I thought my heart would burst … but it was just my tyre
If I just pedal hard and ollie high enough …
… I think I can clear the road …
… And then put the power down again to catch him …
… ok, here it comes …
… 3, 2,1 jump! …
… … …
SLAM!
My rear wheel bangs on the edge of the vineyard road and I instantly know that my race is over.
Part of me is quite relieved as it means my heart rate can come back down to a sensible level once more.
The other part is disappointed as despite the burning sensation in my lungs, the incredible pain in my legs and the mud in my eyes, mouth, ears and nose this was fun.
I think.
This particular Saturday I’d arrived at the course with my buddy, and we’d proceeded to ride a few warmup laps to get used to the route and try to get our bodies ready for the effort.
It was already incredibly muddy, and at the time I didn’t have tubeless tyres on my cyclocross bike, so couldn’t drop the pressure as much as I wanted to for fear of a pinch flat.
The practice laps were very handy though, helping to figure out which gear to be in for which climb, what line to take around the corners, and where it was impossible to ride (that’ll be the very steep climb up through the trees as well as the slide down the other side).
If you’re reading this and wondering where such a sport came from, Cyclocross, also known as CX, dates back to cycle racing in France in the early 1900s. In those days, there were very few roads, so riders would more often than not go offroad to get to a finish line. This often meant riding through farmers' fields, forests and up hills. On these routes riders would have to clamber over fences and other obstacles to try and get the better of their competitors. Wading through river streams wasn't uncommon!
By the 1950s, races became more organised and simplified, with courses becoming much shorter and based on circuit racing. Cyclocross was also starting to be seen as a autumn or winter sport. The UCI got involved in 1950 with the racing of the first World Championship and since then it's set the parameters and rules for cyclocross.
My race was the second race of three organised by Velo Club Lancy, something they’ve been doing for 61 editions now.
The races are held around Plan-les-Ouates in Geneva, and attract a real variety of riders, from the experts to the curious.
Our race started after the juniors had finished, allowing the course to become even more rutted and muddy.
I was nervous before the start, as I always am before competitive events, but tried to control my breathing and channel that nervous excitement into my legs which I knew would soon be on fire.
We started near the back of the grid so as not to get in the way of the more expert riders, and I just wanted to stay ahead of my buddy and some of the other older competitors.
Up the first little rise the pressure is immediately on, with people jostling for position at the corner. The course then zig zagged its way through the vineyards, with ups, downs, off camber sections and sharp bends which nearly always meant grabbing onto a post to almost through myself around the corner.
The heart rate was pretty much immediately up to levels not normally seen, and the burning in my lungs was reminiscent of cross country running as a kid when you were trying to keep up with your mates.
After a couple of laps, I was kind of in the zone, I knew how to ride / run the majority of the course, and I wasn’t in last position.
I’d fallen off a few times for sure, and that was part of the fun. The soft ground didn’t hurt.
There was one part of the course where I knew I could get faster though, and that was the downhill stretch which crossed the surfaced vineyard road. I was always slowing for this road crossing as I wasn’t sure about jumping the road.
There was a rider not that far in front of me, but I was never getting close enough to him.
I think we were about halfway into the 60-minute race when I decided that this lap was the time to really go for it. Maybe it was the lack of oxygen in my brain affecting my decision making, but whatever the reason I knew I was going to take the downhill at full speed and jump the road.
The combination of my lack of ability and considerable weight meant that my back wheel didn’t quite make the landing. The impact popped my inner tube, and I had to pull over, let all the other riders by, and walk gingerly back to the start.
It was still a great experience, and I encourage anyone who wants a bit of friendly competition in the autumn / winter to give CX a go. I’m getting my muddy kicks via gravel riding, but I will go back to Cyclocross sometime in the future. I don’t think anything is better for an aerobic / anaerobic workout!
Featured Tour
Mont Ventoux TDF week and Pre Summer-Training weekend
If you want to come check out the Giant of Provence in 2025 there are a couple of opportunities for you this year.
Firstly, we have the Tour de France week in July – where you’ll get to ride the routes and the climbs, then watch the pros as they compete on these spectacular Provence roads.
We are also organising a pre-season training long weekend at the foot of Mont Ventoux in late May. Drop me an email if you’re interested and I can send you the details.
Maratona dles Dolomites Sportive Week
There are also spaces still available on our Maratona Sportive trip at the start of July. Come ride the world’s most beautiful sportive. You can find out all about it on the Brevet.cc site by clicking here.
What I’ve been listening to while writing
The Joubert Singers – Stand on the Word (Larry Levan Mix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP8P4kZQUec
Larry Levan was an American DJ best known for his decade-long residency at the New York City night club Paradise Garage, which has been described as the prototype of the modern dance club. His mix of the Joubert Singers track is pure genius. This is real house music.