Tag Archives: mountain biking Limousin

Championnat Regional VTT

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Yep, it’s the Limousin region mountainbike championships, and I’m invited to ride! I don’t have great form, though I am improving. I don’t have many race miles in my legs this season. But, I’m gonna go and do my best.

The race is at Beynac in the Correze at the Etang de Miel (Lake of Honey!). It’s a beautiful spot, and the weather is fabulous. The circuit is 7kms, fast, flowing, dry. I like it very much. I’m guessing between 20 to 25 minutes a lap, and we (vet Bs) are doing 4.
Regional VTT Champs. I'm gridded on the front line!
I’m gridded on the front line! I wasn’t expecting that. We’re going off together with the Vet As. I’m sure there’s some faster guys behind me. I’ve clocked all the Vet Bs on the front line, so I know who I’m tracking.
I get a great start, and as we leave the arena I’m on the wheel of the leading Vet B.

It’s very fast. Along the fast forest track in the dust over the rocks there’s riders everywhere scrambling to get the best wheel they can before we hit the tarmac section that will take us to the first real climb.

First place seems to be easing away, but no panic, I’m sat in a group containing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We’re moving quick. As we continue through lap one we change positions, but nobody makes a move. Onto lap two, a rider from the Correze kicks. I go after him. Now it’s hard, very hard. My throat is burning, I haven’t tried this hard in a while. By the end of lap two we are clear. I’m looking at a podium finish.
Regional VTT Champs - It was great to race in warm sunny weather!
Then, it all goes wrong! I seem to be going backwards. Dominique from the US Nantiat comes past, I can’t hold him. As we go out for the last lap I’m gone, and within the last 2kms I drop to 5th. I’m almost 5 minutes off the pace. Ouch! What a kicking! Thanks guys! 🙂

But, it was still a great day out, and still great to see a lot of racing buddies who I haven’t seen for a while.

1 GODOT FRANCIS VC GOUZON 01:23:20
2 REBEYRAT JEAN ACMO TONIC 01:25:44
3 VRIGNAUD DOMINIQUE US NANTIAT 01:26:06
4 STAMM ALAIN VC AUBUSSON 01:27:54
5 BENNETT STEPHEN ROC ROCHECHOUART 01:28:11


Always puts a smile on my face…

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I dunno why, it just does…….well more of a smirk really!
Carla in full racing tuck! ;)
See, when we do the Cognac la Forét circuit we always have a rolling race down the last tarmac descent to home. It started off as a test of rolling resistance of tyres, it’s turned into a ‘just for fun’ thing that we always do. It’s about a kilometer and there’s a slight rise just before the finish. My usual technique is to let Carla get in front then pass her on the slight rise. However, shes wise to that now, and she’s bagged a few wins lately. Gonna have to change my tactic.

Anyway, for some reason, and I don’t know why, when Carla passes me, crouched in full racing tuck, it puts a smile on my face.

18éme Sentiers des Etangs – Nantiat

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Specialized Stumpjumper S-Works HT I’ve been looking forward to this one…. It’s one big loop of 50 kms from Nantiat, up around Lac St Pardoux, and back. Ridden as seen, all I know is that there’s a tough climb around 3 kms from the finish. Marcel Buisson who set the circuit explained it to me, adding, “if you get to the top of that climb 10 seconds ahead that’s how you’ll finish!”.

I’ve put in a lot of hard work for this one. I know I’m going quite well. I’d like a little bit of luck – no punctures or mechanicals, and I’d like to get on terms with Jean Claude Sansonnet. Maybe I won’t beat him, but I’d like to let him know I was there.

The start – I’m suprisingly calm on the start line, and get away with no problems. Into the first chemin and the pace is frantic. There’s lots of young guns hammering past, as we hit the first climb there’s a lot of them coming backwards. I’m feeling pretty good, I can see JC about 5 places up in front. Out onto the tarmac I move up a couple of places. Onto the next chemin, another climb I move up another couple of places. Now I’m right on the wheel of JC. This is good.

