Here is some more information on wideopen mag on my leave from Trek Gravity Girls http://wideopenmag.co.uk/news/12904/jess-stone-to-leave-trek-gravity-girls.
I am very excited about this season, I am joining a new team.... more information to follow !!
There will be no new years party antics for me - instead I shall be having an early night in preparation for the Worcester Top Barn Cyclo Cross race on Sunday. I'd like to start the year off with a clear mind and body (no hangovers or greasy fry ups!) and having fun on my bike. Start as you mean to go on I say.
I would like to thank everyone for their awesome support in my 2011 season, I have appreciated the good luck and supportive messages very much. I have had a brilliant time riding my bike and taking the opportunities that the season brought !
Have a good one you lot, and be sure to have a drink for me!!! Bring on 2012; a year that will be filled of fun, surprises and adventures. I'm well excited !!!!
Jess x
"Good, Better, Best. Never let it Rest. Until your Good is Better and your Better is Best"
I was really looking forward to racing the Midland Championships at Sundorne Sports Village (Shrewsbury). This was to be my 2nd ever CX race, and I was actually quite nervous as I'm am still trying to figure out what hows and what's of the sport! I was feeling confident in my fitness, but riding off road on effectively a road bike was something else! When I had raced the Western League Round at Pittville Park in November (Cheltenham) I had raced on a Trek Fuel EX with skinny tyres (courtesy of Worcester Cycle Centre) which was tough going on a full sus but great fun! I won the race, and felt confident that I could do well during the Champs, however, I knew it would be a challenge with 3 National Champions and a Junior World Champion road rider... !
When I got to the race, it was absolutely freezing. It wasn't raining but the weather was looking threatening with dark clouds overhead ! When the previous category had finished their run, I swiftly made my way over to the course to do a few warm up laps. The course was fast and dry(ish) but the woods were pretty tech on my Trek Cronus CX Pro, took some getting used to the drop handlebars! There were also a short road section and a pretty challenging off-camber section.
After a couple of laps warm up, we all got called up to the start and lined up. It was surreal, the great thing about CX is that you can be an absolute beginner but get the opportunity to race alongside the pro's. In front of me I had Lucy Garner, Hannah Payton, Isla Rowntree and Louise Robinson and 12 other women lined up. As soon as the whistle was about to be blown, the heavens opened and started to rain. It was quite funny as everyone moaned, but I knew it was great for me. We set off and I got to the start and tried to hold on to the leaders, which was alright until we started going onto the off road bits, and realised that my tyres were very much unsuited to muddy conditions and I had absolutely no grip what-so-ever. So the leaders began to pull away and I tried my best to maintain a good pace. Throughout the ride, Helen Clayton and myself were constantly changing positions and it was good as it pushed me harder knowing I either had to catch up or get away! Near the end of the penultimate lap, I managed to sneak past Clayton on an off camber section and from them on I worked hard on seeking good lines and pulled away to gain a near 30 second gap, I crossed the line and had no idea where I finished.
When I finished I was pretty tired, but knew I had so much more to give. It was challenging but I absolutely loved it. I didn't know how I did until I got home and found out I was 5th - which I was really surprized about !! Great day's work !
Women
1 Hannah Payton WJ Kinesis Morvelo Project
2 Louise Robinson WV45 Stourbridge CC
3 Lucy Garner WJ Motorpoint Pro Cycling
4 Isla Rowntree WV40 Stourbridge CC
5 Jess Stone WU23 Trek Gravity Girls
6 Helen Clayton WU23 Lichfield City CC
7 Diane Lee W Zepnat.Com/Kuota/GSG
8 Elizabeth Clayton WV45 Lichfield City CC
9 Sarah Naylor W Ashfield RC
10 Ruth Eyles WV40 Beacon Roads CC
11 Phoebe Sneddon W Mule Bar Girls
12 Rebecca Keogh WU23 Solihull CC
13 Alison Holmes WV40 Lichfield City CC
14 Caroline Mansfield WV40
15 Virginia Rootkin-Gray W Solihull CC
16 Carul Gibson WV45 Halesowen A & CC
17 Vanessa Carman WV50 None
