Race Report: Round 1 of the British Cycling National Marathon Series

Jul 7, 2022
by Nick Bentley  
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Pippingford played host to the first-ever British Marathon Cross-country series round, and what a race it was. With over 200 riders racing across the different categories of all abilities, it was a true demonstration of mountain biking being for everyone. Alongside the experienced Elite riders, many new racers took their first steps into mountain biking racing, including Simon Waller, at 60 years old, doing his first race and picking the 36km lung buster to do it.

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The forecasted rain held off for the most part, and the warm conditions were in stark contrast to the extremely wet race held last year in the same location. The 18km lap included a bridge, tunnel, and a unique figure of eight pattern, with plenty of climbs mixed in with some fast-flowing fun singletrack for the riders to enjoy. There wasn't a moment to switch off, however, with Ben Thomas commenting, "It's full-on the whole time. It's super loamy and rocky and rooty at the same time, so you have to work for each pedal stroke."

170 men took to the line to race for the 4-lap Monster Marathon, which played out over 72 km. Ben Thomas took the win despite the best efforts of Joe Griffiths. The pair battled their way around the course, followed by Tom Stevenson in third.

22 women started the 72 km Monster Marathon, but it was the Saint Piran WRT rider Christina Wiejak, building on her form from the National XC series, who took the win in her first-ever Marathon XC race. It was a fantastic achievement and definitely a rider to watch for the rest of the series. Coming in second place behind Christina was Eilish Gilbert, and Elise Sherwell in third.

Besides the two Monster Marathons, many other riders raced in classes ranging from 18km to 54km, with both male and female categories in each distance. Alongside the individual racing, there was a relay pairs race with the riders racing across 72 km, with each rider in the pair able to ride two laps each.

It was amazing to see so many riders choosing Pippingford as their first-ever mountain bike race, with many riders crossing over from both road racing and cyclo-cross keen to take on this cross-country course. Credit has to go to the organisers, Eventrex, who produced a fantastic event worthy of the first-ever national marathon cross-country series round, with plenty of riders looking forward to coming back for Round Two and the National Championships at Kielder Forest on the 13th of August 2022.

Peace and quiet on the start line
Peace and quiet on the start line

As always the team of British Cycling Commissaires kept everything fair and the event running smoothly alongside the team from EventrexUK
As always the team of British Cycling Commissaires kept everything fair and the event running smoothly, alongside the team from EventrexUK

I can t repeat what this Andrew Lewis said to me at the top of the climb after I d just buzzed passed him on my e-bike and had enough time to get this shot before he d got to the top
I can't repeat what Andrew Lewis said to me at the top of the climb after I'd just buzzed passed him on my e-bike and had enough time to get this shot before he'd got to the top

Obviously the sensible way to return to racing after a broken hip is to ride a 54km Marathon well atleast that s what Hunt Wheel s Tom Foot decided to do
Obviously, the sensible way to return to racing after a broken hip is to ride a 54km Marathon, well at least that's what Hunt Wheel's Tom Foot decided to do

It s only apt as Pippingford is an Army training area to give a shoutout to all the Forces riders taking part. Top Rai took sixteenth place in the 54km race
It's only apt as Pippingford is an Army training area to give a shoutout to all the Forces riders taking part. Top Rai took sixteenth place in the 54km race

It s easy to get caught napping grinding your way up the long climbs at Pippingford but there s always somebody waiting to pounce
It's easy to get caught napping grinding your way up the long climbs at Pippingford but there's always somebody waiting to pounce

I always knew sausage rolls were a super food Luke Kennard proving that point tucking into a sausage roll on his way up the long first climb on his last lap of the 72km race
I always knew sausage rolls were a superfood! Luke Kennard proved that point by tucking into a sausage roll on his way up the long first climb on his last lap of the 72km race

Ben Thomas took the win in the 72km Monster Marathon and the lead in the British National Marathon series
Ben Thomas took the win in the 72km Monster Marathon and the lead in the British National Marathon series

This is the look of someone who has given it their all over 72km
This is the look of someone who has given it their all over 72km

What s not to like about a bridge at an XC race The Pippingford course was a figure of 8 allowing the riders a unique opportunity to ride over and under one another
What's not to like about a bridge at an XC race? The Pippingford course was a figure of 8 allowing the riders a unique opportunity to ride over and under one another

Neil Dunn making a pass towards the end of the lap
Neil Dunn making a pass towards the end of the lap

Daniel Causton giving it his all on the 54km showing that you don t need a carbon-fibre super light XC bike to ride Marathon with Daniel taking on the race on his trust Stanton steel hardtail
Daniel Causton giving it his all on the 54km, showing that you don't need a carbon-fibre super light XC bike to ride Marathon with Daniel taking on the race on his trusty Stanton steel hardtail

Towards the end of the lap the riders rode up a flat ish gravel road giving them some rest bite if only for a short amount of time
Towards the end of the lap, the riders rode up a flat(ish) gravel road giving them some rest bite if only for a short amount of time

The long grassy climb took its toll on plenty of riders. It was great to see all the riders getting cheered on even if it was only one brave spectator who made the long climb up
The long grassy climb took its toll on plenty of riders. It was great to see all the riders getting cheered on, even if it was only one brave spectator who made the long climb up

Shaun Reed rode 54km and not 1cm further
Shaun Reed rode 54km and not 1cm further

Christina Wiejak in her first-ever XC Marathon taking home the win in the Women s 72km class
Christina Wiejak in her first-ever XC Marathon taking home the win in the Women's 72km class

Joe Griffiths and Ben Thomas were pretty much this close the whole 72km
Joe Griffiths and Ben Thomas were pretty much this close the whole 72km

