NPS XC R4 - Eastridge

The NPS returned to the familiar riding grounds of Eastridge, Shropshire, after a break of nearly a decade and riders were not disappointed as they were rewarded with a truly epic course, containing a lung busting 1000ft of climbing per lap, coupled with some incredible descents and to top it all off the sun was shining, a seemingly rare commodity this year.

After a constant weather watch and plenty of fingers crossing, that we may have a dry race, prayers were answered and the sighs of relief could be heard for miles as riders delightedly realized that a dry race would be on the cards. A small but difficult 7km circuit lay in wait for competitors eager to pick up points after a break in the series in July.

Ian Bibby – Elite

“I’m pretty happy with that ride today, it was a really good course that suited me so I was lucky I reckon. I guess it was good to win here, a bit of a bonus that helps with the disappointment from the Nationals. I’ve just come back from Belgium where I’ve been riding quite a few road races and that’s been going well and I did the mountain bike Tour De France too and I go some good results there but I had a bit of a bad crash so I was obviously doing a good ride today.

I wanted to see if I could get away quickly, normally I start a race quite steadily and build it up but today I wanted to see if I could wind it up from the gun making it a bit harder for me and see how it goes. I went off on the first lap and saw I’d opened a bit of a gap so seized my chance. Though to be honest I think I went a bit too hard to start with on the first lap, though I think we all did, I managed to hold onto the gap I opened to the end so it was good. It was pretty hard out there. It was great out there a proper course, we could do with more like this to be honest.”

If you’d like to read more about this race click on the British Cycling link above.