Silverfish News

Scott Beaumont Reports from the 4X World Cup Round 1

The 2010 World Cup season started on Saturday night, in Belgium, under floodlights at the famous Houffalize track.

The weather held all week with sunshine and high temperatures. The track did not have any changes for this year. With the global economic crisis and the threat of this race actually being cancelled only a couple of months ago, there simply was no budget to make any track alterations. To be honest when we arrived, the track was in pretty good shape to say no one had touched it in a year!

For me it was a nightmare in the week before the race. I unfortunately caught viral gastroenteritis, a bad stomach bug that just drains you. In the week before Houffalize I lost about a stone in weight (about 7 kgs) and I was unable to train at all. So probably the worst preparation I could have had.

However the show must go on and we started with practice on Thursday night. With just short of 150 riders entered, 4X is again growing and gaining popularity on the World Cup. Will we see 200 riders in the next year??? I think it is possible. The only problem with increased numbers is the track gets pretty busy. It all went well though and I felt like I had some good speed at the end of the first practice session.



Onto Friday and qualifying. To be honest, I was feeling pretty flat. My legs were already tired from day 1's practice session and my illness from the week before. To make it a little worse I crashed 20 minutes before qualifying on one of my last practice runs. No major problem, but not the way I wanted to go into qualifying.

In my run I put it all together well, but half way down the track I was exhausted!!! Across the finish line, and unfortunately I was back in 15th position. Not a disaster by any means but certainly not how I wanted to start my World Cup campaign.

So into the finals on Saturday night. My draw was pretty tough, but with my illness last week, I didn't really have any expectations. The main problem I had was I didn't have much power in my legs on the first straight. Once into the course I had some good lines and my plan was to stay close and make some moves. I also knew that last year, alot of the action was in turn one, two and three. Specifically Gee Atherton used the big 'high low' in turn one to his advantage, so I had this in mind all night.

In round one I had Lucas Mechura to contend with. He is really fast out of the gate and on the first straight, so with lane choice I decided to go for lane 2, inviting him to take lane 1 so I could drop in behind him into turn one. However he had a game plan of his own and he chose lane 3! I made a good gate, but as expected Lucas took the lead. The two of us pulled away through the first few turns so I watched his lines. I knew into the tunnel he was using the outside line and for my 2nd round that was the place I thought I could pass. We both went through to round 2.

So the 2nd round and to add to Lucas, Joost Wichman joined us. This time I definitely wanted some space on the first straight to get my gears wound up. So with second choice I went for gate 4! I made an ok gate and swung out wide in turn one, and incredibly Joost took the lead and the guys in second and third crashed. I was on my wide line ready to cut back and I ended up riding past them on the floor! Into round 3 - the quarter finals.

Joost took gate one, this time I went for gate two as I felt I could get to the first turn in second ahead of the others. The plan was working perfect and I was in second in the first turn, when the other two used the high low and came flying into each other next to me. I hit the brakes and avoided the carnage. Into round 4 - the semi finals.

Now it started getting tough. Joost Wichman, Roger Rinderknecht, Tomas Slavic and me. My lack of power showed this time and I went into turn one in fourth. I used the outside line in turn one and two to draw level with Wichman and Slavik into turn three and four, but just could not get ahead of them before the tunnel where the track went tight and kind of single file. I went out but felt I had good track speed and kept the other 3 honest in the race.

So onto the small final to determine 5th to 8th positions. Joost, Dan Atherton, Johannes Fischbach and myself. It was the same plan for me. Out wide on turn one and swing low to avoid the carnage if there was any. Athy and Fischy came together and the door opened again for me to get on Joosts tail. I had a bit of a scare 2 turns from the finish when I unclipped my left foot and couldn't get it back in the pedal till I crossed the finish. I couldn't really pedal down the last straight and Dan really caught me up, but I did enough and crossed the line in 2nd to take 6th place overall.

I am really happy with this result. Some good points on the board and the great thing for me is there is alot more improvement to come as I get over my stomach bug and return to full fitness. I will be on my start gate and in the gym nonstop for the next week and a half before the second round of the World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia.

Finally a big thanks to Coen De Jongh for photos 1 and 2. June Beaumont for photo 3.

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