MTBO Camp Cup – Middle Race 2

The last formal race of the MTBO Camp Cup 2014 was another middle race, again on classic Baltic sand dune forest terrain. Our start was adjacent to the event center at Hasle smokehouses. Fragrant herring smoke wafted about us as we queued up ready to get going.

I messed up number one by riding to the last control first (deliberately as I misread the number), I didn’t lose much time as it was on the way but could have picked a faster route choice. After that other than perhaps a few suspect route choices where I could have saved a few 10s of seconds and a missed track at number 4, I rode really well, enjoying the single tracks and dense path network not making any mistakes.

I didn’t see any results until after dinner, just before the prize giving as I was attending the event advisors course for a rules update ahead of my role at next year’s European Championships. I was thrilled to see I had won the day’s race, securing an overall win in men’s short, a little strange given I was riding elite 3 years ago but really feel it’s a massive step forwards in my recovery since may back problems started in 2011.
I am returning home with some great Bornholm produce, mostly alcoholic!

With just the Hoke (ultra long) tomorrow the MTBO camp for this year is now nearly over. I’ve had a fantastic time, caught up with lots of old friends and really enjoyed seeing Bornholm.