It only rained in Scotland for about twenty minutes the entire time we were there this year. We were only there for four days, but that has to some kind of record.  This past weekend was round number five of the World Cup in Fort William, Scotland.  Fort Will has been a staple on the World Cup circuit for the last five or six years and even hosted the World Championship last year so needless to say they know how to hold a bike race.  The race was even broadcast live on BBC.

This year in addition to being blessed with great weather and sunshine there were hardly any midges. Midges are the Scottish version mosquitoes that seem to be even worse than Vermont’s black flies.  Being a mountain bike racer traveling all over the world I have probably spent more time in strange forests than I have in exotic cities.  I have become much more familiar with bugs and dirt than with shops and famous museums. 

Anyway, getting back to the weekend, we were blessed with great weather again and a fast, dry (almost dusty) course.  The race course was the same one used for World Championships last year with a few sections cut out to shorten the lap.  The coolest parts about the course are the B.C. style bridges that are littered throughout it.  This year they added a “decision maker” section where you could take the long route on a wide bridge or ride the faster line on a very narrow bride about six inches wide with some kinks.  I chose the narrow faster line and it worked well for me on five out the six laps.

The race started well with Burry (Stander) and I both getting a front row call up and leading out the first section of the climb.  From there I dangled in and out of the lead group of seven for the first half of the race.  I then dropped back to chase group and rode comfortably there until a last lap acceleration dispatched me from the group, and I came in solo for 13th.  Burry hung tough in the front group and managed to bag another podium taking 5th on the day to the delight of his mom, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew who surprised him by showing up unannounced minutes before the start.  My result in this World Cup helped solidify my cause for making the Beijing Olympic team which will be officially announced in two weeks.  Right now it is looking really good so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Thanks for your support,

Todd Wells

(Photos courtesy of www.cyclingnews.com)