XC Race Analysis (BigM Challenge) Expert Cat.

**Heat and humidly made it difficult to keep the lens clean, but I periodically wipe it clear with my glove.**

BigM Challenge was a 3 lap (8.5 miles each) race that was held in Wellston, MI, on July 24, 2021. This was the 4th race of the Championship Point Series (CPS) consisting typically of 10 races throughout the season, though COVID may alter this. The CPS takes points from your best 5 race finishes and awards the top 3 at the end of the season with the most points. This race course is mostly flowy with a big hill in the beginning and rooty, twisty section in the middle. Rain/thunderstorms were forecasted but luckily they held off until after the race.

I felt good to begin this race but played it conservative as the heat and humidity (reportedly 99%) can start to affect all that as the race continues. Lap 1 was fast and I hit an all time lap PR by about 2:00. Lap 2 felt slow, and it was by about 5:00, which allowed a "sleeper" racer to attach to the back of our leading group of 3. Ending lap 2 a couple of 50+ race leaders caught and passed our group so I attached to the back of them for lap 3. This is also the first I saw of this "sleeper". Since he came along with the 50+ group, I assumed he was in the 50+ category. He was however in our category but had been yo-yoing off the back mostly out of sight. Late in lap 3 the sleeper made a move past me and I momentarily thought to follow, but I looked back and didn't see any of my competition. This was a mistake because he was my competition and when I eventually picked up the pace I was held up on some fast downhills by one of the 50+ racers. Since I had never raced the sleeper before I didn't recognize him as my competition and I wasn't able to race for 1st. Ugh, my mistake and wish I could have tried to empty the tank for a potential win. Well, lesson learned for me and I'm still happy with 2nd place and my first podium in Expert.

Видео XC Race Analysis (BigM Challenge) Expert Cat. канала MI-XC