After the disappointment of my winning streak coming to a grinding halt at the 2023 National Champs, I was determined to set the record straight this year! This time around I was feeling fit and healthy and free from the effects of glandular fever 12 months earlier.
The cross country XCO course had been super dry and a bit dusty but on race day the rain started pouring. I stuck with the same setup and hoped that the Pirelli XC-RC tyres would still be the right option. There was a bit of running on the steep, muddy pinches on the second half of the course but other than being a bit slippery everything else was rideable.
I felt strong at the start and opened up a 22sec gap on the first lap, extending that out lap by lap to lead by 1min 20 secs with 2 laps to go.
With the gap established I rode a little more conservatively over the last couple of laps to bring it home for the win and claim my ninth elite NZ National title!
Keen to make it a double and take both titles from the weekend I turned my focus to the short track race on Sunday morning. A short night’s sleep after the XCO the day before and a 5:30am wake up for a 9am start made things an extra challenge. Those who know me well know I’m not a morning person! I had to work a lot harder for this one than the XCO with Matt Wilson and Josh Burnett setting a fast pace. Coming into the last lap it was a 4-man race with Ben Oliver in there also.
I surged up the main climb at the start of the final lap and was able to open up a small gap which I held to the finish over Ben in 2nd and Matt who had slipped to 3rd and Josh in 4th.
Proud to bounce back from two fourth placings last year to double up and take two wins this year! I’m proud to have the fern back on my chest and look forward to wearing the National Champions jersey in the 2024 World Cup season once again.