FOUR Guernsey Velo riders thought they were breaking new ground when they raced in Brittany for the first time at the weekend, but all they got was mud and lots of it. Nick Mann, Danny Shaw, Josh Gosselin and Matt Osborn went to Brest to compete in the second round of the Brittany Cup, a mountain-bike cross-country series.
Low temperatures and heavy overnight rain meant that the course, sections of which were used for the recent French National Cyclocross Championships, was hard going at best and unrideable in several places.
In the seniors’ race, Gosselin moved straight into the top 10 from the start while Mann and Shaw were caught up in the main group of riders fighting their way up a long and technical climb.
Shaw was able to put his mud skills to good use and lifted his pace, while Mann set a sustainable rate that would not compromise a recent chest injury.
After a long race of attrition, Gosselin came home in 1hr 50min. as sixth Espoir while Shaw and Mann finished the masters’ category fourth and seventh respectively.
Meanwhile, three minutes behind in the juniors’ race, Osborn was caught out by the very fast start made by the French and consequently was near the back of the 24.
A consistent effort saw him move through the field to finish 1-40 later in 11th.
Hoping for a drier course, Mann and Gosselin headed off this weekend for the next round, to be contested near Pontivy.
Article posted on 7th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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