Billy Whenman is one of the most talented teenage riders in the UK and competes in XC races as well as on the road. He is supported by Marin and rode an Indian Fire Trail in the National XC Series Sherwood Pines at the weekend and then the 50k enduro the next day. Here is his report.
We arrived on Friday and pre-rode the course, and decided which tires and bike to ride for the race. So I was on the start line on the Saturday aboard my Indian Fire Trail equipped with Continental Twister tyres.
I felt quite nervous lined up against some of the country's top riders but I was soon under way in the second Round of the National XC series.
Lying in third place meant I was gridded third, which got me a good start. With a quick start a group of four of us got away and were full on around the course.
I was feeling comfortable sitting in the middle of this group, when the leader shipped his chain in singletrack. Another rider attacked at the same time but none of us could respond, which enabled him to get a healthy gap. We were soon chasing him down and pulled the gap back to ten seconds with a lap to go.
I was sitting on the wheel of the rider in front saving energy for my last effort, when a rider attacked but I couldn't respond and he got a gap. We chased but weren't getting any closer and as the end of the lap came we slowed off the pace, watching each other for the finish when we were joined by another rider who attacked. We both jumped on his wheel.
I was feeling confident, as my legs still felt good so I sat and waited along the fast-rolling fire track leading up to the finish. As we hit the bumpy, muddy field the pace rose and I could see the finish.
I made my move up the outside of the rider and when he saw me on his outside he swung across, forcing me to slam on my brakes. I waited until the track opened up and put in an effort, breaking clear and taking a respectable third place, just 30 seconds down on the lead.
National 50km Enduro
With torrential rain all night I opted for a more grippy tyre today and ran the Speed King. With other riders still running a dry tyre I knew I had made the right choice as soon as we got to the start and the rain came down.
I attacked from the gun and took with me one other rider who was a 25km man so I wasn't too worried about him.
My legs were feeling tight from the race the day before, but I was going for the win. The course had changed a lot due to the rain, turning into a real power course.
At half way I was alone and still feeling good. I wasn't sure how big a lead I had so I kept digging in and soon found myself on my last lap with no brakes due to the wet, muddy sand grinding them away. My lap times were slowing but I was sure that everyone else was in the same position so I kept going.
Half way around my last lap I was catching riders and went straight past them and they were chasing me, I thought this was a bit strange but I later found out they were the leaders of the 100km race.
I finished my muddiest race ever with my first National win of the year, with hopefully many more to come. With a lead of 6:30, I was well chuffed with my win.
Thank you to Marin for my bikes, Continental for the best tyres on the course, Tutto Bici for tuning my forks and Easton for my lightweight bar and stem.
