This would be the first National Marathon Championships I’ve done since 2013 or 2014 where I’ve not seen myself as the favourite to win. After winning in 2015, 2016, and 2019 a lot has changed. I’m married, dad to an amazing toddler, and the coaching business has gone from a small startup to a full […]
Belgian Mountainbike Challenge: 4 Days of Fireworks
The race takes over the town of La Roche en Ardenne which is overlooked by the medieval castle and surrounding Ardenne hills. The spectacular surroundings add to the drama of the race and buzz around the town during race week.
Roc d’Ardenne: The return of MTB racing to the beautiful Ardenne hills.
After a two-year absence almost 4,000 mountain bike enthusiasts flocked to Houffalize for the seventh edition of Roc d’Ardenne. Great weather and beautiful courses saw participants crossing the finish line with a big smile. For me it had been 24 months without racing at this level I felt ready to step on the gas again. […]
Dirty Reiver: Lessons learnt from gravel
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 […]