Cold… blowing rain with a strong north-westerly wind. The exposed hillside on the edge of a motor racing circuit. The grass is saturated and worn to a brown mess with much in common with 1917 Flanders. I can’t feel my hands – any part of them, and my heart rate has averaged 178 bpm for the last 60 minutes. I can only see properly out of one eye; the mud has rendered the other one next to useless.
I’m a happy man. The tough bit of the cyclocross season’s here, and I bloody love it.
I finished 23rd today. Not the dizzy heights, but my best ever finish in a UCI event. I’m chuffed enough with that. I love it when it gets difficult!
More info on the UKCyclocross website