diminishing as the week progresses. Even Rabobank hadn't set up their
usually vast area when we rolled in. With heavy rain overnight, and
some glances at riders who had gone on a practice lap, it was clear
this was going to be a muddy race - real Mayhem style mud. Being
uncertain of the conditions, I grabbed the spare Marin Rock Springs
out of the van and went for a quick reccie in my trainers. The first
half of the course went through the town, then along a grassy path
before heading into some woods. Those of you who have ridden Mayhem
and SITS a few times would have been very familiar with these woods
and their zig-zag-zig-zag trails. You had to run (struggle and slide)
to the top of the woods before traversing the off camber hillslope 3
or 4 times on your way down. It was claggy, slippery and also had
some flints thrown in for no good reason. Needless to say, I hated
it. The second half of the course was... er.... rubbish. It went
round a really, really wet and boggy field before going around a
football pitch, up a couple of grassy banks, through a sand pit and
then back to the start. I got back to the van, fitted the Mud Sharks
and warned the others.
Those of you that have read all of these reports are probably noticing
now that this course description is a little brief - the lap was only
4km. The number of laps was originally set at 8, but on the start
line they announced that the number of laps would be set based on the
leader's first lap time. After lap 1, the lap board said 9. 10 laps!
Of this course! My head really wasn't in it from the start, plus my
cold was really bad today. I managed to stay with Luke and 3 Santos
riders for the first 3 laps, but then lost them in the slippery woods.
I pretty much resigned myself to a poor result. I endured 9 laps,
thankfully I was lapped so I didn't have to do all 10. Luke ended up
8 minutes ahead of me in 35th - his best result so far (I think). Lee
and Billy were having an awesome race and were riding in a group
covering the early 20s positions. They managed to ride all 10 laps
and ended up 23rd and 25th on the day, only 10mins behind the winner.
They had a great day. Lee is now 26th overall, with 3 other positions
only 6 mins up on him. Billy is in 33rd, with one possible place to
make up, I'm in 37th with a couple of places looking likely and Luke
is in 40th, not far at all behind me.
The race was dominated today by the 4 Rabobank team riders, all of
whom we later learned are pro cyclocross riders. That explains a few
things then! Watching those guys ride the slippery trails was really
impressive - they have a lot of skill as well as a lot of fitness.
The yellow jersey rider, Sergio Mantecon of Trek Lorca, finished in
8th today. His lead over the second place Rabobank rider cut to 1min.
I'd love to see him win the event - not only because he has led since
stage 2, but more because of the attitude of the Trek Lorca team.
They just seem so chilled out, happy and normal, living out of a hire
car and a van like us. Nice guys that deserve a win. You'd think
that after 10 years running this race, they would be able to find 7
good MTB courses in the whole of France! Today was quite easily the
worst MTB course I have ever ridden. Hopefully tomorrow's stage, the
last XC race before the TT in Montmartre, will have more fun in store.
GB
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