After 72km you ve definitely earned a sit down
After 72km you've definitely earned a sit down

Anthony Smee in only his third ever race looking like he is loving life coming into the finish of this 72km Monster Marathon
Anthony Smee in only his third ever race, looking like he is loving life coming into the finish of this 72km Monster Marathon

The uphill start gave way to a gravel road sprint kicking up plenty of dust behind the large Monster Marathon field
The uphill start gave way to a gravel road sprint kicking up plenty of dust behind the large Monster Marathon field

Roger Prior on the gas through a tight little descent around a set of ponds at the back of the loop
Roger Prior on the gas through a tight little descent around a set of ponds at the back of the loop

Marathon racing leads to some interesting trains of riders all of different abilities and riding different distances but sharing the same track
Marathon racing leads to some interesting trains of riders, all of different abilities and riding different distances but sharing the same track

Liam Roberts got caught out possibly day dreaming only to pay a quick visit to the Pippingford dust
Liam Roberts got caught out, possibly daydreaming, only to pay a quick visit to the Pippingford dust

Tom Martin but he had possibly the unluckiest afternoon of racing I have witnessed. After getting a puncture on the opposite side of the 18km loop on lap 2 he ran back to the pits with his bike for a new wheel. Only to puncture again almost as far away from the pits as last time and having to run back once again. However this just took its toll and he was unable to finish the race
Tom Martin had possibly the unluckiest afternoon of racing I have witnessed. After getting a puncture on the opposite side of the 18km loop on lap 2, he ran back to the pits with his bike for a new wheel. Only to puncture again almost as far away from the pits as last time and having to run back once again. However, this just took its toll and he was unable to finish the race

Between punctures Tom Martin was looking pretty quick
Between punctures Tom Martin was looking pretty quick

Friends and family out pulling double duty not just there to hand out water bottles in the pits but also doubling as a media aswell
Friends and family out pulling double duty, not just there to hand out water bottles in the pits, but also doubling as a media as well

However some people weren t so lucky and had to stop and fetch their own waters gels
However, some people weren't so lucky and had to stop and fetch their own waters/gels

There was plenty of tech both on the ups and downs throughout the 18km lap to keep the riders on their toes
There was plenty of tech both on the ups and downs throughout the 18km lap to keep the riders on their toes

No idea how you can still be smiling after 36km of racing but on a sunny day with loamy trails what s not to enjoy
No idea how you can still be smiling after 36km of racing but on a sunny day, with loamy trails, what's not to enjoy?

It s not just young riders taking on 72km of Pippingford s finest single track. Lydia Gould showing them how it s done
It's not just young riders taking on 72km of Pippingford's finest single track. Lydia Gould showing them how it's done

Marc Chamberlain fresh off the back of winning the XC National series for his age category was out pushing hard in the Marathon series
Marc Chamberlain fresh off the back of winning the XC National series for his age category was out pushing hard in the Marathon series

Joseph Bowers giving it his all to complete the 72km race
Joseph Bowers giving it his all to complete the 72km race

It s amazing to see just how wide a range of riders endurance races appeal to
It's amazing to see just how wide a range of riders endurance races appeal to

It was a tough days riding for Gavin Moore after having a rough battle with COVID the 52km race was Gavin s first race back. However COVID was still taking it s toll with Gavin struggling and having to call it a day early
It was a tough days riding for Gavin Moore after having a rough battle with COVID the 52km race was Gavin's first race back. However, COVID was still taking it's toll with Gavin struggling and having to call it a day early

Second place today for Scott Bike s Joe Griffiths
Second place today for Scott Bike's Joe Griffiths

The singletrack at Pippingford was popular with all riders
The singletrack at Pippingford was popular with all riders

Glen Whittington enjoying the singletrack descent after the first climb
Glen Whittington enjoying the singletrack descent after the first climb

The Pippingford woods are a stunning place to hold a bike race
The Pippingford woods are a stunning place to hold a bike race

Exhaustion does funny things but it mostly seems to make people pull silly faces
Exhaustion does funny things, but it mostly seems to make people pull silly faces

Eilish Gilbert taking home second place in the Women s 72km race
Eilish Gilbert taking home second place in the Women's 72km race

Sometimes it s good to just take a little lean on a tree
Sometimes it's good to just take a little lean on a tree

Karla Boddy was just one of the 22 female competitors taking on the exact same 72km course as their male counterparts
Karla Boddy was just one of the 22 female competitors taking on the exact same 72km course as their male counterparts

There was plenty of singletrack carving it s way through the bracken for the riders to enjoy
There was plenty of singletrack carving its way through the bracken for the riders to enjoy

Technical issues played havoc with the field. The dry conditions brought out any hidden rocks slicing tyres seemingly at random
Technical issues played havoc with the field. The dry conditions brought out any hidden rocks, slicing tyres seemingly at random

The Men s 72km race was a big bunch with over 100 riders sprinting out for the first lap
The Men's 72km race was a big bunch, with over 100 riders sprinting out for the first lap

Alongside the solo racing there was the option of taking on the 72km as a team of two with each rider completing 2 laps. Georgina Wise took on the 72km with Lucy Williams
Alongside the solo racing, there was the option of taking on the 72km as a team of two with each rider completing 2 laps. Georgina Wise took on the 72km with Lucy Williams



Author Info:
Mandownmedia avatar

Member since Nov 28, 2019
245 articles

2 Comments
  • 1 0
 nice photos, note; "respite" not "rest bite"
  • 2 0
 Unless they have a rest and a bite to eat…?







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