Nationals is always my most important early season race. The chance to fight for the right to wear the fern for another year is special and this year even more so with my tenth elite title on the line.
I knew Matt Wilson was in good form and after his second place in ’24 and first in ’23 he would try and take the race to me early on which is exactly what he did. I was patient and nearing the top of the hill on the second lap I attacked over the crest and opened up 5 metres into the main descent. I came out of the descent with a small gap and kept on the gas to make sure I kept extending it.
Lap by lap I was able to keep stretching out the time gap to a comfortable lead, taking the win and along with it my first National title for my new team and my 10th Elite XCO title in total! A huge milestone that I’m extremely proud of. It was also my 15th National XCO title (including age groups) in what was my 19th National Championship race.
The following day was the short track race. An early race start (at least for me!) at 9.00 am meant there wasn’t much sleep or recovery time in the legs. It was a fast course with not much in it to hurt the legs. I stayed near the front and with two laps to go dug in deep to try and get away.
I wasn’t quite able to open a gap so had to make sure I went all out again to be first into the single-track section. From there it was only a short open sprint the finish line where it would be hard to pass from second wheel. I led into the finish straight and hung on in the sprint to take the win and defend my XCC title from the previous year. Nice to get the double once again!