Adrian's Middle Race

Tuesday, 11 July 2006

Overall I have to be happy with the race yesterday, but you can always say only if ...

 Picking up the map at the start was rather daunting, and it was only after leaving the start triangle that I had a plan for the 1st leg.  I started well, posting the 3rd fastest time for the 1st control, and keeping it together for the first third of the course.

The men's course had a control which everyone went to 3 times, with 2 short loops pivoting around that control.  It was in these little loops where I lost 40 sec each on two controls, each time by missing a track on the ground and having to ride further round than I had planned.

It was then onto the spectator control and the tough marked route through a chopped up motorcross track. I was again riding well up to about four controls to go when I overshot a control in a very complex area, again losing about 40sec. The next leg I also lost about 30sec.  From then on it was flat out to the finish.

I feel I could have at least got a medal without my few mistakes, but that would have been a very good ride. Hopefully the Long distance will have a slightly less intense track network, and I will be able to hit full speed for longer, which is how I do best in races.