R1 - Abergavenny

It was probably one of the warmest and sunniest weekend so far this year, so it can only mean one thing; it’s winter and it’s ‘cross time! It certainly was a barmy day out in Abergavenny in more ways than one. While heading for the leisure centre the scene of many previous muddy battles, riders had to battle with the thought of passing by the annual food festival that was running in the town for the sake of getting all hot and bothered at the opening round of the National Trophy Cyclo Cross Series, that’s probably one of the reasons the racing was so fast; it gave them plenty of time to soak up the sun and head off to seek out the festival!

With many seasoned riders in attendance they knew what lay in wait but I don’t think any were prepared for riding this course in bone dry conditions. A tight twisty course with lots of deceptive climbing meant no peace for the wicked as each pedal turn was concentrated on getting all the power down to keep in contention. Fast and furious it most definitely was.

Ian Field – Senior Winner

“I was biding my time out there, it was too fast to try and go early, the course is just so fast it was a huge effort just to get a tiny gap and there’s only one place you can really get away which is in the pits area and just after that there’s a hard section, I attacked there and gave it full gas and hoped it was enough and then just had to hang on for a lap,

'cross racing you always have to use your head, it’s only an hour even if you are the strongest rider you have to make all your efforts count.

I was quite surprised we didn’t have a bigger lead group out there cos it didn’t feel like we were going that hard but Paul (Oldham) kept digging on the climb, but you could see he was struggling, Willemsens was struggling round all the corners and then Paul was just so strong in a straight line but I held my nerve and made my move at the right time and got that win.

I wanted the win, you get a nice jersey to start the next round in, and it means I’ve won a senior Trophy now for the last 4 years in a row and no one else has done that so yeah I think I’ll win a few more this year. I want to win the series this year.”

If you’d like to read the full report click on the BC link above.