack still in view.
As we set off, (and I finally got clipped in…), the noise of the peloton was suddenly very real. Quite different from watching YouTube videos, or being on the Sunday club ride - the clacking of drive-trains and rush of wind now surrounding the pack was totally immersive. I was pulled in and along, until I was very quickly doing speeds I would not have thought possible.
And in fairness, this draft effect made staying with the group ‘relatively easy’. Yes, there were a few surges in response to minor attacks, but there was also some free-wheeling and moderate power output, allowing me to get used to the racing lines while sharing the apexes and chicane with others - quite different from my time trialing at Goodwood.
Nevertheless, by lap 4 (of 10) I was thinking I had to get involved, (rude not to), so a brief foray to the front would be in order, to see how much wind there actually was. So as we left Madgwick corner I slipped down the left flank, while everyone else seemed to be taking another breather.
As I rather quickly came to the front (to my own surprise and the surprise of others), there was a serious attack happening from someone on the right who looked like they actually knew what they were doing - yikes! I had to quickly decide whether to follow through on my momentum and chase him down, or sit up and stay with the main group.
[This is otherwise known as the “do I chase James Amy down Spithandle?’ dilemma]
Well in the end I did both - of course. Just like the Sunday ride, I couldn’t help myself and chased him. Two others were also chasing the break and were making ground on him. I was burning matches, candles and getting a lantern out, but it was rapidly becoming clear that I was not going to bridge to them, and so I sat up as nonchalantly as I could, and slid back to the group as if this were a normal day of attack-chase for me.
(That break-away turned out to be the winning one. So if only I had managed to catch/stay with them… as if….)
For the next 5 laps I rather repeated my exploration of the peloton, falling to the back to get a view and a rest, then moving around to the right/left, edging to the front once more, testing how everyone reacts, and where any passes might work in future. I thought this seemed like a good learning experience, while others might have wondered why I was wandering around all over the place…
What was clear was that the final right hander at the end of Lavant, followed quickly by the chicane, would require some skill and big kahunas to navigate if one wanted to compete for a placing. I had the speed up Lavant if required, but was so far lacking the courage to make an impact.
I reminded myself of my goals, (& listened to my wife’s voice in my head), and recognised I could be happy with the realisation that I could stay with the group, and would see the end of the race on two wheels. This certainly felt like an achievement; I had seen some drop off behind me, and there were others who looked to be working at threshold to stay in, so others were certainly feeling the pain.
So as we ended the last lap I took the chicane in safety, and focused on my ‘sprint’ to make some final places before the line. My sprint is not a big tool in my toolbox, (tiny in fact), so I was pleasantly surprised to mop up some places before the line.
Perhaps others didn’t know they were still in a race, but in my head I was winning something epic at the throw. In reality I was taking 23rd place (of 32), but that is mere detail. I had done it - I had raced for the first time, and met my modest goals. And more importantly I was quickly thinking about what I might do differently next time round……
Race 7
‘Next time round’ was just a week away. I had booked a place while on the high of finishing my first race, and was now re-thinking what my goals could be. Could I get in the top half of the field? Is there any chance I could actually follow an attack if it happened in front of me, and make the top 10? I certainly wanted to be more involved.
30 degree temperatures put a certain spin on it, but I quite like the heat. I did drop the long-sleeve skin-suit for short-sleeved club kit, and vainly hoped that others would wilt under the sun. Disappointingly the field had inflated to 48 riders, while the average age seemed to have dropped to about 30.
I suddenly felt old. I seemed to be surrounded by youthful, v-shaped torsos adorned in Le Col kit, all looking very machismo. They looked fast, even while standing still. I suddenly had more nerves at the start than on the first race, literally doing a double-check with my neighbour that I was actually in the 4th Cat line-up, not the 3rds by mistake. No mistake.
Despite the heat beating down on the tarmac (was it melting?) the race took up a faster pace than the previous week, and regardless of my bolder intentions, I rather adopted the same plan of hiding behind the big guys at the back. The pace meant any break-away was going to have to work a lot harder, and the amount of jostling and hostility at the front was translating into an edgy peloton. I was safer where I was for the moment.
