National Cyclo-cross Championships 2009
Peel Park, Bradford Jan 10th & 11th
Some personal comments on this yearís race.
It was cold! But never mind, this made it fast as well and, given the choice between frosty hard surfaces or deep mud, Iím sure 99% would go for the hard.
(General view during the first lap showing the planks and the start of the climb)
The start/finish straight was a wide flat tarmac road that formed a spine down the middle of the course.
(Dave Smith following the eventual silver medallist Andy Roberts at the start)
On one side it was approached up a flight of steps preceded by a steep climb.
(Dave Smith pictured in centre chasing Graham Edwards and followed by Bob Wood-Anderson)
After a loop round the ëtopíend of the park, the course then dropped off this road in dramatic fashion.
( it doesnít look that steep but trust me it was especially as there was a 90deg left hand bend to get round immediately afterwards)
The course then wound round towards the lowest point where a set of planks placed just before a slight rise caused the riders to run up to another hairpin before dropping down to start the long climb back up to the top of the course. ( see picture at top).
The next section led to a long climb up on the tarmac that became a real slog as the wind increased on Sunday as the top section was right into the wind which discouraged breakaways as it was really hard on your own.
Luckily on Saturday the wind wasnít so strong so this section allowed me to gain time as I could out-climb my immediate rivals.
However what goes up must come down and there was a fast section on the ëbackí of the course that lead to the bank below the start/finish straight.
This was a favourite place to attack if you had the energy as it needed real power to reach the top without slowing to walking pace.†
The next section was an off-camber straight that led to the climb of the steps and the start of another lap.
Pictures courtesy of Mary Gill
More can be viewed on the Derby National Trophy website.
