http://www.cycleepic.com
One of the first ever Mountain Bike races I ever did, years of cramping and blowing up as a kid. Finally I can say that I won the half epic overall.
It has been a long time between drinks one would say. My last Epic was 2010 when I won the u19 category beating Ben Forbes, who has turned out to be a not so bad bike rider. My first in 2007 when I stayed with my Mum and took 5hrs 40min. It has taken almost 10years to win.
The trails at hidden vale are some of the best in the country and I highly recommended they are worth the travel time if you are up here in QLD.
The race was delayed a couple of hrs start time due to the heavy rain the night before, also meaning that there would be a mass start as well so that the finishing times did not get delayed.
The gun went off and it was a race into the first single track, which was about 2km up the road. I tried to stay calm and relaxed and watch those around me burn their matches. I have learnt in this race that the last 5km can be your undoing and it is better to stay calm and relaxed at the start and to build into the race.
Fortunately enough I didn't find the pace being set by the early leaders to be very quick and I was able to sit comfortably in the front group for the first 10km. With the front group of guys being split between half and full marathon riders. You needed to concentrate on who had interest in what the others were doing so that you did not let people slip away.
Simon who was 2nd in the finish. Put the foot down on a technical up-hill section and put in a good size gap between the rest of us around 15km into the race. After cresting the first major uphill and downhill sections, the selection in the group had been made. Only my self in the half epic distance was left after loosing Robbie McEwen on the decent. I had to make the decision with 20km to go that I needed to go about chasing Simon down.
Through the grass paddocks of Hidden Vale I could see him in the distance and the gap coming back, cresting the major grass climb he was only 90sec in front of me, but Simon being so technically strong it was going to be hard to bring him back on the single track at the end. I pushed really hard over the undulating sections of fire road and open single track and was picking up the back of elite field in the full epic. This gave me confidence that I was moving forward in the right way, as I crested the second last single track section Simon had to stop with cramps making the pass coming on to a long DH fire road section.
Thanks James
All I had to do was to push on through the final climb and I was home. My first Win and probably the smartest race I have done. I want to thank James Downing for staying with me the last few KM's before he had to do a second lap.
Alot of people to thank for the win. My parents and grandparents for getting me into mountain bike riding, my Mum for taking to my first Epic all those years ago.
Maggie for coming out and supporting me for not only the day but everyday.
Giant Brisbane for decking me out with my new bike,
Gu Energy keeping me fuelled and hydrated.
Boss Money for the motivation the financial support.
Thanks to Hayden Brooks and the Flight Centre Event team for a great event, Full Epic next year.