Eventually I did my ‘trademark’ slipping around the group with no real plan… as much as anything to observe the relative strength of the riders, and who seemed keener than others. The high-speed Lavant corner and chicane were again testing the skills and mettle of the group, and with a bigger, more ambitious group, it felt like the risks were going up, while my ambition was going down.
With a higher average pace and challenging surges, I was now working hard just to stay in, and was starting to think that finishing in the bunch would be a good result, never mind top half. So I plugged in to my TT mindset, got aero and worked to stay efficient in a safe, reasonable position in the group.
Come the last lap I thought I was going to pop going down the Lavant straight, such was the exertion, but the double-apex corner arrived just in time, followed by an edgy coast through the bottle-neck chicane. And then straight on the gas for a final ‘sprint’ which surprisingly saw me make places once again. At the time of writing my placing is TBC but I’m guessing around 30th (of 48).
So two races safely completed, and a healthy dose of adrenaline has been inhaled. I have definitely ‘ticked the box’, learned a great deal about racing, and definitely challenged myself. I can now look forward to new challenges on the bike, wherever that takes me.
Final thoughts
- I loved the thrill of racing for the first time. I was not racing to win, just ‘racing’… like a kid. I recommend it!
- Racing at Goodwood gave me the opportunity to race safely in a way I was comfortable with.
- I am chuffed to have done it - I really needed to scratch that itch and it feels special to do something new and challenging in your older years. Old dogs can do new tricks, sort of…
- I will continue competing. I enjoy Time Trialing, gravel sportives and will now most likely look for some Masters road racing (age category racing), to compete with others of a similar age and attitude
- It would be good to race again at Goodwood but with team mates, to add a different dimension and motivation to the experience, so I’ll be lobbying WECC members to get involved…
Dartmoor Classic - 20 June 2025
Carlos, Mark and Dom took on the hilly Dartmoor Classic. Write up from Carlos below:
"The weather forecast predicted a sunny day in Devon but we were met with a lot of rain and wind. But that didn't watered down our resolve to what was going to become an epic adventure. Me, Mark and Dom met for breakfast and before we knew it we were at the starting line. The first wave left at the predicted time and after 2 other waves we were of.. just to stop again after 10 seconds for a nature call. Oh man, we have to love the British humor. We heard some of the best 1 liners ever as the other 100 cyclists passed by. After the first 2.2 neutralized miles the game was on!
Devon hills are hard, plenty and a lot longer than the ones on our local rides but fortunately so were the descents and with speeds up to 81km/h or 50miles/h there was never a shortage of adrenaline. When it comes to the organization everything was top notch. On most junctions you would find a very helpful Marshall to inform if the road was clear or when to slow down. The feed stations were enough and well stocked even if we only used them to refill our water bottles and the pace was kept high as per plan.
The goal was clear, to do the best time possible. And that's what we did, 06:11:10.
Dom secured an impressive 1st place in his category and I'm very pleased with my 8th position. Overall we came in 37th and 38th out of 1,500 respectively. Mark had other plans for this event as he was preparing his legs for an upcoming big adventure but still managed an impressive 06:48:42.
It was a long day on the bike with a lot of type 2 fun. Between us we had leg cramps, back pain and a bonk with 10 miles to finish but I couldn't have asked for better company. We kept pushing each other taking turns at the front and with Dom taming my enthusiasm on the climbs and expertly leading on the descents meant we kept a good pace and achieved our goals. It was a great day on the bike, and it finished as it should, with a cold pint of lager.
Cheers to more adventures to come!"
"The weather forecast predicted a sunny day in Devon but we were met with a lot of rain and wind. But that didn't watered down our resolve to what was going to become an epic adventure. Me, Mark and Dom met for breakfast and before we knew it we were at the starting line. The first wave left at the predicted time and after 2 other waves we were of.. just to stop again after 10 seconds for a nature call. Oh man, we have to love the British humor. We heard some of the best 1 liners ever as the other 100 cyclists passed by. After the first 2.2 neutralized miles the game was on!
