BMC MOUNTAINS TO BEACH

Will try not to make this into a novel..

Arrived in thredbo on sunday arvo did all the checking needed of me. had a cute lil room to sleep in that night and ate as much as could at dinner huw gave us the run down of the track in the morning it had me shitting myself, not as much as getting on a chairlift not sure if i was scared for my own safety or my epics life.. but we made it to the top which was covered in fog or cloud? my leg was bleeding on arrival hmmmm not a good start.. a sharp cable tie was the cause of that hoping it wasnt the begining of something worse i took shelter at the summit, i wana go back to the cafe n just chill out there..

RIDER 31 crap its my turn and following andrew lumley he took off so fast, just got more scared.

So i took off as fast as my fear would let me... i teetered down the hill and was soon thrown into some pinch climb so i attacked, god it felt like i had one lung it was tough being up so high.. made it to the finish and i like finished 8th i was so surprised but stoked..

STAGE 2

26km around lake cracken back.. my aim to race as hard as possible to try to catch the BMC TRAIN... and well there in my sights for about 1km.. did my best to deal with a track ive never seen to finish 13th

STAGE 3

60km now were talking the race is on now... the start was super hot, fell off the train to form a group heading to the summit with andrew and naomi riding strong on my tail. on the descent i flattered grrr..

a slow change and i was on the chase 20km of down smashing it 5km climb a lonely flat ride thru farmland in the mountains and just worked it to the line... still 13th in opens.

STAGE 4

the dawn raid.. 515am start stayed up the front while being led by the a 4wd we were released at top speed my aim was just to hold my position n wait for moving day.. into the darkness of the unknown was going well till i took an inside line into a rutt over the bars i fly battery pack flys out of my camelback i sus the prob out n remount but my helmet is falling off the force of the crash opened the helmets adjusters, itried to close them wit one hand while ride n did n ok job.

ok so chasing down lost time again....FLAT bloody hell it was a super quick change wit the anger building up... remount and into the red zone, i wana catch marty and marty who are from the central coast.. rain going sideways in my headlight and on the second lap the terrain looked nothing like the 1st lap it was spinning me out.. one marty to go.. i catch 2nd marty n give him a quick update (had a fucking flat)) he speeds up to help my pursuit but bombs quickly, up the boat ramp and to the climb to th finish maxing big time..

i was totally down in the dumps after that stage but when we arrived to cooma i was still 13th and pumped top 10 could still be possible.

STAGE5

MOVING DAY

yea moving up.... hardest start ever.. and once on some tar after an airstrip paddock and a race course i was the dog at the front doing all the work (well behined the bmc train) no one would pull there weight in the group.. so i just kept going.. mtb is about acheiving it on your own..

right glute pain made me stop at the 40km food station a stretch fixed it for a while..

into the big climb of about 4km 400m of elevation it was nasty.. and it smashed your calves in the push to the top... over the top and thru a pine forest were a few ppl took a wrong turn glad it wasnt me..

i was then caught by damon and richard a pairs team running second in ther catergory, damon asked if i was gona do this all by myself a nod and yup was my answer but as they and a 3rd 29er roll by i jump on the wheel and stay with the for a while losing them on a dscent, i finally got a gel out of my jersy stupid pockets and a wind vest and not much flexability its hard work.. crap im at the very top of a 7km descent between the teeth the peak fuel tube goes, i held it in there,

let me use this moment to say that avid elixer brakes are the bomb ive never been able to brake one fingured but down the longest descent i have ever been on it was fine..

another climb to ride picking up a few spots and a very sketchy dscent really was dreaming it would end soon it was ages ago wen damon said it was 56km done.. YAY 2KM 2 GO. out of the saddle to reach top speed tucked it in and put the hammer down, i passed richard n slap him hard on the arse on the way by, passing damon "just doing it on my own" but he didnt let me grab any glory and sprinted to pip me over the line..

STAGE 6

hmm still 13th lets keep it there eh..

i had the best start to the toughest start ever,, grass paddock up a hill, my legs were sore but my desire to do well was stronger i stayed with guns for a while but dropped just beforre the single track.. damon was soon on my tail again dishing out cheek because the epic was sliding everyway possible "sideways is the only way forward" passed some riders and i was all on my own back out across the paddock and down to the ocean i look back there miles back chops ur killing it son...it spurred me on to ride harder.

across 4 beaches and all sorts of crazy shit..i was passed by 6 riders just couldnt hold there tempo after the start.. this stage was 45km tried to eat as much gel as i could get time to. but i was fading towards the end, there was a few "cmon legs " to keep me going at the top of a small climb a marshal was there which i had dinner with on the 1st night i begged to know how far to go.. 3-4km yes..... thank god.. never looking back i hit freshly cut single track thru trees knocking elbows n my hips trying to stay up right locking it up heaps,, out of that and towards a graveyard, thinking yup im down put me in the ground, sigh another beach crossing i get a quick look up the beach HELL YEA THE BMC FLAGS ITS THE FINISH letting go of the brakes i bomb it to the sand dismount sprint to the waters edge n power it to the line.. looking back to still have a full beach lenght to the next rider..

wat a journey.

RESULTS 13TH IN OPENS 20TH OVERALL.

THE RACING DOESNT END..

travelled back home on saturday and arrived at midnight, local club race starts in 9hrs..

4x9km laps 1st place:) then home to sleep on the couch.

very happy chop:)

CHOPS