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The final round of the British National Points Series was here! The end of the season had arrived and mostly everyone was ready for it - the final race and the end of the season – including me. The race was tinged with sadness as it was to be the last NPS organised by Inevent and also the last sponsored by Trek – the end of another chapter in National Mountain Bike racing!
I had remained focused all year, however the last five weeks had been a real challenge. My husband came off his bike in a road race in the sprint for the finish breaking his hip and wrist; I’d had two very busy trade shows with work and also started a new job. The time had come to find out if all had taken its toll. I had to finish the race in a better position than 7th to win the series. The pressure was on.
The weather forecast for race day was good. But, in true Welsh weather tradition the forecast meant nothing and the rain continued for most of the day. The course was the most enjoyable of the season; rocky and technical with some good climbs. The practice lap on Friday was wet, very wet - a canoe would have been useful. Nonetheless, the course was holding up well and there remained much grip on the wet rock. However, one problem was starting to emerge: keeping air in the tyres, as the rocks were quite literally tearing through them.
Failing to prepare was preparing to fail, so I lined up on the start line with tubeless tyres, a spare inner tube, a CO2 one shot pump and a can of tyre weld. I was intending to finish this race come hell or high water - the high water was on its way and I was just waiting for hell to open up!
The gun went! After the first and main climb, we left the road and started up the short technical loose section. Five of us had already formed a breakaway. Then, onto the fire road and through the feed zone, Caroline Goward and Katie Thilthorpe had pulled away slightly and the chase was on. As the climb turned and headed up another loose section, I caught and passed Caroline, leaving only Katie and myself. Throughout that first lap I would catch Katie on the descents, only to lose her again on the climbs. It was on the climb at the start of the second and final lap that the rope finally snapped! A couple of times, as I glimpsed over my shoulder I caught sight of Ruth Mordaunt so I had to keep pushing hard to defend second place. As I descended through the final stages of the course, a grin appeared on my face with the realisation that I had won the series!
I crossed the line and despite the weather I was elated! It wasn’t just a series win for me but for Mike (husband), Jenny (coach), Trek (sponsors) and of course my parents.
Job done and now a few weeks of rest and normal life. I have no problem letting my fitness dwindle - my body and mind needing to recover from an intense but rewarding season. Who knows what next years new chapter will bring!?