Devon hills are hard, plenty and a lot longer than the ones on our local rides but fortunately so were the descents and with speeds up to 81km/h or 50miles/h there was never a shortage of adrenaline. When it comes to the organization everything was top notch. On most junctions you would find a very helpful Marshall to inform if the road was clear or when to slow down. The feed stations were enough and well stocked even if we only used them to refill our water bottles and the pace was kept high as per plan.
The goal was clear, to do the best time possible. And that's what we did, 06:11:10.
Dom secured an impressive 1st place in his category and I'm very pleased with my 8th position. Overall we came in 37th and 38th out of 1,500 respectively. Mark had other plans for this event as he was preparing his legs for an upcoming big adventure but still managed an impressive 06:48:42.
It was a long day on the bike with a lot of type 2 fun. Between us we had leg cramps, back pain and a bonk with 10 miles to finish but I couldn't have asked for better company. We kept pushing each other taking turns at the front and with Dom taming my enthusiasm on the climbs and expertly leading on the descents meant we kept a good pace and achieved our goals. It was a great day on the bike, and it finished as it should, with a cold pint of lager.
Cheers to more adventures to come!"
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Goodwood TTT - 10 June 2025
Tuesday 10th June saw a healthy gathering of Worthing Excelsior members gather at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit for a 4Up Team Time Trial event (run by RCR FatCreations and supported by Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys), involving 10 laps of the circuit, approx. 23.5 miles.
The original goal of finding four hardy individuals to test their mettle and represent the club was far exceeded by having 4 teams of four filling the sign-on office, together with another half-dozen members who had admirably come to support the club, some having ridden over in their WECC kit. This was quite a club turn-out!
With a number of elite sponsored teams competing, the WECC goal was not to flood the podium, but rather to encourage members to participate in a team event, to try a new sporting discipline, and to learn some new skills on the way. And to have a good crack!
The original goal of finding four hardy individuals to test their mettle and represent the club was far exceeded by having 4 teams of four filling the sign-on office, together with another half-dozen members who had admirably come to support the club, some having ridden over in their WECC kit. This was quite a club turn-out!
With a number of elite sponsored teams competing, the WECC goal was not to flood the podium, but rather to encourage members to participate in a team event, to try a new sporting discipline, and to learn some new skills on the way. And to have a good crack!
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So all teams were formed with a mix of experience, age and power, to comprise two Mixed teams and two Open teams, each focusing on delivering their own best performance (and maybe just a little competition between WECC teams):
Open Teams: Team Bonkers: Ben Toovey, Simon Jezard, Adam Inch, Emilio Polaco Team Last-Draft: James Amy, Mark Sole, Matt Nixon, Shaun Pimley Mixed Teams: Team Di4: Dominic Maxwell, Carlos Castro, Mark Newnham, Verity Lacey Team Drag-Stars: Steve Summers, Mat Chapman, Noah Stepney, Liz Billett |
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Prior to the event, a number of training sessions had taken place to practice the techniques required to ride at the optimum speed in a team of four. It’s harder than you think! The sessions quickly proved to be a good source of humour, and an outlet for the nerves that were starting to build.
The inevitable WhatsApp group was on fire, with a mix of subjects from leg-shaving to theoretical power required to stay in the wheel of Dom - all good stuff to entertain your partners with over dinner.
The first major hurdle was achieved by all teams being present and correct on the night (no mean feat….) Other clubs might have wondered if they were at the right event, given the sea of blue that was waiting for them as they arrived in the car park.
Pumps were in use, kit was being loaned out, race numbers were pinned onto backsides, and much discussion was taking place on where you put your timing chip. Lord Amy looked imperiously over the car park, calming the troops with his very presence.
The inevitable WhatsApp group was on fire, with a mix of subjects from leg-shaving to theoretical power required to stay in the wheel of Dom - all good stuff to entertain your partners with over dinner.
