Interview: Red Bull Foxhunt 2015 Winner - Colin Ross
Congrats on the win Colin! The helmetcam footage shows us that it was a bit of a wild race. Tell us in your own words about that winning run.It was a crazy race. I couldn't get my right foot clipped in off the start so spent the first five seconds in limp mode trying to get it in. When I hit the first climb I was already outside the top 10 and thought my race was over. I just kept the head down and thought about getting past as many people as I could. I knew it was going to be tough as the top section is very narrow with few places to pass.
As I managed to get past a few riders I could see the leaders in the distance and thought I might still have a chance. I kept pushing as I knew it wasn't far to the start if the main DH section. At the start of the descent I was probably about 10 seconds back so it was all or nothing to try and get that time back and put myself in a position were I could win.
When I caught the leaders I thought "Game On! I can do this!" but knew it was going to be tough and its very tight and difficult to pass. I managed to get into second place pretty quick and then the real battle began with leader James McFerran. I tried everything I could which even meant riding the long way round at times hoping I would be fast enough to find a way through, but just couldn't make it happen. We even made contact on one of the steep sections.
As we came towards the end of the track I knew there was a final sprint to the finish which was going to suit me so I relaxed and waited. As soon as we hit the final straight I gave it everything I had and managed to time it perfect and make an inside pass about two metres before the line.
Did you have a game plan for the race?My plan was to go for the hole shot and get as big a lead as possible before the DH section as I knew once I got there I could have a clear track to really push and make it hard for the other competitors to catch up.
Do you know the guy who you overtook at the finish line?James McFerran took second place and we get on well, but maybe not now!
Only just got the J mac before the finish!!!Had a great battle with this kid!!
Posted by Rosco Lines on Sunday, 4 October 2015
It was quite a dramatic finish line, did you think you'd be able to overtake James?Coming down the last finish straight I felt confident but when I saw how close the finish line was I started to doubt would I take him. I just reacted and gave it all I had which thankfully was enough!
What bike did you race on?I raced the Vitus Sommet Pro 155mm travel because the bottom half of the track is mostly DH and with the higher travel and slack geometry I knew it would handle well. It also pedals well up the climbs especially as I had it on lock out for the top section.
Well here we go again!! All the best to everyone racing tomorrow, keep it smooth!!
Posted by Rosco Lines on Saturday, 3 October 2015
You won the previous Gee Atherton Foxhunt didn't you?The last Foxhunt was in 2013 which was a great win. With the two year gap there was definitely a lot of expectation for me to win again.
So do you race professionally?I have been racing semi-pro for the last couple of years, mostly racing DH on the national circuit over here in Ireland claiming the Elite National DH Championship title for the last three years in a row. This year I made a bit of a switch to Enduro racing and did three of the EWS rounds, finishing 55th in the overall series.
What were your feelings when you crossed the line at Foxhunt?When I landed in the finish field I felt so happy and relived but was also gutted for James at the same time. This is definitely a race I won't forget!
MENTIONS: @RoscoLines / @redbullbike
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Awesome stuff.
Like I said, I don’t race and don’t know the etiquette but if I’d won because I managed to block the faster guy I’d know I wasn’t the fastest, just good at blocking and it wouldn’t feel like much of a bonafide win to me.