After the cancellation of the previous SWCX League round due to Storm Bert hitting the Westcountry, it was a return to South-West Cyclo-Cross League action over the weekend.
The race provider for Round 7 of the series was Exeter University CC, newcomers to the ranks of SWCX race organisers. Their course was on ground off Days Pottles Lane near Exminster, which provided demanding terrain for the racers – a steep and sapping long climb, a breath-taking downhill slalom, loose mud and gravel, sharp and nipping smaller ascents, long grass and some deeply waterlogged ‘lower field’ areas.
Top of the world – the high point of Sunday’s course
In the morning’s races, EWCC youngsters Filipe and Tiago Pacheco competed in their respective age-group races, Filipe finishing just off the podium in 4th place in the under-10’s, whilst his bigger brother Tiago took 6th place in the under-12s. We look forward to their continued presence in the Wheelers ranks as they grow even bigger and stronger.
The conditions throughout were of the muddier variety following recent heavy rains, and in the keenly contested over 50’s event such a scenario favoured our Tim Carpenter over club-mate Gideon Aroussi. Gideon had won the 50+ race at Escot with Tim 3rd.
Placings between the two were reversed this time round, with Tim taking early control and going on to win, whilst Gideon took third.
Speaking after the race, Tim said “The Exeter Uni produced a very technical and challenging course at a venue new to the league. Despite requiring some late course changes to better reflect the nature of cyclo-cross, the course rode unexpectedly well despite the recent wet weather. A wide range of surfaces and features to be managed provided a punishing set of variables for both rider and machine. Further challenges were added by rain showers during the race. It was very much a day and course for the more experienced CX riders to take advantage of, with judicious tyre choice being but one aspect.
I got off to a steady start, succeeding in being able to position myself near the front on the brutal opening climb. A ‘bobble’ by one of the leading riders on the climb had us dismounting and running early, but this proved to be the only run in the race for me. My strategy was to ride myself into the race whilst also adapting to the developing conditions. I quietly wound my way to the very front of the race, but had to constantly cope with the hard charges of my EWCC teammate Gids (Gideon Aroussi) who was also having strong ride. Gaps eventually started to form, and it was then a question of using my experience to retain the lead, and dial the course in. Everything went smoothly, with the bike staying in one piece, and I was very happy to cross the line in first place.”
Tim dealing with the tricky corner at the bottom of the plunge
Today I collected the SWCX 50+ League Trophy from Tim, for its end of season return to SWCX – the last five winners plaques on the trophy are: Tim Carpenter, Tim Carpenter, Tim Carpenter, Tim Carpenter and Tim Carpenter. Sunday’s race was, in Tim’s words ‘A good day at the office’. Most of us struggled to get into the building, or couldn’t login on our PCs, or got a foot stuck in a waste paper bin.
Wheelers Rich Taylor and Morris Elphick also rode in the V50+ section, finishing 8th and 15th respectively, whilst in the V60+ category EWCC club secretary Pete Bishop made a welcome return to racing in his first CX event of the season, finishing 5th of the 12 starters despite some somewhat rusty bike handling after 3 months out. Sadly, Dave Wilkinson’s good run of results in the same category was denied further onward progression by a mechanical, resulting in a race-ending DNF for him.
The final race of the day featured our ‘senior’ (20>40 years of age) and V40+ riders, a full hour of gruelling battle against other riders, the course and the conditions.
An early retiree was Fin Webb, when his rear gear mech tore off even more quickly than Tadej Pogacar up a TDF col.
No such problems occurred for Tristan Kelsall-Spurr, who finished just one place off the podium in the Senior category, taking 4th place.
Owen Lawson continues to enjoy his move into the senior ranks; he got off to a flying start, then tired somewhat but still managed 9th place therein, one place ahead of club mate Aaron Lawrence. Owen’s dad Craig watched on, and is himself considering a return to race action for the last event in the series, next weekend at Newnham Park, Plymouth now that the broken ribs from his 50 mph downhill crash of a few months ago have effectively healed.
V40+ vet Jon Hare, the club’s race organiser for Escot, rode strongly, never letting Tristan K-S’s advantage grow to more than half a minute. Jon doggedly closed the gap in the last two laps, but couldn’t quite bridge it, finishing 8 seconds back from Tristan.
Diogo Pacheco and James Maddison rounded off Exeter Wheelers representation in the day’s racing, with Diogo 12th in the 40+ and James 8th in the seniors.
The bottom of the course featured a quagmire with sink hole – hence the emergency chair . . . genius.
Our race-winner Tim Carpenter said this of the day: “ . . . another very competitive SWCX round at a new venue with some future potential. Some course improvements could easily be made to shift the focus better to open, flowing cyclo-cross racing, rather than more extreme features. That said, I think the mood was generally positive among the competitors, and I would like to thank Travis (Bramley) for turning out a great event against the odds!”
Members of EWCC remained behind at end of the day to help with taking down the course, and we welcome the presence of Exeter University CC to the ranks of the SWCX organisers.
Full race results from Kernow Chip Timing
Lots of photos on the SWCX Facebook site