MTB Masters World Championships

We've had news from our 'other' man in France, Julian, who was one of over 1000 athletes taking part in the Mountain Bike Masters World Championships last weekend.

After doing battle with EasyJet, who were less sympathetic to the needs of competition cyclists than to their own commercial interests, Julian and his fellow traveller and Kona rider Andrew Titley ended up flying out minus their spare kit.

At Pra Loup, the track was dust! In some places 2ft of it which was difficult to ride without spiked tyres. Julian had to use the same tyres as for Moelfre, his spikes having been left behind in the excess luggage.

Julian was well ranked after the qualifying runs on Friday and kept his position in the top 5 until some 200m before the finish. A good run into the river followed by an unexpected compression bounced him away from his bike. Despite a super fast recovery it lost him several places, finishing in 29th place 18 seconds after the winner, Shaums March. Full event ranking here, event pictures here.

While it was most disappointing to have such a set-back, Julian qualified for next year's World Championships for which he's definitively taking his car.