Looking back on the 25/26 CX Season
Cyclocross is a cornerstone of the KWCC race season. With the fantastic London & South East Cyclocross League on our doorstep, plus other options further afield with the Wessex, Central, Kent and Essex League, there are plenty of options to keep the competitive energy going throughout the winter months. After another season done and dusted, we celebrate the achievements and a few mishaps of our members who rode the mud.
The Season begins
The CX season kicked off with a bang, with several Wheelers racing in the London and South East CX League and also further afield. New to the V40 category, Declan took a win in the first race of the season at Springfield Cross in Chelmsford, part of the Eastern CX League, whilst Martyn Hopping and Marcus Jones raced at Herne Hill securing 39th in the V40 and 5th in the Juniors respectively.
Round 2 of the London League saw a big turnout at Crystal Palace, with Marcus back in the Juniors, and Martyn joined by Declan Egan, Harry Bunnell and Simon White in the V40. Elsewhere Chris Montague, Dan di Principe and Tim Wormleighton in the V50, along with a big turnout from KJCC in the youth races. Declan took another podium with a hard-fought second place, after leading much of the race. Meanwhile Martyn secured viral fame after a spectacular wipe out on the acorns on the first corner.
In Round 3 of the London & SE CX League last Sunday at Pippingford Park, Declan got yet another podium, this time coming in third behind two Vicious Velo riders. They would prove to be his nemesis all season, creating an exciting tussle in every race.
Wins a plenty
October was a busy month for the CX crew with two races in the London and South East Cyclo-Cross League. Round 4 at Herne Hill Velodrome had a huge turnout with Marcus grabbing a strong 6th place finish in the Juniors, Tim Partington, Simon and Declan in the V40, Tim in the V50 and Brian Williamson back in action in the V60.
This was followed by Round 5 at the end of the month on the hilly Somerhill course in Tonbridge. The Wheeler Women took the race by storm, with Laura McMullen and Alex Joss on 1st and 2nd step of the podium in the V40 category in the women’s race. In the other races the Wheeler men had a tougher day out with Marcus having to settle for 9th in the Juniors and Jumpei bringing up the rear of the field in the V40. Chris continued his good form in the V50 with 26th place, Tim came in 55th and Brian was 13th in the V60.
Elsewhere Declan was casting his net wider with great success; taking a 2nd place at the Duke of Yorks in the East Kent CX League, and then getting a big win on the mountain bike at the Highlands Farm XCO out in Frimley, Surrey.
The mud arrives
After relatively dry conditions for the first half of the league, a few downpours made Round 6 at East Bysshe a pretty muddy affair. It’s an equestrian Cross Country Course and Showground so mostly grass track with some challenging trails around a stream at the back of the course. Harry, Jumpei and Martyn took on the challenge with aplomb in the V40; especially Martyn who managed to snap his seat post and duly ran the final lap shouldering his bike… and didn’t finish last!
At the Regional Champs at Cyclopark the mud turned into a peanut butter mix and many riders struggled with bikes getting clogged up with mud, including Declan who ended up as a DNF. He puts it down to his rim width ballooning his out his tyres and limiting the frame clearance. Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to ‘cross!
The season draws to a close
December means we are getting close to the end of the CX season. Round 8 of the London League took place at Canada Heights in Swanley, which is mainly used as a motocross circuit. It’s a great course with some punchy climbs and tunnels made from containers embedded in the landscape. With Marcus out injured (sitting second overall in the Juniors) it was just Harry and Martyn representing the Wheelers in the V40 category. A spirited ride from both, cheered on by the KJCC and Sutton CC kids, saw them finish 16th and 31st respectively.
As tradition dictates, the 1st of January means Madison Cross at Herne Hill Velodrome. Shaking off their New Year Day’s hangovers, the plucky pairs of Martyn and Simon, CJ and his new friend Sam took to the Velodrome to see in the New Year frolicking in the mud. Much fun was had by all, with a special mention from Martyn for the post (or pre?) race bloody mary.
Wheeler’s very own MVDP Declan Egan, picked up his fourth CX win of the season in the East Kent CX League Betteshanger V40, and then went onto claim fourth place in the seniors on the same day. That made 11 times he’s been on the podium this season and yet to finish a race outside the top four. Imperious stuff.
The end of January saw the penultimate London League race and back to Herne Hill Velodrome. We had Harry, Jumpei and Martyn racing in the V40, and Marcus back in action in the Junior race. After a week of heavy rain it was a pretty filthy affair, with riders going down all over the course. Marcus added to his league points with a decent 6th place in the Juniors, whilst Harry rolled in 17th, Jumpei 28th and Martyn 32nd in the V40.
This was swiftly followed by Preston Park on 1st February where Declan was in the hunt for a win to round out his season, but tricky conditions saw him coming down and losing the front of the race but still finishing in a very credible 6th place. Chapeau to Marcus who finished with an excellent 5th place in the Juniors, which also saw him 5th overall in the London League standings.
Season finale at the Team Champs
The final race of the season was the Team Champs on 8th Feb back at Cyclopark. coming up this Sunday to end the CX season. CJ and Martyn formed a composite team with Chris Jenkins, Sam Brown (OneSixSix Velo) & Sam Woodward (Addiscombe CC).
After all the rain building up to the race the conditions were slippery, but by the time the vets raced it was starting to dry out in places and get sticky with plenty of ruts to get stuck into.
The team had a few mishaps, including Chris’ late arrival and last minute wheel change, then disaster struck when Sam punctured on the sighting lap and then promptly pinch flatted the spare innertube. He borrowed one of Martyn’s son’s bikes for the race, with a pit stop worthy of formula 1 with a change of pedals & race number, getting to the grid with two minutes to spare before the race started.
It was a fantastic technical course which initially gave “WTF”, but by the time you raced it all clicked into place. A great end to a fantastic season!
