Entry to the cyclocross season
Our riders participated in their first races of this year’s cyclocross season in a near-by czech town of Loštice. It was part of the Czech national cup, a world cup of C2 category, on 22 September.
The circuit is rather technical, close to a local football stadium with the major part leading through a forest park. Four Slovak riders were on the start – present Champion of Slovakia Gavenda, our Martin Haring, young Ondrej Glajza and Czecho-slovak rider Václav Metlička. Martin said about the race: „I didn’t have a good start, but soon managet to get up to 12th position. I could still see the riders ahead of me. Unfortunatelly I had some technical problems with my bike during the race so I dropped few places where I stayed till the end of the race. I finished in 15th place. I feel good power in my legs, but I lack the explosiveness and speed. It was but the first race of the season, so nothing to worry about.”
The following weekend, a literally 3-day stage race awaited some riders – those who decided to take part in the Czech Uničov (C2) on the 28 October prior to two first Slovak races in Udiča over the weekend. Again four Slovak riders took start in Uničov – Gavenda, Haring, Metlička and Bátora. It was a race season opening for Lukáš after his return from Pakistan. Martin Haring said about the race: „A big group of some 20 riders was riding together. Only Martin Bína succeeded in escaping from the group sometimes during the second lap and he kept his safe distance during the whole race. No one else broke-away from this group, but as the speed was pretty high, there were riders dropping out in the back. The surface was hard, it was important to ride in a group, whoever lagged behind was soon dropped of due the strong wind. I managed to ride in 7th place, but finished 9th in the end due to technical problems with chain.“ Lukáš Bátora did not finish the race due to a fall and flat tyre.
The first two races of the Slovak BCF National Cup resembled more of a Czech national series due to the high number of Czech riders. Almost whole men’s peloton from Uničov moved to Udiča to compete for the season’s first UCI points. “I had a bad start in all of these races. I was always riding in the second group chasing the leaders. I finished in 15th place on Saturday and slightly better on Sunday, in 10th place, but I still wasn’t very happy about my riding. I’m grateful for the 10th place and 1 UCI point, but hope to ride better. My goal now is to heal myself as I’m a bit ill, I’ve had a sore throat and a light flu.” Said Haring after the race. But obviously he was in a good mood as he added: “Well, I guess I’m still better off with an increased body temperature compared to Laco Longauer who broke his leg today.”
Duo Glajza-Haring participated the following weekend 6.-7. October in a Czech Cup in Mladá Boleslav and in the Slovak BCF Cup in Podbrezová. Martin said he was happy about his start in Mladá Boleslav: „I started really well and was riding in a group of 10. With 3 laps to go I had problems with my tubular what resulted in an unpleasant fall. It took me quite some time to get off the ground and the bike was not in a ridable state. With the pit being far I quit the race. Now a long night of repairing my bike is ahead of me.“
Riders were greeted by this season’s first rain in Podbrezová. The course was well prepared and interesting for spectators due to the rain. A genuine cyclocross. „We got home around midnight but I still had to repair the damaged bike so didn’t get to bed only after couple hours later. My racing was highly affected by the difficult night, so once again I had a slow start. I did enjoy my riding from then on though so with 5 laps to go I managed to chase down the leasing group of 4 czech riders. I made no mistakes and rode well on the slippery grass and mud. I attacked with 1 lap to go, but got stuck in the extremelly high stairs. Boroš and Lasák took advantage of my fault and so I finished 3rd. It was a very dramatic scenario, I could have attacked the first place if I had more power left.“ Martin stated after the race.
The following weekend, Haring again took part in a race in Czech republik, in Hlinsko. “Slow starts are killing me this year. It really is all about the starts in my case. I managed to get to almost 30th place after starting in the first row. I made my way up to 12th place again, but my way of racing is really a big disappointment to myself. I definitelly do need to work on my bad starts.” Said the angry Haring after the finish.
Slovak BCF Cyclocross cup continued the following weekend by a race in Borová. Martin Haring lost to his long-term rival, well experienced Milan Barényi. The track suited Lukáš Bátora who made it to a 3rd place and really deserved the podium that day.
