Gdansk World Cup MTBO – Sprint

The sprint event held in Park Nadmorski RjnO in the centre of Gdansk looking out on to the Baltic Sea was not part of the World Cup formally but competitors rode in their relevant classes as normal. After a fairly low key opening ceremony where we all had to ride to the start from the car park at walking pace behind our country flags we started just off a very busy cycle / pedestrian way which was thronging with people. The park was a mixture of meadow, forest and traditional park with a dense network of paths and tracks. I started really well and ‘razzed’ number 1 but lots a little time on number two getting tuned in to how everything was mapped. I then rode cleanly possibly with a little seat of the pants navigation for the next 20 or so controls, losing very little time. There were people old and young, dogs, push chairs, bikes, scooters everywhere, particularly on the busy paved tracks near the centre of the map, all out enjoying the sunny Polish bank holiday.

I made a hash of number 24 losing about a minute which was frustrating so close to the finish but I kept my nerve on the last two managing standing punches and finished strongly..

Official results are not yet up but I was pleased to be about ½ way down in 27^th.

Em rode strongly in Womens Elite to take 4^th
In the Masters team GB had some great results:
Andy Conn, 4^th Mens 40+
Sarah Bayliss 2^nd Womens 40+
Charlie Somers-Cocks 1^st Womens 50+

Full results now available here:

http://www.harpagan.pl/worldcup/?page=results&lang=en