A Disastrous End

So there I was 18minutes into my World Championship debut and I had just been disqualified as I entered the first transition zone- I had taken my swim cap of at the turn around point in the swim for it was about to fall of on its own. A rule I had never heard about and a rule that has never been enforced. To say I felt hard done by was an understatement. I went on to finish the race with the little motivation I had left.

Overall my first World Championships were a great experience and it has gave me the confidence I am moving in the right direction and have came a long way in such a short period of time.

Two weeks on and after a final race for my French team I am on my rest week for the year and reflecting on the season. At my best I have shown that I can finish in the top20 at the highest level but more often than I would like my weaknesses have been exploited and I toil home a lot further back than I should be. Overall after doing a few international events I am ranked 69^th in the World. A big jump in the right direction but there is a lot of work to do.

New Experiences

So tomorrow morning I'm heading of to Brisbane, Australia for my first experience at a World Championships. I've never been to Australia before and the only other long haul flight for me was to America, but instead of going for a race I went to see Mickey. Base camp for the first 10days is at Sailfish Cove on Mermaid Avenue- I'm hoping its half as relaxing as the name and after 29 hours of travelling I'll need it. The bags are packed and the bike is dismantled after it had been through a quick once over at the shop. In order to adjust to Australia time as soon as possible I'm having a late night tonight in order to sleep on the plane tomorrow.

Afterwards I have two more races to do in France which will have more of a relaxing atmosphere- sort of the equivalent to the Tour de France riders racing at other events after there three weeks of hell. Then it will be out with the waterproofs, dust of the mountain bike and learn the art of riding it again as well as the more graceful art of falling of.

Well I have a few more hours before I can go to bed so I think I'll go and triple check I have everything.

Cathkin Braes - Over & Out!

Been a while since my last post, as I've been kind of busy with a trip to the Bionicon HQ in Bavaria, and organizing Round 5 of the SXC MTB Series, which I was organising as a test event for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Bionicon was awesome, we were picked up in Munich, driven to their "factory", which was basically a big chalet at the foot of the alps - what an awesome place to work. The hospitality was only outdone by the riding - 2 hour climbs (which are easy on these bikes, despite 6" travel!) followed by amazing 20-30 minute descents back into the valley - quite different to the usual trail centre stuff, as these are just walking paths that folk ride bikes down, so pretty challenging stuff, and a but daunting as your guides don body armour and full face helmets at the top, whilst I just put on a waterproof!

The factory tour and product training was a big eye opener, nice to see products being designed for a purpose by a bike riding engineer, and not an accountant! If my German was better (or just existed), I think I'd have asked for a job!

I can honestly say that organising an event is way harder than riding one - you have to put in more hours in the long-term build up to the event, and instead of tapering off, you build up the workload as the event approaches! My body aches in new ways after walking 15 odd miles on Sunday marking out the course, clearing up the course etc, etc.

The event was a big success, with around 300 competitors and a great atmosphere - the feedback from riders and spectators alike will help massively in the development of the MTB trails, and the CG2014 race track. The cross-over bridge (pictured) was particularly pleasing, but stressful - with having to get it approved by the building inspector before we could use it, then camping overnight in the park to guard it!

I'm glad to be having a week off work to recouperate, before getting some training in for the final Rabbie Burns TT Series event next month. I've enjoyed the challenge of TTing this year, but am really missing MTB racing - the prep for Cathkin, and the vibe at the race has given me the bug again - so I'm signed up to ride Strathpuffer 2010 in a pair - should be easier with a friend to share the work with, but somehow I expect it won't be!

Below is a short video compiled by Glasgow City Council of the event. Whilst working with them has been challenging, the event couldn't have happened without their support, so a big thanks to them - particularly Allan MacLean, Tom A'Hara and Jack Devine.

Business Time of the Season

Since I last wrote I have had two average races both in France and down in London. In France it was the 3^rd round of the French grand prix series where my team had its best result of the season on home soil finishing 6^th- it was more relief than anything for before the race we were introduced to all the sponsors who sign the cheques for us to be paid.

London last weekend was part of the British grand prix series where I came 8^th which although I had hoped for more, after a terrible swim I was more than pleased with the outcome. Highlights of the race are on Channel 4 next weekend.

So now to the business end of the season- I have qualified for my first ever World Championships which are to be held in Australia in September where I will be representing Great Britain at the under23 category. I've never been `down under` but I hear the toilets flush the other way round so im fascinated already.

