The race was all ups and downs. I pushed hard with the front group, but it was quickly verified whether I could stay with the turbo pace or not. There was no breathing, and the whole day was about fighting with the body, which didn't wish to cooperate. But I kept moving, hoping for the night. I know myself pretty well in this segment. The night came, and my front light broke. Just like that. It didn’t even start. 🫣 Doing all fast descending and techy trail sections, only with the head torch, isn't either safe or funny, so I said, it is what it is, and simply kept tracking forward with what I could. But I have to admit, I did consider scratching at one point. In the morning, my body excused itself and started to cooperate. Everything was working again. Crossing the North York Moors in the full blue sky, with a lot of fast and technical sections, or coming back to Yorkshire Dales with wide and fast double tracks. These were the best riding I had in years. I was eating the climbs, flying through the rocky bits, and even descended clipped in for most of the Clay Bank Top hiper steep drop down. I have learned a lot about mountain biking there. 😁 When the second dark hours came in, I was again playing for survival, with not enough light. Was taking it safe, and I managed to not crash! 😅 Race-wise, it’s personal, for me nothing to be proud from 11th place. But, I will take it as a great experience and a season kick-off, with work in progress. Congrats to Angus Young for a huge win!