FOUR Jersey riders made the journey to the UK to compete in the fourth round of the Lloyds National Cross-Country Series, held at the challenging Tong Outdoor Centre in West Yorkshire.
The event proved to be a difficult test, with muddy conditions and technical terrain proving a challenge for all riders.
On Saturday, James Dilks, Jay Cracknell and Liam Cadoret lined up for the short track race, a 20-minute sprint race. Cadoret showed his strength, steadily moving up through the field to finish 14th.
Cracknell started strong but experienced a drop in positions, ultimately finishing 21st. Dilks encountered early crashes that hindered his progress, but he relished the challenging conditions and secured 22nd place.
The following day, the riders were joined by Ben Richards for the main event. Dilks and Cracknell took on seven laps in the Elite category, while Cadoret and Richards faced six laps in the Expert category.
“The race was intense from the start,” said Cracknell, a Jersey Sport Performance Pathway athlete. “I aimed to position myself early to avoid bottlenecks, which worked well. As the race progressed, I found my rhythm and confidence, overtaking several riders to finish 11th. I’m pleased with my performance on such a technical and demanding course.”
Dilks reflected on his race, saying, “I had a solid ride and was in the top ten until a heavy crash on a rock slab feature caused a rear flat tire on lap six, dropping me to 16th. Despite that setback, I’m taking positives into the final round and the Island Games in Orkney.”
Cadoret dominated the Expert race, explaining, “I went all in from the start, breaking away with one other rider. After two laps, I decided to go solo and never looked back. The muddy conditions suited me perfectly, and I finished 38 seconds ahead of second place.”
Richards enjoyed the technical challenges of the course, stating: “I made up time on the rock slab descents and drops. A slow start had me in a mid-pack group, but I finished strong, overtaking several riders as the conditions worsened. I’m thrilled with my personal best finish of 7th in the Expert category.”
These performances highlight the dedication and hard work of Jersey’s mountain bikers, setting the stage for an exciting Island Games.
The riders thanked Jersey Cycling, Big Maggys Race Team, Pine Sport Racing, Caesarean Cycling Club, and Jersey Sport for their continued support.
