Round 15 | Wilmington | 2nd February 2014
- Weather: sunny
- Course: Thick mud. Off camber
- Highlight: surviving

Although I came into this race full of optimism and the night before I had a dream, and the day before was the Worlds it just wasn’t enough. Before the end of the first lap I wanted the race to end. It was so tragic even my Garmin gave up and died.

It was like battle. Proper old fashioned trench warfare. I just wanted to be in bed.
The mud was so thick and claggy that I had to carry a trusty twig in my back pocket that earned its place at least three times a lap. My wheels became so clogged they wouldn’t turn. Perhaps having disc brakes would have helped. Someone pitting certainly would have. A second bike even more. But we can’t all be pro.

But let’s focus on the positives. It was sunny. I wore my sunglasses for the first time in a century. It wasn’t cold. I had new shoes. And the shoes have teeth on them, like an evil rabbit, for chewing the ground. I have named them The Mudbiters.
It was a good job I had The Mudbiters as I ended up doing a lot of running. And so did everyone else.
Photos by John Mullineaux
Some people pulled out and finished early but thankfully the bell lap eventually arrived. I was thirsty. My bike was completely clogged. Time for cake and home.
Pos | Name | Team | Time | Lap 1 | Lap 2 | Lap 3 | Lap 4 |
1 | Holly McMahon | Team Darenth | 56:28:00 | 13:18 | 13:40 | 14:11 | 15:17 |
2 | Hannah Ormesher | North Road CC | 01:01:07 | 14:27 | 15:16 | 14:45 | 16:37 |
3 | Alice Miller | Look Mum No Hands! | 01:05:37 | 14:15 | 16:13 | 17:15 | 17:52 |
4 | Anett Deli | Cyclelabs | 29:07:00 | 13:52 | 15:14 |
More photos here
Full results here
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