We were back in Rotorua once again for the National Championships, albeit at a different venue to last year.
The XCO was a course of two halves, with the first being a flat and flowy grade 2 trail, and the second being more technical.
I knew I would have to make things count on the second half of the lap with the climbing and descending plus more technical sections to try and find some seconds over the competition.
I knew I was in fairly good shape and was feeling confident about the race. However, I almost did not even make it to the start line, as while I was warming up on the road a few km’s away from the track, I had a massive 6-inch nail pierce my rear tyre and rim.
Thankfully, I still had my phone in my back pocket and was able to call Paul McDowell who was helping feed me.
He drove over to collect me, and we rushed back to the race venue where I threw on my spare rear wheel, double checked the pressure, and went straight to the start to be called up.
After not having had the ideal warm up, I focused on just staying calm on the first two laps, while the race settled and I did too.
Matt Wilson was quick to put the pressure on and kept the pace high and soon there were just the two of us at the front.
On the third lap I could sense Matt starting to fade ever so slightly so I tried to squeeze past in a tight spot near the top of the first climb but was unable to get around and I was forced to be patient for a little longer.
A few minutes later Matt clipped his pedal and went off track briefly, which allowed me to get in front and take a 5 or 10 second lead heading into lap 4 of 6.
As we got to the second half of the lap once more and with Matt just behind, I really hit the climb hard and was finally able to create a proper gap and get some clear air.
Over the next two and a half laps I was able to ride my own race at the front and extend my lead to take my 11th Elite National XCO title.
The next morning was the XCC Short Track National Championships which in my opinion is always the harder race for me to win, just because it is so fast, short, and tactical.
That was especially so when I hadn’t managed to get a single minute of sleep the night before, after being too revved up on caffeine and adrenaline from an afternoon XCO race!
I think a few of us were feeling it out there, but it was a really fun short track course, and the tactical race had us all thinking on our toes.
I was able to make the right move stick on the second to last lap and led into the last lap with a small five metre gap, which I was able to maintain over the final lap to the finish.
Stoked to retain my XCC title to go with the XCO title for another year and know that I get to wear the fern on my chest at the upcoming World Cups once again!