Blogs
Fri, 5 Nov 2010
Rain, wind and cyclo-cross
By Ella Sadler-Andrews - Horizon Fitness Racing Team
Well winter is offically here. Rain, wind, but also cyclo-cross! Yay! My first one was at Otterspool Park last Saturday. I had the pleasure of taking a fellow Lune-ite, Nicolas Bertrand, and the not so pleasure of taking local Herbalife rider Jack Pullar with me (only kidding, Jack kept us entertained for the entirety of the journey). It was a really nice day, slightly windy, but the course was pretty sheltered.
Course looked so fun when practicing, including a cobbled climb, some very steep ascents and descents, and some pretty technical single track. Despite the technicality, it was a fast course and not too long to get bored.
Last year's X season for me was somewhat a fail. I just completely sucked! Slow on technical bits and slow off the start. In fact, the only bits I was relatively fast on were the flat, concrete sections. Once a roadie, always a roadie… So this year I am determined to do better. Doing the 3 Peaks has given me much more confidence.
I knew that if I got a strong start, I could hold my position. It was all a bit of a bun fight to start with, but I got an ok position. Not brilliant, but so much better than last year. From then on I focused on keeping a good rhythm. There were two sections where you had to get off and run, but apart from that it was a smooth course. Warming up, my knee had been giving me a bit of grief, but as soon as I started racing, it (fortunately) calmed down.
Soon enough the winners started to come and overlap me. I, however, started to overtake people; people that were beating me last year! Knowing that I was doing better than last year, despite having near enough a whole season out, gave me such confidence.
I was now ready to try and catch the only female ahead of me, Melissa Bury. There were three other women behind me who I were not gonna let beat me. However, before I knew it was bell lap. And then it was the end… I finished two places behind Melissa. (She had an awesome race, especially for someone so young!) But I am determined to do better next time.
For my first X race this year (3 Peaks doesn’t count) I was extremely happy with myself and am sooo excited for this Saturday at Sutton Manor. I just hope that the sun decides to come out.
Apart from counting down the days until my next cross race, things have been pretty steady here in Lancaster. I am currently working at a cake shop (and now weigh 21 stone…) and doing some private work for a disabled man and his lovely dog. Australia is happening, I just need to start making contacts over there or I will get very, very lonely. Not only do I have Australia to look forward to, as soon as I get back it’s off to Italy with the team for a training camp. Despite having some Italian blood (and apparently related to Frank Sinatra) I have never been to the wonderful country with wonderfully beautiful people… Maybe I’ll find me an Andy Schleck. Or just Andy Schleck. Maybe we should offer the training camp to the new Lux team. Stef, get on it!
Also, it’s my birthday on the 11th, so Twitter or Facebook me for my address to send presents.
Now I am off to meet Sticky for a lovely wet, windy ride. It’s dark and it’s only 2.15pm… Noooo!
Byebye!
For more information about the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.onthedrops.com.