3 Peaks cx: vic peel’s race

After my 2019 result at the 57th annual 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross [not necessarily disappointing but not what I know I’m capable of achieving]. I went into this year with ‘unfinished business‘. Needless to say, this year exceeded all expectations! By 0630 I was parked in Helwith Bridge, in the usual spot, nibbling on my breakfast of chocolatey overnight oats and sipping on my brew as my stomach churned with nerves, occasionally nodding off to pass the time. By 0930, I was warmed up and feeling fresh, the field was gridded; much to my surprise I was called up to the front group after having achieved 10th woman in 2019, nerves were running high. The start bell was sounded. Knowing I had to give it everything in the first 3 or so miles (to Selside) to stay with the lead group, I was running off adrenaline to maintain position to have a good climb up Simon Fell. When I say climb, it was more of a leg-burning, steady slog to the top, but pretty much everyone is in the same boat, just some faster than others. Thankfully I managed to gain places, and had a trouble and incident free, fast descent down Ingleborough to Cold Cotes. Where spectators shouted ‘First Lady’, surely they had miscounted?! Determined to stay in the zone and not become complacent, I dug deep on the road section from Ingleton to Chapel-le-Dale, taking on food, gels and water where the gradient allowed and conserving energy by drafting behind other riders where I could until the hike-a-bike up Whernside began. I remembered having a massive low in this section of the race back in 2019, so staying positive was a must- ‘think of seeing familiar faces at the Ribblehead checkpoint!’. Familiar faces came sooner than I expected as my physio Tierney was at the summit, with husband and daughter, shouting many words of motivation. Another successful, super fun descent down another hill other than one tumble over the bars half way down but thankfully with a soft landing in rushes. At Ribblehead, the growing crowds of supporters and spectators were again calling ‘first lady’, and after catching a glance of my partner Jack and my mum spurred me on again as I rode past. Again, I used the road section back down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale to take on nutrition and keep the pace up. By the time I reached the base of Pen-y-Ghent, I heard ‘go girls’ from a spectator... girls? Hang on!? I’d been caught by Bryony Halcrow, we spent the entirety of the final climb yo-yoing, knowing she’s a good fell runner, I had a tough battle on my hands, but the Yorkshire blood in me wasn’t letting anyone get in the way of my 3rd and final prime of the day, with the help of a couple of my colleagues sat at ‘Cowbell corner’ with cowbells, I pushed on to reach the final check point at the summit first and proceeded to ensure I had a safe ride down the slippy and somewhat treacherous Pen-y-Ghent with a high level of fatigue and the stress of having 2nd place hot on my heels so late on in the race. Finding the right balance of letting my bike do the work downhill while maintaining acceptable levels of control, I gained time back, and pushed on along the road, after experiencing excruciating cramps in both inner thighs and a bit of one-foot pedalling on each side, I kicked on, staying with a small group for a few hundred yards before putting in a shift up and over the final section of the road, to take lead of the bunch coming into the finish. 3:54:41 official time (1st class award) and 1st Lady – my 2 goals achieved with the added bonus of 3 x primes for all 3 ascents. Thank you Hope Tech for your ongoing support, making my race possible, Jack and Mum as top pit crew and all race supporters and spectators cheering my name, and finally to the 3PCX for hosting a fantastic comeback event post covid. I will be back to defend my title...

Words: Vic Peel  
Pictures:  Mike Clark /Andy Jones /  James Middleton