CycloCross National Champs 2013

12/8/13

It was great to take part in the first ever CycloCross National Champs on Saturday!  This sport has taken off in Melbourne and across the country and I was super-keen to get in on the action. So, despite my still-healing rib, I decided to place my entry and see what all the fuss was about.

To be honest, my entry into the weekend’s Champs was as much about being a coach as it was being an athlete.  In the last 6 months, many of those I coach have purchased CX bikes and now train specifically for this discipline.  I have therefore taken the time to put in some research into the sport of cyclocross and how to train most effectively. I certainly want to make sure that I am scheduling the most specific training required to meet the physiological requirements of the sport and therefore have been talking to those in the know as well as reading and researching online. However, I still feel that there is no better method of research than simply taking part yourself and getting a feel for the sport first hand!

The Championship Course was set-up in CranwellPark on the banks of the MaribyrnongRiver. It was an ideal location for spectators as they were able to view almost the entire course down the steep slope of the grassy hill.  The steepness of this slope did however make for a taxing day for those racing!

It was quite nice for me to be able to start at the back of the pack with no expectations.  This was to be my first ever CX race and only my 3^rd ride on the CX bike, so I knew I was more than likely to get taught a lesson or 2 by those more experienced riders out there.  Of course, I was still aiming to go out and give it my absolute best shot. Those in the racing world know only too well, once a race-number is pinned on it is game on!

The Masters categories were run first.  Pedallab riders Brett Kellett and Steve Munyard featured prominently in the 40-50years category.  Brett thrives on racing hard and started fast. He held on surprisingly well though and pushed through the pain barrier to finish in 5^th place, within 30sec of reaching the podium.  Steve only missed out on the older age category by several months and therefore had to contend with guys up to 10 years his junior.  Despite this age difference, he put in a great ride and made his way through the field to claim 11^th spot.

Following the masters it was time for our race; the elite women.  Mel Anset (AKA the smiling assassin), whom I have been coaching for this last year, has been featuring prominently in the national Cross Series. I was quite nervous when she was called up to the front of the grid alongside several of the other pre-race favourites.   Another, whom I’ve just started to work with, Karen Hill, was also racing.  She started alongside me on the 3^rd row back.

Well, let’s just say, the intensity was quite a shock to the system!  The high heart rates, difficulty breathing and forced dismounts to clear barriers, were certainly not the ideal combo for a healing rib.  To be honest though, I didn’t really notice the pain coming from the chest, so much as that lactating burning feeling in the legs! After lap 2 I was seriously wondering if I could make it to the finish line!

After the shock of the first couple laps I settled into what I felt was more a sustainable pace.  I could hear over the loud speaker what was happening out front with National Series leader Rowena Fry out in the lead followed closely by the chase pack.  As the laps ticked by I heard the race commentator mention Mel’s name a few times and I knew then that she must have made her way through the field, as she does so well, and was up there in contention.

Mel Anset rode impressively to finish in 3rd; me trying to avoid the deeper sections!

I just about collapsed over the finish line, and was quite happy to learn that I had earned a top 10 position, coming in 8^th.  However what was more exciting to me was to hear that Mel had raced her way into bronze medal position. I couldn’t have been more proud of her!   Karen did very well to finish on the same lap as the winners in 13^th position overall. Lisa Jacobs took out the women’s elite race. She used put her hill climber’s legs to good use and dominated up the steeper gradients!

Lisa Jacobs with her new National Champs jersey; despite the pain I was able to maintain a smile throughout:-)

t was then time to heckle from the side-lines and watch the elite men in action.  Nick Morgan was the only pedallab rider to take part in this one. Like me he was very much a newbie to the discipline and was mainly using it as a hard training day.  I think he well and truly got that ‘hard training day!’  It was an exciting race out front with the lead swapping throughout.  Adrian Jackson rode to the lead half way through and looked to have taken it out; until an unlucky puncture in the last lap caused him to ride a flattening tyre and little known roady Alan Iacuone, overtook him for the win.  Nick put in a gutsy effort to finish off the race in 19^th. It was also great to witness fellow Torq rider Nick Both take out 3^rd position on the podium.  Nick rode a smart, well-paced race and snuck past a few tiring riders in the last few laps.

Nick Morgan taking the best line…straight through the middle

The junior men raced at the same time as the elite men; however just for 45min rather than the full 60min.  Another fellow team Torq Rider, Liam Jeffries rode this category. His name will no doubt feature prominently in years to come. At just 15 years, he was forced to race against juniors 3 years his senior, but still managed a gutsy 3^rd place and bronze medal to add to his ever-expanding collection!

Liam Jeffries took home a bronze medal in the Jnr Male category

So all in all it was a successful day out in terms of some solid results amongst the Pedallab and Team Torq crew as well as gaining some greater knowledge on the crazy sport of CycloCross!