Rapha Supercross. Super. And ‘cross.

I was unlucky (for want of a better word) last year when I had to miss the inaugural Rapha Supercross and instead watched it with a broken collarbone. My turn finally came yesterday.

In a slightly disappointing turn of events, the opportunity for Planet X to field a team in the invitation-only elite race came and went – to my mild frustration. Yes – I’d happily admit to being outclassed on the day – but there were plenty of also-rans in the main event and I’d have done a team proud, given my chance.

As it turned out, I derived as much pain and (eventual) satisfaction by just ‘taking part’ in the veteran’s support race. The course wasn’t my cup of tea and my fitness on the day a bit suspect too, but it was a good one and worthy of a great crowd-pleaser of an event. Almost spine-tingling to ride a wall of cowbells like that on the finish straight and a memory that won’t fade too fast. The whole thing left a slightly puzzled feeling as to why our National Trophy series can’t be glamourized a bit more. Maybe it will have its day. Chapeaux to Phil Thackery, Ian Cleverly and all the Rapha people and countless others who saw through this vision.