The first major hurdle was achieved by all teams being present and correct on the night (no mean feat….) Other clubs might have wondered if they were at the right event, given the sea of blue that was waiting for them as they arrived in the car park.
Pumps were in use, kit was being loaned out, race numbers were pinned onto backsides, and much discussion was taking place on where you put your timing chip. Lord Amy looked imperiously over the car park, calming the troops with his very presence.
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Eventually it was time for teams to head out on track. Each team with a separate starting time, and with 45 teams registered, it was going to be a busy night on track. And it was.
Most teams passed each other at one point, and it was great to experience the camaraderie of the teams urging each other on, boosted by the cheers from WECC members in the pit-lane grandstand.
Needless to say, all teams performed fabulously, all coming home around the hour mark. Team Di4 was the first team home, (time 57:24) hauled along by Dom’s ambition (but slowed by the amount of facial hair in the team). Drag-stars were next over the line (time 1:00:35) closely followed by the Last-Draft and Bonkers.
This meant our two Mixed teams came in before the two Open teams - demonstrating the power and guile of the women in our WECC squad! Well done Verity and Liz - top effort.
Most teams passed each other at one point, and it was great to experience the camaraderie of the teams urging each other on, boosted by the cheers from WECC members in the pit-lane grandstand.
Needless to say, all teams performed fabulously, all coming home around the hour mark. Team Di4 was the first team home, (time 57:24) hauled along by Dom’s ambition (but slowed by the amount of facial hair in the team). Drag-stars were next over the line (time 1:00:35) closely followed by the Last-Draft and Bonkers.
This meant our two Mixed teams came in before the two Open teams - demonstrating the power and guile of the women in our WECC squad! Well done Verity and Liz - top effort.
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It’s fair to say there was quite a buzz at the end. Some members had just worn a number on their back for the first time. Most of the squad had never done a team time trial before, and it was a long time since we had so many club members out competing in an event together. Whatever the experience levels, everyone had learned something for sure.
The fact that it was a team event made it all the more special. New skills and new experiences shared through new friendships. We look forward to the next time.
Thanks to Seb and the RCR team for making the event possible. And a huge thanks to Darren for capturing the action for us!
The fact that it was a team event made it all the more special. New skills and new experiences shared through new friendships. We look forward to the next time.
Thanks to Seb and the RCR team for making the event possible. And a huge thanks to Darren for capturing the action for us!
European Duathlon Championships - 26 April 2025
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One of our junior members, Noah, took to the start line to represent Great Britain at the European Duathlon Championships held in Poland.
Here's what he had to say about the event: The whole event was well organised as you'd expect it to be for such a large race but it was a good 25 minute walk from the team hotel to the start and main race HQ. It was very busy at the start line but I managed to get a good spot on the right hand side. The first 5km run began at a 3m 10s km pace which is too fast - as the group spread out a bit I dropped it down to something more comfortable and finished with an 18m 35s 5km. First transition was smooth if a little slippery running with cleats on pavement, should have left cleats on the pedals and run in socks but it wasn't carpeted to the dismount line so I felt cleats were the better option. The 20km bike was fast but very windy as the course was flat and open. Managed to jump on to a group and ride with them for around 10km but then found myself at the back before a switchback so as the front accelerated off the corner I was spat out the back and couldn't make the junction due to the headwind. Did another couple of km's on my own then picked up another group where I learned my lesson from the last corner and stayed with them until transition completing the bike course in 33m 10s. Unfortunately I cramped as I was putting on my running shoes in that transition which cost me around a minute but I managed to run through it completing the final 2.5km run in 9m 28s and finishing with a time of 1.03.58s and 7th place. |
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The Gralloch - 17 May 2025
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A very busy weekend for 8 of our first and second claim members who headed up to Scotland for The Gralloch - one of the biggest races on the UCI Gravel World Series calendar.
The race was 110km long with over 1,750m of climbing and was a chance to qualify for the Gravel World Championships being held in Limburg later this year. The top 25% of finishers in each age group would qualify.
Quote of the day - "All you roadies out there, get gravelling!" 
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