This was my first ever world cup and it was wild! Tapped out off the line and then BOOM! It was just nuts, fighting for position the rest of the way. I loved it – this is how racing is meant to be. Tough as! All the thick mud forced everyone on and off their bikes, for the first two laps it was a running with bike race. People were just crashing everywhere, pushing others off the track and causing pileups it was mad.
I was quite far back in the starting grid so was caught up in this chaos from the start. After the short start loop, laps were just over 4km long. After a couple of laps I was able to start making my way through the field but since the race format was a short start loop + just over 4km length laps I didn’t have much time. I had one big crash when I lost it down a rutted shoot, head and shoulder into a tree and cracked my helmet – bugger! In the end I was lapped out in 65th place (18th U23), only 46 riders finished from the 100 + starters.
This race was a really good experience and I learnt a lot. Definitely I can think of things to improve on, mainly to do with the start as it is so crucial. I hope to learn and learn fast as this Saturday is another WC round in Val di Sole, Italy. I think I am capable of riding further up the field I just need to make it happen, mtb racing here is not a TT.
Meanwhile I have been adopted by the Belgium team – they are the best! I was stuck for a ride to Italy from Champery and they said I could go with them! Now I am staying with them too and have been training with their riders. I am stoked – how lucky am I??!! 
The amount of support laid on to the Belgium riders covers everything they could ever need, the environment is perfect for getting top results which is of course their focus. Les Belges sont tres bien!
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