How will my first race of 2015 be?
Well these questions were answered last weekend at the VW Herald Cycle Tour MTB race down in Port Elizabeth. The excitement of my first race was finally here, but I was more excited about my new race animal, the Momsen VIPA, "a snake for racing snakes" - too cheesy haha?
On Friday I met with the team and went to NikeVision for some new cool eye wear, then straight to Two Wheels Trading to collect my new bike, and a few more Lezyne goodies. Then the real fun started when we went to check out the XCO National #1 course: WORLD CLASS, an awesome job by Charles and everyone involved with eastcapeMTB.
Now the Race. The race was 80km on a very demanding course, with about 20km of Cross Country trails at Addo. First time I've ever started a race at 6am, meaning we had to wake up at 3:30am! Anyway the race started I felt good, it was a slow start for the first 10km and then the attack was launched by Gert Heyns, a chasing group of 4 was formed- my team mates Brandon & Alan, Matthys Beukes and I. One attack after the other, it felt like VO2 training, my skinny legs could only take so much beating. After about 40km I was the first to drop, to try maintain my own pace and try finish smart, then later on I was joined by three other "racing snakes" for a while.
I finished in 8th place, wish it could have been better, but was happy with my first race of 2015. I loved the Momsen VIPA it made a huge difference. It was a well organised race, I wouldn’t mind doing it again next year and maybe this time around I’ll be at the prize giving to take that VW POLO home #StillBleak.
Thanks to all the sponsors that make all this possible for me and the team, appreciated, and to the man who keeps the team going, Shaun Peschl. Looking forward to the rest of the season. DO YOUR BEST, BE YOUR BEST, TO BE THE BEST!
Well these questions were answered last weekend at the VW Herald Cycle Tour MTB race down in Port Elizabeth. The excitement of my first race was finally here, but I was more excited about my new race animal, the Momsen VIPA, "a snake for racing snakes" - too cheesy haha?
On Friday I met with the team and went to NikeVision for some new cool eye wear, then straight to Two Wheels Trading to collect my new bike, and a few more Lezyne goodies. Then the real fun started when we went to check out the XCO National #1 course: WORLD CLASS, an awesome job by Charles and everyone involved with eastcapeMTB.
Now the Race. The race was 80km on a very demanding course, with about 20km of Cross Country trails at Addo. First time I've ever started a race at 6am, meaning we had to wake up at 3:30am! Anyway the race started I felt good, it was a slow start for the first 10km and then the attack was launched by Gert Heyns, a chasing group of 4 was formed- my team mates Brandon & Alan, Matthys Beukes and I. One attack after the other, it felt like VO2 training, my skinny legs could only take so much beating. After about 40km I was the first to drop, to try maintain my own pace and try finish smart, then later on I was joined by three other "racing snakes" for a while.
I finished in 8th place, wish it could have been better, but was happy with my first race of 2015. I loved the Momsen VIPA it made a huge difference. It was a well organised race, I wouldn’t mind doing it again next year and maybe this time around I’ll be at the prize giving to take that VW POLO home #StillBleak.
Thanks to all the sponsors that make all this possible for me and the team, appreciated, and to the man who keeps the team going, Shaun Peschl. Looking forward to the rest of the season. DO YOUR BEST, BE YOUR BEST, TO BE THE BEST!