Cornwall

For the first time since 2019 I was on the start line for a MTB down on the Cornish Coast. My race was pretty good for the first race back, but I still have work to do to reach my goals for this season. I started badly and I had lots of work to do before the first downhill which came quickly on this course. I spent the first half of the lap loving up to the group racing for 3^rd, as the race progressed the group split apart, and I was sitting in 5^th. I went too hard in the early laps leaving me empty for the final lap the rider behind me caught me and I could not stick with her pace. I finished in 6^th place feeling broken – everything hurt due to the brutal course. I was happy with my result, but I knew that I was stronger than some of the riders who finished ahead of me.

Wales

A couple weeks after Cornwall I was back racing at round 2 of the National Series. This course suited me well and I was feeling strong on the bike. At this race the competition was high, I had to pull it out the bag to get a good result with some quick girls racing. My start was so much better in Cornwall, and I was sitting in 6th on the back of the group racing for 1st up the first climb. By the top I had moved up to 5th but lost contact with the leading 4. I started the descent and got a big gap to the riders behind, however just before the end of the first lap my chain got jammed. I had to stop and free it losing 1 and a half minutes and 2 places in the process. I rode hard to regain the 2 places I lost with a mechanical, pushing my skills to the limits on the downhills. This race was one of the best performances I have done - I was able to keep pushing all the way to the end and I kept moving forwards rather than backwards. I ended up finishing 5th place in the Juniors and 10th overall after catching most of the Elite riders who started ahead of me. I beat riders who finished ahead of me at the previous round in Cornwall and I was extremely happy with my position in such a strong field of girls.

Next up for my MTB racing is the National Championships in Plymouth at the end of July. After a strong ride in Wales, I am hoping to get a good result and fingers crossed for a medal!