Oli at National Championships

Hello
Last weekend it was National Champs time. It was my 13th senior champs and I have won the title 5 times in the past and was well up for grabbing another one.

The race took place up in Richmond, North Yorks on a tough but relatively flat course. The weather that hit the UK over the weekend made the long singletrack sections really difficult and tough to ride and this would have more of a bearing on the race than the 3 power climbs early on in the lap.

For the past 3 years I have finished runner up to Liam Killeen and after a lap it was the two if us off the front. However I was losing some time to Liam on the technical stuff and having to close back on the climbs. On lap 3 I started to hurt for this effort and was distanced.

After a lap of being grumpy and having to come to terms with losing again, i was then under pressure from Lee Williams in 3rd but that was the kick in the arse I needed and in the end i was a comfortable and happy 2nd.

Podium shot attached

Full report and results are at
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/mtb/article/mtb20110711--MTB--British-X...

Next up is the European Champs in Slovakia on August 7th

Thanks for the support
Oli