The 2011 season started in style today. The day began with 1300 racers parading around Córdoba before we got to the race start and set off up a 40 minute climb at a hair raising pace. I´d forgotten how hard racing is.
Today it was important for Josh and I to figure out how best to ride together as a team, where our strengths and weaknesses are and how to manage them. A few pointers from more experienced team riders at breakfast proved very helpful. As the female I quickly had to accept that I was slower and Josh used his extra strength to give me a push on the climbs (something I could get used to, might employ him for xc races!). He was also faster on descents but if he slowed slightly I was able to push myself and hold onto his wheel. It didn´t take long to get a good system going and it worked very well.
The race course was absolutely brilliant, a real mixture of terrain and scenery. Tight, twisty singletrack through dusty ground covered in herb plants. Swooping fast trails with fun bombholes and kicker climbs. Tough, technical rocky climbs. Steep, rocky descents with big drops. We went hardish on the climbs but descending was the real place to gain time. All these Euro riders need signs on their backs saying ´danger´, the amount of people walking or riding really slow was unbelievable. I did enjoy passing guys though but don´t think they liked it!
The crowds cheering us on were amazing too, I was wearing my Irish national champ jersey so got loads of ´champion, champion´ cheers, and in general they were particularly enthusiastic when a girl went past. Great to help forget the pain on the many nasty, steep climbs. The lifestyle here is incredible, we passed loads of families up in the mountains having bbqs in the sun (in February!!).
I enjoyed it all until the last climb which was pretty hellish. Every time you thought it had to be the top it would kick up steeply with loads of technical rocks to negotiate, I was pretty destroyed by the end. We finished the 75km in 4 hours 33 taking first place in the mixed pairs category and beating all but one of the women´s teams (full results here, and you can follow life timing on the website each day). Standing on the podium alongside world champ Jose Hermida was pretty cool and riding in the leaders jersey tomorrow saves washing kit in the sink. Absolutely shattered but very happy!
Josh´s handlebar video gives a good impression of the race, mostly of the first half which was faster and less technical. Also photos here.