Medals For Master Brits in Louisville

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1 February 2013 |


Louisville has also been hosting the World Masters Cyclo-Cross Championships during the week before the Junior, Under-23, Women's and Men's Championships.

Their venue is a few hundred metres away from the main championship site. Riders during Wednesday's qualifying rounds experienced swamp like conditions in the wake of the previous night's storms, while the first of Thursday's finals saw frozen and rutted surfaces.

However Britain's small contingent enjoyed early success. Starting at an unfeasibly early 9 am, Vic Barnett reained his world title in the 65-69 age band, while John Ginley took silver in the 70+. The finals in the younger categories conclude on Friday.

Full results for all Masters races can be found on the official event website


Vic Barnett's Story

Vic Barnett's son Dean Barnett reports on his dad's assault on the 65-69 year-old Masters World Championship race.

In an epic battle from the start Vic faced strong opposition in the early stages of the 40 minute race. As the race evolved the lead changed many times on a technical course that had been battered by a tornado and torrential rain.

As the leading riders fought to stay upright in freezing temperatures and sleet, Vic could sense he was going to need to dig deep and find a big effort if he was going to successfully defend his title. Bikes were soon starting to clog up with frozen mud.

As the leaders entered their final lap Vic took the tactical decision to enter the pits to take a spare clean bike from his wife Ann. Coming into the pits and executing a perfect change caused the East Midlands rider to slip slightly of the back of the leading group.

However, the clean bike seemed to give Vic an extra gear and as he sailed back to the front of the race he put the hammer down and started to ease open a small gap from chasing pack. Vic safely negotiated the steps, banks and slippery cambers and was in full flight and working extremely hard with a determined look etched across his pained face.

What he didn’t know was that his changed of pace had caused the chasing pack to explode as they grappled to stay in contact. It was not until he entered the finishing straight that he took a glance over his shoulder to see if he was being challenged.

With no-one in sight Vic could enjoy and saviour the moment as he crossed the finish line to secure back to back victories.

As Vic huddled round a heater trying to defrost at the end of the race he reflected that in the early stages of the race he thought he would be struggling to be collecting any medal, but as the war of attrition wore on and the conditions worsened he was getting stronger and more confident. The Market Harborough cyclist and Welland Valley CC president has now secured 5 World titles – 3 Cyclo-cross and 2 Mountain Bike.

Well done dad!