Luke Gray(Trek cross collective) rides & writes……Abergavenny Leisure Centre in Wales was the venue for the first round of Cyclo-Cross National Trophy Series. The day before the event the rain had given the course a good soaking so the first few races of the day had quite a muddy course to ride. But by the start of the Senior race the course had dry quite a bit but was still very slippery and there was one really muddy section which was removed when it got to our race.
I was ranked 5th so I had a front row griding which always helps. The raced started on the public highway then lead onto a long section of tarmac that went into a series of tight bends and an off cambered slippery hill. More than half the riders trying to ride this in practice slipped off left right and centre. I was about 5 and didn't get caught behind and idiots, however there was one that passed me on the tarmac but I passed him before the corner.
I stayed with the lead group of 5 or 6 for the first 3 plus laps then Ian Field put the boot in and I started to struggle and dropped back a bit. At that time I was in 4th place, then Olie Beckingsale (Endura MTB) Racing) came passed and I hooked up on his wheel, and we dropped the other two I was with. I rode for nearly 3 laps with Oli Beckingsale but I was tearing my legs off just to stay on his wheel, I shouldn't have been trying that hard to stay there, he was riding like he was still on his mountain bike, but was quite slow round the corners and over the planks.
With 20 minutes to go I was suffering for my efforts with Oli and was dropped. Then I was caught and passed by 3 under 23 riders (I was riding in the under 23's leaders green jersey position till that point). I carried on and tried to lose as little time as possible.
At two laps to go I was still having trouble up the steep banks trying to limit my losses. Then on the last lap I was passed yet again before the finish straight where the guy had about 4 seconds lead over me but I nearly caught him as I sprinted to finish 10th overall and 5th u23. I paid for my efforts with Oil but hopefully it will pay dividends late. Stu Bowers rode also rode also Mike Cotty
This week I have been given selection to ride for Team GB at the first round of the Cyclocross World Cup at Tabor in the Czech Republic. I last rode there at the World Cyclocross Champs more than a couple of years ago in the snow. Then the following week I stay in Czech for the second round of the World Series at Pilsen.
1 Ian Field Hargroves Cycles/Specialized/Trant Elite 0 57 39 0 0
2 Paul Oldham Team Hope Factory Racing Elite 0 58 6 0 27
3 Jody Crawforth Hargroves Cycles/Specialized/Trant Elite 0 58 34 0 55
4 Oli Beckingsale Endura MTB Racing Elite 0 58 51 1 12
5 Hugo Robinson X RT/Elmy Cycles Under 23 0 59 2 1 23
6 Steven James Hargroves Cycles/Specialized/Trant Under 23 0 59 7 1 28
7 Adam Martin Cestria Cycles RT Under 23 0 59 20 1 41
8 Lewis Craven Wheelbase.co.uk/MGD Elite 0 59 40 2 1
9 Ben Sumner Beeline Bicycles RT Under 23 0 59 44 2 5
10 Luke Gray Trek Cross Collective Under 23 0 59 47 2 8
11 Tony Fawcett Team Scott UK Elite 1 0 0 2 21
12 Robert Jebb Team Hope Factory Racing Elite 1 0 22 2 43
13 Dave Collins Team Hope Factory Racing Elite 1 0 40 3 1
14 Andrew Hargroves Hargroves Cycles/Specialized/Trant Under 23 1 0 50 3 11
15 Joe Fox Rapha Condor CC Under 23 1 1 13 3 34
16 Stuart Bowers Hargroves Cycles/Specialized/Trant Elite 1 1 15 3 36
17 Nicholas Barnes www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG Under 23 1 1 25 3 46
18 William Bjergfelt Cycle Premier - Kovert Elite 1 1 25 3 46
19 Robert Watson Ditrwheels Cycles Under 23 1 1 50 4 11
20 Daniel Booth Team Hope Factory Racing Elite 1 2 2 4 23
21 Michael Cotty Cannondale Racing Elite 1 2 4 4 25
(Thanks to Rob Gray for pictures)
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