However before I can concentrate on Worlds next weekend is the next round of the World Championships series which is LIVE on BBC1 on Saturday. T he race is on the 2012 Olympic course and with only 7slots for the Brits just getting a start is a major thing. A top30 would be great but just racing on the course give me a great insight on what is required in 2012. So tune in…

World Championship Super Series- Kitzbhuel

Over the last week I have been away racing in my first ever world cup event- 9 of the top 10 from Beijing were there- tells you how tough the field was. However I put in the best race of my career to date taking 17th.

The swim was a wetsuit swim for it was raining which forced the water temperature down just before the start. 75 guys fought to get round the first turn buoy in the lead and after a few fist fights I made it round inside the top25. The swim wasnt the greatest as I struggled from having not swam in a wetsuit in almost a month- I was convinced the swim would be non wetsuit but I exited the water 30seconds down surrounded by some of the best bikers in the sport.

By the time I got on my bike the weather was very Scottish and the technical downhill sections resembled a river rapids- in all there were about 5 separate crashes- some comical, some painful, some I just missed. Hearing some one scream as they hit the ground is never a good sound. Despite a few scares and a full out first 10ks on the bike I made it to the first pack and held there for the remainder of the bike leg.

Jumping of the bike and on with the run shoes the legs felt goos and I was quickly in a good rhythm. The course was fairly flat but with 3dead turns in it every lap. 4laps in all. I posted a 32.20 for my 10ks which is a pb and a big step up.

A 5minute race video can be found on www.triathlon.org

Next stop on the super series is London- the Olympic games course first test run. Hopefully I`ll be there and I believe it may be broadcast live on bbc2.

Blenheim Elite Race- A step in the right direction

So after two disastrous races to start of my 2009 campaign I finally made the breakthrough I've been training for finishing 4^th at Blenheim. It's a frustrating thing when you're training great but somehow you can't produce it in a race but thankfully it finally all came together.

The swim was a bit of a tussle especially rounding the final turn buoy where there was a manic sprint over the final 100 to get a good position on the exit. I left the water at the end of the first bike pack but had a good transition which got my comfortably in the first bike pack.

The bike was 3x7k lap and the first lap was hectic with people attacking at will, people counter attacking and some just holding on for grim death- just like an APR. On the 2^nd and 3^rd lap the pace was more sedate as coldness set in and the muddy country paths the race was held on were pretty flooded.

The 2^nd transition went smoothly and I left in 3^rd albeit running on what felt like stumps for my feet had no sensation in them whatsoever. I managed to find a good rhythm and was running in 3^rd for most the race but was caught just before the line and finished in 4^th.

The race itself will be televised on Channel 4 Saturday June 28^th at 8.30. I'm the one wearing the red, white and blue tri-suit (It stands out a mile).

David McNamee, International Triathlete

Testing Times

I've really been getting back into the time trials this month, with the Scottish 10, the first two rounds of the Rabbie Burns 250 series, and the Glasgow St Christophers event on the A77 course tonight.

The Scottish Champs had really tough conditions, the wind never seemed to help, but did plenty to hinder! Tonight was much better, warmer and significantly less wind (hence an improvement of nearly a minute!).

The Dumfries CC 25 mile was super tough - only a few miles of the course were flat, and the climb to Beattock summit almost made me stop and cry at the side of the road! Jim Cuisik was unbelievable there - 56 minutes on that course is impressive. I'd secretly been harbouring hopes of a sub-hour ride, but think I'd need a cracking good course for that!

The Ayr Roads event on the Pennyglen Circuit was more my cup of tea - actual climbs rather than rolling drags - and I collected my first TT podium of the year, and only 2 mins behind Jim this time (helped by his 400 mile drive and arrival 15 mins before the start!) - next time I need him to drive the full 1000 miles, and get straight out the car and onto the line to stand a chance! I was glad to have recce'd the route beforehand, and chose the TT bike, and decided to take it steady on the first couple of climbs! I'd ridden that course in a British Series TT in 1995 as a junior, but after a lengthy search for my 2005 training diary found it blank for that day!

So I think I may be leading the 'Burns TT Series now after 3rd place in Dumfries and 1st in Ayr, and I also may be taking it a bit too seriously, with Lance style course recce's!

Anyway, away to see how I can get more aero - only kidding!

Neil Walker