NapoCup XCO

16 Jun

NapoCup XCO was the first UCI race in my hometown Cluj Napoca after a while (the last one was Maros XCO in 2012).

I had a pretty nasty crash the day before the race and the shoulder and hip pain was still there at the start. But who cares about the pain when I have to race?

The course was physically demanding but not really technical. Two small natural rockgardens and some tight and narrow S-turns but also the altitude gain / lap (aprox. 185m after my gps). Anyway these rocks could cut the tire, but once again I’ve managed not to use the SKS tools and pump that I had at the tech zone.

My start was one of the best this season but then the pain didn’t let me to do the job as I want it. But I couldn’t quit in front of my “homies”. My dad and a lot of friends were there cheering. My godfather was helping at the double feed zone so I had a good team behind and supporting me. Even if the forecast predicted some rain it wasn’t even close, instead was so damn hot and humid, that on the uphills I hardly could breathe. Luckily I had the perfect hydration products and energy gels from Maratonic.

Pushed as hard as possible and due to a lot of factors I’ve managed to reach one of my target: top 10. The other was not to be lapped. It wasn’t possible this time but I am working on it. I also have to recover after the crash but I am optimistic.

Many thanks like always to my family and especially my wife and dad for the support, to my sponsors who made this possible, but also to everyone who cheered me up. I hope that this race will become a tradition and maybe next year we will have even a better course.

Hear you soon. Cheers,

Vlad