Where to start?! Well everything was going great. Both the lads and girls had a solid day in the prologue and into stage one, where the lads took the overall lead following their stage win and the girls placing sixth with their endurance background still to come we were looking good. Stage two and Burry and Christoph (Team Songo) despite Burry suffering from a “slow puncture” finished second retaining their overall lead and the girls maintaining their position.

Report by Conrad on XTerra, South Africa 

Race Reports, Sunday April 20th April, 2008

Women’s Race @ 10:30: Lene has a good start to her season

This weekend’s racing in Belgium featured the biggest fields ever attending the Houffalize World Cup, which says a lot of positive things for what many would argue to be the most popular venue on the circuit. Lene had a bad start and was to be found lingering in the low twenties, which was probably due to some cobwebs because of a lack of early season racing. As the racing progressed Lene grew stronger to finish a very creditable 11th position.

Lene is smiles pre race start (courtesy Gary Perkin) 

Race Reports, Sunday April 27th, 2008

Women’s Race @ 10:30: Lene builds on her world cup standing since last weekend

Lene working her way down one of the tricky drops (courtesy Gary Perkin)

As promised, but not in line with previous years here in Offenburg, where rain was the norm, the sun was shinning down brightly, leaving very dry, fast racing conditions. I have to say confidence was high on my part going into Lene’s race and I felt at least a top ten position was realistic, but Lene proved that and more to place a very commendable 7th overall.

Lene working hard to maintain her position (courtesy Gary Perkin) 

Our third dry race in a row is an impressive run of good luck given the time of year and the possibility of rain in Belgium and Germany especially. Here in Madrid though, we had temperatures in the mid 20’s, which provided very fast surfaces and plenty of dust! The venue itself is one that I really like. It’s located in the heart of Madrid, in a city park and given the close proximity of the city attracts a lot of spectators, which gives the event a really cool vibe and feel.

Men's start (courtesy Gary Perkin)

Women's Race: Consistency shines through for Lene

The European Championships took place in St Wendel, Germany with Lene, Liam and Christoph each riding and representing their respective countries of Norway, Great Britain and Switzerland.

Women’s Race:

Women’s Crosscounty Race at 11:30am (Saturday June 7th) (All photos courtesy Gary Perkin)

Having skipped the Andorra World Cup, Lene was to be found back on the start line today ahead of the World Championships to be held in Italy in two weeks time. Other notably riders back, having not raced in Andorra were Sabine Spitz and Gunn Rita Dahle.

Lene the Norwegian Champion, battling with Sabine Spitz

Men’s Crosscountry Sunday June 23rd 2008

 Liam making sure all is in order (courtesy Gary Perkin)

Today was personal for many reasons ….. Personal for Susi’s mum, Benno, the team and I …. Karina (Susi’s mum) has been there forever, Benno has been his mechanic since 2003 and Susi has been a great friend to me since 1999. We have seen the marathon world championship, two world cup overall titles, the thirteen world cup wins, but until today no world cross country win, something that has eluded Susi, but a title he truly deserved.

The determined eye (courtesy Gary Perkin)

Men’s Downhill, Saturday June 21st 

The downhill ski jump

What a course and what a race – “a rowdy course” to be more accurate. On finals day, Frank Stacy, Specialized’s tire consultant and I walked the course in awe of the riders and what they were tackling. It was simply unreal to watch.

Steve Peat much like Susi has been at the top for so long, but that world championship jersey has always been that one position out of reach. God he came close today. With Sam Hill falling in the last corner, Steve Peat was on top with only Gee Atherton left. But Peat’s team mate Atherton stole the show to take a well deserved victory.

More to follow on the race at the front, but to see what happened for yourself you can find it all on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_DnXB_B6H8 - what did Susi do wrong that had him relegated to second?? Note: The youtube post has been removed.

The good news is that Susi is ok with more reports to follow.

All photos courtesy Gary Perkin

Susi and Roel hit the ground