BMC Swiss racer cup #1

9 o'clock, 3 degrees celsius and race time... I pretty much didn't expect it to be this cold or different to normal winter riding. My warm up went well, but on the day I had made lots of rookie errors. Short a finger gloves, no under vest, leg warmers or arm warmers. I am also glad I made these mistakes early in my Junior year and overseas, now i know what to do at my next winter races in RSA.

However the experience was great in the race. I was seeded far back and as the gun goes I waited about 3 seconds before I could actually start moving and clip in. Off we went, 5 laps in the cold. Up the first climb I was about last in the big field of about 67 guys. As I heard Kyle Dorkin's voice shouting at me to go I knew it was time, kicked into a harder gear and started making my way through the pack. Into the first single track we went, I couldn't feel my toes or fingers, but on I went and kept on trying to pas the guys. The riding js a lot different to back at home, when you are on that track you ride like you own it and you make sure everyone knows that by pushing and elbowing the other guys trying to come past. I dodged quite a few of those at this race going up the first climb.

I had no idea where I was laying going into my 3rd lap but kept on battling it up with 2 other guys. The one dropped on the 3rd lap but the other one held on for the whole lap. Lap 4 was the time to get rid of him, after a little cat and mouse game he fell back.

Last lap of the race was very lonely, except for the Vets whose race started and they all passed and made me confused. I thought I was getting lapped and tried to keep with some of the vets, but when I finished I realized that they were vets(30+).
I finished the race in 42nd..

I thank Guy (Mechanic) from BMC MTB Team for the service before the race and for support!