The climb hardens up, there’s some loose rocks, JC misses a gear, now I’m in front of him. This isn’t quite so good. I try to move up a few more places. As the pressure goes on gaps start to appear. I manage to scramble onto the back of a group of riders on a tarmac section. We’re moving quick. I glance over my shoulder, there’s a good gap to the chasing group. The pace is tough, but manageable. The trails are bone dry, and fast.

Tour of Lac St Pardoux – In what seems like no time at all we’re firing down the super-fast trails to Lac St Pardoux. I’m still in more or less the same group, and I’m still clear of JC. In fact looking back on the long straightaways there’s no one in sight. The group is down to six now, and it’s Stéphane Bernard (Ambazac Sprinter Club) who’s doing the lion’s share of the work. Every now and then Fabien Souchaud (Guidon Bellachon) goes to the front and tries to ride away. I make the occasional contribution when I can. The trails around the lake are root strewn, rocky, twisty, total concentration is required so as not to catch a pedal, or clip a tree.

The run for home – As we make the run for home Fabien Souchaud has opened up a gap, Pierre Flauraud (Bonnac VTT) is trying to get across. Stéphane is still working hard. Tight on his wheel is Thierry Germaneau (Oradour su Glane AC), then me. We pass the 10 kms to go sign. Not far now. The pace quickens a little. On some of the wide open tracks I go through and make a contribution. Then Stéphane comes firing back through as if to say, “stay out of the way you daft old bugger!!!”.

There’s a sharp right, Thierry touches Stéphane’s wheel and goes down. I ease a touch to make sure he’s OK. He remounts and we chase Stéphane.

The last climb – There’s a short tarmac climb to a road crossing. I lock my forks out and climb roadie style. By the time I cross the road Thierry has dropped off. I’m wondering if maybe he’s a bit shaken from his crash. I cross the road, and onto the climb proper. The first section is incredibly steep. I get off and run. Big rocks, big roots, big steps. The gradient eases a little and I get back on. I can see Stéphane up ahead and I’m gaining on him slowly.

I pass Stéphane, and catch Pierre. By the top of the climb I’ve passed Pierre as well. It’s pretty much downhill all the way from here. Pierre comes past on the descent. That’s OK, I’m thinking I’m first Vet. Just before the last road crossing we catch Davy Baborier. He looks cooked, and makes no effort to hold us off.

We’re racing across the finish field like madmen. Suddenly Pierre brakes hard and puts his bike sideways. There’s a drainage ditch that can’t be seen until you’re almost on it. I brake hard as well. I’m glad I wasn’t on the front for that one.

I cross the line 8th scratch, and 1st Vet B, in fact 1st Vet. I’m very pleased with my ride. One of the first things I do is thank Stéphane Bernard for all his hard work. I owe him.

Stephane Bernard Ambazac Sprinter Club - Tireless engine!

The tireless Stéphane on his S-Works HT.

Wrap up – It turns out that today’s Vet podium is 40 yrs and over. Lucky for me then that Thierry dropped off the pace, as he’s 41. Meanwhile JC was well down. I spoke to him after, and he told me that almost from the start he felt rough. He’s had well over twenty victories this season, so he can afford an ‘off day’.

Many thanks to all at the U S Nantiat club for a totally superb event.

Here’s a copy of the results.

Cognac la Foret sur les Chemins

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One of my favourite training rides is a loop up around Cognac la Foret. I use it for an easy spin, a balls-out loop, and it sections off nicely for interval traing. Straight out of the door riden briskly it’s roughly 2 hours in total. It goes summat like this……….

Through the chemin at the bottom of our road and onto the tarmac. Through L’Age then along the valley road towards St Auvent. Cross the foot bridge then climb the old Pavé, tough! Through the pretty village of St Auvent, and onto St Cyr. After St Cyr there’s an open track that leads right the way through to almost the top of the forest. A couple of tricky granny ring climbs, and you’re there, halfway round at the highest point of the ride. Dive down some swoopy stuff, some nice flowing forest trails before a fast blast across open farmland drops you onto the tarmac 2kms from home. I normally play time trialists here, seeing if I can stay on top of my gear on the drags. There’s a final singletrack descent into the village, and that’s it.

Why not give it a try yourself?…………………..