This past weekend was the last race of my XCO season at the Gauteng provincial/ regional series final at Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.
With me missing the whole GP season this year, I was not sure what to expect as the course was changed, but it was still a similar terrain in the dry and dusty Gauteng winter- rough, but perfect for my Giant Anthem X.
As the venue is close to where I stay, I decided to ride the 10km as a warm up to the race. Quick change, quick registration and I was on the starting line already fired up. After the whistle, I struggled to get my cleat in (amateur mistake 101!) and it cost me a few positions- I was last into the first single track.
On the 2nd lap – my fastest lap – I was already up to 2nd. Maybe I pushed a bit harder than I should have so early on, but it was all cards on the table. By the 3rd lap Arno du Toit disappeared, I think he was already celebrating his win around the corner as Frans Nel and I were fighting for 2nd and 3rd place.
Man, I thought I had this, until my legs said it’s enough for now. I forced them for a bit, but this time they had more of a say than I did. I guess it’s not always mind over matter. In short, I finished 3rd.
Training is going very well, even though results don’t always reflect this yet. I trust in the plan that my coach, Devlin Eyden, and I sat and worked out. So next year hopefully it’s going to be a great year!
Thanks for all the continued support.
#SkinnyHulk
With me missing the whole GP season this year, I was not sure what to expect as the course was changed, but it was still a similar terrain in the dry and dusty Gauteng winter- rough, but perfect for my Giant Anthem X.
As the venue is close to where I stay, I decided to ride the 10km as a warm up to the race. Quick change, quick registration and I was on the starting line already fired up. After the whistle, I struggled to get my cleat in (amateur mistake 101!) and it cost me a few positions- I was last into the first single track.
On the 2nd lap – my fastest lap – I was already up to 2nd. Maybe I pushed a bit harder than I should have so early on, but it was all cards on the table. By the 3rd lap Arno du Toit disappeared, I think he was already celebrating his win around the corner as Frans Nel and I were fighting for 2nd and 3rd place.
Man, I thought I had this, until my legs said it’s enough for now. I forced them for a bit, but this time they had more of a say than I did. I guess it’s not always mind over matter. In short, I finished 3rd.
Training is going very well, even though results don’t always reflect this yet. I trust in the plan that my coach, Devlin Eyden, and I sat and worked out. So next year hopefully it’s going to be a great year!
Thanks for all the continued support.
#SkinnyHulk