Haring: “Milan was simply better today. He had more energy and made no mistakes. I couldn’t cove the gap between us. I was tired from yesterday’s race, but since I didn’t ride well yesterday either, I was really angry at myself this weekend. Now there are 2 World Cups ahead of me in Tábor and Plzeň. I feel great, I’m not at all worried about my performance level, I only hope not to do unnecessary mistakes. I’m not happy about by start of the season, but don’t want to make any conclusions yet. It’s just the beginning of the season, I do feel good, so I leave the first evaluation after the first world cups.”
Bátora: “I had hard time to adjusting back to this climate after my return from Pakistan. My performance was really low in Udiča, slightly better in Podbrezová. Luckily I managed to ride well in Borová the following weekend, what kicked me off and I could feel at last the hard kilometres of training preparation I did in Guyand and in Pakistan in the heights. I’m really glad I can see daily improvements in my performance.”
Fraňo: „After 2 months of intensive travelling and racing in Tour de Guyane, in Pakistani Himalayas followed by a stage race in Grand Prix Chantal Biya in Cameroon I felt completely exhausted. The change of climate, travelling all aroung the Earth and tiredness from the demanding past two months really hit me. I can’t even remember racing in cross on such a low level. But this is only a temporary state, I’ll profit from my demanding preparation after some time, I just have to be patient."
Slovak BCF Cup continued by a 5th series in Raková. Martin Haring didn’t want to take any risk and was leading the race from the 3rd lap when he escaped his followers Barényi and Ondrej Glajza. Lukáš Bátora was the unlucky one again. He fell ill before the weekend and ended up on antibiotics. Martin Fraňo proved his words were right and showed an improvement to 18th place from past week’s 27th.
Zuzana Vojtášová took once again the runner-up position, followed by her team-mate Lívia Hanesová.
Ivan Haas, racing in the Masters A category finished 7th in his age group.
“I boosted my ego slightly before the upcoming world cup in Tábor by winning in 2 consecutive races in Slovakia. I eased off in the end today so as to save energy for tomorrow’s starts in Tábor. I believe I can finish in the top 40.“ shared Haring his good mood from today.
“My performance was increasing day by day. I was not only looking forward to Raková, but also to the Tábor World Cup. Unfortunatelly the illness changed my plans. I’m sorry I’ll miss out on the Plzeň WC. It will slow down my preparation for the National Championships, but well, I guess that’s what sport is about as well.” Said the unhappy Lukáš.
Sunday following the Raková race, part of CT BB took part in first Hungarian cup, the Supercross. Our cyclists did well in the fast track. In the women’s category Zuzana Vojtášová finished 2nd and Lívia Hanesová completed the podium.
Men and Masters A had a joint start – alltogether some 60 riders. Fraňo proved his increasing apetite and finished 5th. Debnár crossed the finish line in 9th place.
Zuzana shared her point of view from the race: „I like cyclocross races in Hungary. Tracks are nice and interesting and what I like most is the higher number of women showing up for a race. Their performance level varies broadly, from world cup riders in MTB to girls coming back from a maternity leave, or just girlfriends coming along to the race with their boyfriends. But you can see they are all enjoying themselves and having fun. I was fighting hard for the victory with Hungarian Champion Eszter Dozsa, but I was loosing in the powerful hilly section so only finished 2nd after all. I am happy to see my performance level is going up though.“
„This was my second race on a cyclocross bike. I still have lot to learn, especially in the technique of riding. I’m happy I won the ‘fight’ for the 3rd place with two other Hungarian girls. I really like this discipline and enjoy especially my new Merida bike. It truly is a big difference to ride CX using cyclocross special or a MTB bike.” Shared Lívia her feelings after the finish.
“I’m glad to say I didn’t panic at my bad shape in the beginning of the season - I was right the fitness level is coming back to normal and I see a massive improvement from race to race. Even though I had a slow start, I managed to get from 20th place to a 5th one. I’m happy with my placing, don’t think could chase down the front group consisting of Gajdošík, Fejes, Buruczki and Bur, they were obviously stronger than me, but the times i was loosing to these guys were not at all alarming. I believe to do even better in the next race.“ Said the team manager and racer, Martin Fraňo.
Results: Racing schedule 2012.
