BikeNZ National Cup Round 1 – Bluff

Last weekend was the beginning of the 2013 Race season and it all happened in bluff, the southernmost town in New Zealand. I was able to get down quite early before the race start, so got in some quality days on the track, getting to know all the right lines through the rock filled track. The days leading up to the race we had some poor weather, but thanks to some quality Endura clothing I was unaffected.

Come race day I was confident in my abilty to ride the track fast technically, but with it being the first race of the season my nerves were quite tense, not knowing how my shape was compared to the other boys.

The race started typically fast, with everyone sorting their positions out. I felt quite comfortable sitting in a small group of 4 just behind the 3 leaders. The laps went by and slowly the group of 4 I was in had been whitled down to just me and Logan Horn and we had passed Brad so I was sitting in 3^rd or 4^th, this was on the 4^th lap of 5, that’s when I realised that Logan had entered the race in u23. So with me racing as an Elite, we were not competing against each other for the podium. Just as I realised this, Logan passed me. I thought about going with him, but decided to stick to my rhythm and consolidate my 3^rd position.

Coming down the decent for the last time was such a great feeling. After all the bad races with leg problems and injury over the last few years, I’m back.

Looking forward to the next ‘Cup race in 1 months’ time in Wellington.