Irish XC MTB National Championships-Djouce Woods

Yesterday, Sunday, a forest down in the back-end of nowhere in Wicklow was filled with men, boys, women and girls wearing lycra and baggy kit, some with shaved legs, some with carbon bikes, and some with no sense. Correction, they all had no sense. On the 22nd day in July over 200  of Ireland's mountain biking community descending on what was an awesome venue for the second biggest race in the Irish mountain biking calendar, the Irish XC MTB National Championships. Team WORC were the hosts, and with Djouce Woods called by some the original home of Irish mountain biking, it was only fitting that the venue would be capable of holding such an event. 

For those not into cycling, you're probably sitting reading this with a bottle of Buckfast and a bag of chips asking why is this race so big. In the words of Barry Van Kellett, or Team Maxbo, here is what awaits you if you go to the race...

Your chance to be crowned the champion of Ireland.

Your chance to win a shiny medal.

Your chance to win a national champs Jersey.

Anyway, I'll get going. The night before the race saw me do some carbo loading; made a big bowl of pasta along with bits of chicken and a huge dollop of Dolmio's finest bolognaise sauce and mixed them together making me a rather nice looking dinner that would put Jamie Oliver to shame. Bate a few bananas down me gub and went about packing my kitbag, checking over the bike and deciding on whether to wear yellow or white socks. Tough decision. Hopped into bed just after 10:30pm already buzzing for the race.

Awoke that morning hearing the wind howling outside with the trees swaying all over the place, although the sun was trying to make a rare appearance. Had a bowl of Cookie Crisp and a banana for breakfast, and went about filling water bottles and preparing my High5 race fuel for the race. A few electrolyte tablets, 3 gels, 2:1 energy drink and a sachet of For Goodness Shakes recovery powder was on the menu.

It was just after 9 when Mr Martin Grimley pulled up into the yard to take me down to the race. Got the bike strapped on and put the rest of my kit into the back of the car and I hopped into the front seat, and off we headed in the direction of Banbridge to pick up Matt Adair's woman who was making a surprise visit to watch Matt race. Young love !

Once we had got motoring we had another 2 hours to drive before entering Djouce, so Martin stopped into a service station for coffee. Medium latte dosed with 3 sachets of brown sugar and I was bouncing as we ventured back to the car.
Arrived at Djouce in good time and went and signed on, just before the support races took off. Was given number 306, and I went about chatting to other racers who were looking forward to racing. Once the support races were away Martin and I got ready and headed out for a practice lap. 
The start line of the race was short and sweet, and it was like a snake shape with tight corners to help you lose hope of any real speed entering the forest. Once you entered the forest you were straight into a field of roots. Big ones, small ones, thick ones, thin ones, you name it, they were there, You climbed through these before going down a small hill and over a big bump onto a long fire road which was a real drag with a short climb leading you onto a  slippery off-camber slope which was technical to say the least. 
After a few tight corners and some gnarly sections of drops you came onto another piece of fire road before dropping down onto more off-camber singletrack which had a bit more slippyness on it, and it lead onto  a section which I think was called XTC. I felt like a fat kid in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.
 It was full of berms and a few jumps so I let the brakes off and whizzed in and out of the berms like Danny Hart. Brilliant wee section, which it was about 2 miles longer! Carried on through more off-camber sections and then hit a fairly steep climb which lead up to another short flat path and onto another climb. At the top of the climb I then bounced down to an exciting part of the course, a drop off onto the main fire-road up to the finish. After exiting the fire road you then entered another field of berms and then onto the start finish area.


1:45pm came around quickly and after my warm up I prepared my bottles and race fuel. Rode around til my race was called to line up, and I lined up against ones I have raced against all season.
We started 1 minute behind the Elite men's race. 

'You're going within the next 10 seconds' announced the timekeeper. He blew whistle, and the sound of shoes clipping and and gears changing bombarded my hearing. I was second into the first corner and I took it too wide which resulted in me losing a load of places which put me near the back entering the first forest section. Climbed my way onto the draggy fire road and got into a rhythm which I thought would help me claw my way back onto another competitor. Wrong, my legs went missing and I went into the red too early which saw me near lose concentration entering the first off-camber section. I rode the first lap at a far from ideal pace and with the Masters and Old mens race catching me gaining speed on the singletrack was difficult. Entering XTC I flew past a few Masters and rode the berms flat out hoping to gain some vital seconds on the person in front of me. Nearing the end of the first lap I was in dire need of a drink but I had to savour it as I had planned on getting a bottle going onto the 2nd lap.
Lap 2 was a bit more controlled pace wise but I knew I wasn;t going at my best as I usually pass some of the riders that were riding Masters and Vets in the S3 category in the NPS and
Ulster leagues. Had to empty myself on the fire road sections as I couldn't make any ground on the off camber and singletrack sections.

Thanks to Mike Armstrong for the photo

Was so glad to see the feed zone and I popped my empty bottle onto the ground and in went the new bottle which was filled with more energy fuel. Happy days. Bate a gel down me and a few fruit pastelles and I carried on towards the fire road. Climbed it like a new man. After searching for 2 laps I had finally found my legs so I rode on desperate to catch someone. Too much speed into a root saw me roll half way down a slope whilst the bike stayed put on the trail. Great. Took a mini psycho and rode onto XTC not giving a damn about hitting the berms too hard, I just wanted to finish the race and be done with it. Lap 4 was by far my best lap as my legs were agreeing with me and I rode all the singletrack and fire road like a man possessed. Whizzing in and out of the trees and berms was unreal craic. Momentum was building up and I kept wishing that this was my first lap. 

The sound of The Killers singing Mr Brightside at the start/finish area (it was a CD, not live for those that scratched their heads) spurred me on a bit more and I came into the main field glad to see the finish line. Crossed the finish line a broken wee boy. 
Went to find the legend and newly crowned Irish National XC MTB Champion David Montgomery to congratulate him on his win. #montywannabe .
Downed a fruit salad and a recovery shake during the prize giving, and when it was time to venture back up over the border into the North of Ireland. 
It was a good day but bad performance wise. Need to get more power and strength into my wee pins before I can contest for a podium place.

Thanks to Clive Caldwell for the photo 

Want to thank Team WORC for organising the Championships, and to those who shouted words of encouragment during the race. Also big thanks to Martin for the transport, and to Aoife Monaghan for doing bottles. And also thanks to whoever took the photos above, namely Mike Armstrong and Clive Caldwell. Big thumbs up to yous lot.


Zako, out.