After many years racing UCI World Cup cross country events and more recently the UCI World Marathon Series I was heading to the Scottish borders for my first gravel event. The Dirty Reiver is the UK’s and arguably one of Europe’s biggest and toughest gravel events, taking place over 200 kilometres it’s a hard introduction […]
A Norwegian Adventure: Skaidi Xtreme
Skaidi Xtreme isn’t just a bike race, it’s an experience, an adventure. This would be my third time visiting Finnmark Norway for this spectacular event. Hammerfest has almost become a little home away from home. Since first visiting in September 2018 the Norwegian community has been incredibly welcoming. After flying from London to Olso and […]
In the pressure cooker: Vittoria MTB Marathon
Should be a walk in the park for you. That’s the words and thoughts of others who I discuss the Vittoria MTB Marathon with. You’d think so but nothing is so simple. In my last race, World Championships, I finished seventh, and I’m the National Marathon champion, surely it’s possible to cruise to victory at […]
Raid Evolénard unveils the program of the European Championships
Between the World Championships in Graechen in 2019 and those planned for 2025, the Valais will remain in mountain bike marathon mode next season with Raid Evolénard hosting the European Championships.
Turkish delight at World Marathon Championships
In a year where bike racing fell off the calendar due to a global pandemic it was amazing that the MTB circus was travelling to Turkey for the UCI MTB World Marathon Championships. It was only three weeks before that I finally committed to attend as I waited to see what travel restrictions would be […]
BeMC Marathon – A yearly pilgrimage
My love affair with the Belgian Ardennes continues, it hasn’t always been a kind relationship, so many times this place has inspired and then demolished dreams. Each May we make our pilgrimage to the area to battle around these beautiful hills, it’s a trip I’ve been making for around six years for marathon races and […]
Snow Challenges Velo Vert Festival
The weather forecasters were right, the snow falls Friday night and as we stand on the start line of the latest UCI World Marathon Series race it’s a high probability that heavy snow will restart soon after the gun fires. We launch over the timing belt before slowing as our tyres crunch through the snowy […]
Racing During a Global Pandemic – O Tour Bike Marathon
It’s been eleven months since I spent two weeks travelling around France and Spain to three different bike races, now finally it was time to release my competitive spirit once again! In March this year we spent three weeks training in Gran Canaria ahead of the start of the season in April, with those races […]
UCI Podiums to Virtual Podiums
Every year we seek improvements, as an individual, a businessman or woman, or as an athlete. This year the world looks like nothing we’ve seen before but that’s no reason to stop seeking progress. When chasing UCI Podiums isn’t an option there are ways to chase that racing buzz elsewhere.
Zwift Haute Route Watopia 3 Day
This past weekend I should have been in France racing the first event on my 2020 calendar, instead my calendar looks like a young childs notepad with random crosses for cancellations and arrows for postponements. Roc Laissagais which would have been the first European 2020 round of the UCI World Marathon Series was going to […]