Report: Iain Farley
The Cyclocross season got off to a flying start in Cardiff yesterday with Round 1 at Llanishen High School. Organised by Cardiff JIF cycling club, the course proved testing but popular with fast and hard racing across the categories.
With the introduction of the U6 category, the children’s categories were particularly vibrant and riders who attained podium places enjoyed the extra reward of Team SKY prizes from SKY road captain Luke Rowe. Whilst the seniors category saw U23 World CX Champ Evie Richards join them in a demanding but successful event.
In a bid to hear it from the ground, an unbiased race report is brought to Welsh Cycling from Iain Farley of Gower Riders:
A typically autumnal day, overcast with scattered showers greeted the first round of the Welsh Cyclocross League which was hosted by Cardiff Jif at Llanishen high school. Despite building work leading to space restrictions, Jif designed a classic ‘cross course that was well received by all. Primarily grassy with short sections of tarmac and gravel, the compact, spectator friendly, course snaked around the perimeter of the playing fields with lots of hairpins and a few off-camber sections. Two trips per lap through a sandpit added an extra technical challenge for the riders and excitement for the spectators. Practice laps showed that the ground was still hard after the summer heat wave but slippery with the recent rain. Early races, ranging from the newly instigated under 6 category through to the 50+ veterans were all well attended and closely contested as old rivalries were resumed and new friends made.
By the time the senior race started, persistent traffic had worn down the course and helped make the terrain a bit grippier, though the sound of tyres scratching for grip was still commonplace. A large field lined up with 53 in the seniors, 11 juniors and a guest appearance from U23 World CX Champ Evie Richards getting a last bit of preparation before her World Cup campaign. Being the first round of the series, the start wasn’t gridded so there was some enthusiastic jostling for good positions. The whistle blew and there was a steady charge along the start straight into the first sandpit where the mass of riders enforced a dismount for most. Later laps would reveal the damp sand forming some deep ruts which rewarded commitment to the established lines. As ever with mid-pack cyclocross, a known rival a few hundred yards ahead gave me the motivation to push hard and close the gap. The varied course led to some tight and tactical racing, with a series of up and down banks just prior to the finish line enabling creative line choice to make time or prevent others passing. After sitting on behind my rival recovering from my initial effort, I attacked through one of the sandpits, getting a slight gap and bringing one of the junior racers from Abergavenny RC with me. Being passed by a couple of competitors once again provided the incentive to increase the intensity, although this time they remained tantilisingly close but out of reach until the end of the nine-lap race.
The senior race was won by Steven James of Hope Factory Racing, with Ben Nott in Second and Chris Roberts in third. Chatting to nearby finishers as heart rates subsided, revealed a similar tale for many: “that was a shock to the system” followed swiftly by “I’d forgotten how much fun ‘cross is” and inevitably “See, you next week?” It was a great start to the Welsh League, with the infectious enthusiasm of riders, spectators and marshals undampened by the drizzle.
Next week…..Hereford. Round 2 will be held on the 23rd at the Foxley Estate just over the border in Herefordshire at a popular course in a glorious setting.
