2nd, 4th and 9th, First Round of the 2012 National XCO Series

Photo by Emil F.

With temperatures of about 10 degrees celsius, wind and light rain, the First Round of the 2012 National XCO Series begun. Saturday, the day before the race, the wether was very pleasant. 

The day of the race, the wether turned rainy, with strong winds and low temperatures. 

Michel is in the last row, out of view.  

It is important that the first race of the season starts with last year's ranking, so that fast riders don't loose one race negotiating traffic. Michel had to start behind about 15 racers. 

Michel was constantly gaining positions. 

After passing riders for two laps, Michel was finally behind the top five. He passed two riders at the middle of the uphill, another at the top of the hill, and rushed to catch the top two. He was able to pass one in the last meters and, after a sprint he gained second place. 

Emil F. starts his first Junior A (13-14) race, after waiting for two hours in terrible weather. 

Emil F. in the blue jacket. 

Emil F. starts in the back of a field of 30 riders, and comes out of the start loop in about 22nd place. 

By the end of the first lap, Emil F. was in 9th place, which he mantained until the end. 

1st, 2nd and 4th, Third Round, National XCO Series, Ciudad Victoria

The racetrack had a paved hill section, a lose steep dirt downhill and a lot of big roots, stones, holes, steps, etc. Emil F. had a good start like in Puerto Vallarta, taking the lead. Jose Roque followed his wheel, and a spectacular race begun. They exchanged the lead a couple of times. Emil F. was following his race plan, but unfortunately his front wheel caught some lose small rocks over pavement and he fell. He was unable to regain the lead and arrived in second place.

Michel gaining ground, after passing to win the single-track

Michel had a bad start, since he was positioned by the officials next to the wall. He was boxed and lost the single-track behind slower riders, while the first three riders gained terrain. After Michel attacked in the paved section, passing three riders in the hill and one on the lose downhill, he started gaining terrain, but could only get as close as 5 seconds to the third place.

The expert racetrack was very long, the Elite riders were schedule for four laps. Ciudad Victoria presented hard conditions for all riders, due to the intense heat combined with technical demands.

Coatepec, Second Round, XCO Veracruz Series, 1st, 3rd and 4th

Emil F. (11) participated in the Junior's race (16-18). After three laps, Emil F. arrived in fourth place, in a race track filled with very steep and long hills and fun technical descents. Michel (8) raced one lap as training for next week's national race at Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.

Emil, Master 45, started in first place, and maintained it until the end. This is his second consecutive win in the XCO state series.

1st, 1st and 3rd, Second Round XCO National Series, Puerto Vallarta

The racetrack was fast, didn't have steep climbs and it was unusually long.

Emil F. had a great start, takes first place and separates from the peloton in the first straight, and continued gaining ground with each lap.

Perfect day for Emil F.

Michel also had a good start, but he lost rhythm wile passing some pronounced depressions.
 

After a tough fight, Michel arrived in third place.

Michel showing good technique

Fighting until the end

Emil took advantage of the technical terrain to take sixth place, Master 45.

1st, 2dn and 3rd, First Round National XCO Series, Valle de Bravo

 The children racetrack was short, although it had a technical section that included a steep hill with a step-up, and a steep descent with lose soil. First one to race was Michel, who is starting a new category, Infantil B. Having celebrated his eight birthday two months ago, Michel confronted racers of up to ten years old. Another difficulty was the starting formation, since it was not done with last years ranking, but arbitrarily by number and Michel ended up in the back.

Before the first turn, Michel was already in third place, and he had to negotiate the first hill and single track behind the second place. His race was three laps, and Michel made good tactical decisions. He waited for the perfect time to pass, and at the end of the second lap he surprised the second place at the end of the descent, taking the turn with great technique, and gaining ground to the single track; he went through the hill and last descent to arrive in second place and with a good margin to the third place.

Emil F. had a similar problem with the starting formation, but he was also placed by the wall in the left. At the start Emil F. was blocked by racers and a steward, and he managed to get to the single track in fifth place.

Emil F. at the right of the picture

With four laps, Emil F. starts to gain time and manages to get to the finish line in third place. 

The racetrack had very long hills that felt longer in the high altitude. The view to the lake was spectacular! Emil managed a sixth place finish in the Master 45 category.

Emil in his last lap

Coralillo, First Race of Veracruz State Series

Emil F, Javier Rojas and Michel

After two years of being absent, the Veracruz Mountain Biking Association inaugurates the 2011 XCO State Series. This race, two weeks before our first national race, was an excellent opportunity to test form and fitness and to continue our preparation for race intensity. Unfortunately, Emil F. and Michel were the only children competing, so they raced in the adult race course, two and one laps respectively. They both received a medal for the 2010 season and this race.

Emil receives the trophy from Javier Rojas, local cycling promoter

The race track, although short, had great quality, with a little bit of everything; good climbs, single track, fast and technical descents, etc. Emil gets first place in Master 40. The performance of the team is on schedule.

We were very happy to see most of our cycling friends, including the Tejones from Puebla. In two weeks, Valle de Bravo, first National XCO  Series race.

International Marathon Popobike

Michel Awad, Miguel Martinez, and Emil F. Awad

The International Marathon Popobike offers two general categories, full and half marathon, and neither are intended for children under 15. Emil F. and Michel ran the half marathon, 32K. They started in the last category, beginners 20. I ran with Michel and Emil F. did it alone. This was great training and we had a lot of fun. Emil F. (10) did it in 2:31, 374/873 of all 32K categories; and Michel (7) did it in 3:04, 577/873 of all 32K categories!

Thank you Gilberto Soliman for organizing such excellent races!

Over 1600 racers in  Popobike 2010

Emil F. passing in the last  hills.

Walking competitor forces Michel to take an uncomfortable line

Michel passing

Michel closing the day with strength and honor to the National Champion Jersey

Michel passing

Michel in the last hill

Michel finishing the last hill

Miguel Martinez comments on the performance of  Emil F.

Emil F., Johnny Cattaneo (winer of the full marathon) and Michel

Michel enjoying a good meal

An excellent end of season for Emil F.

Popobikito, National Children's XCO Race

Five time World Champion and Olympic Champion  Miguel Martinez with Emil F.

The new track laked steep hills, but it required skill to maintain a good rhythm. Best of all was to count with Miguel Martinez as guide to the track; the time he gave to the children is an invaluable gift. Emil F. started very well and stayed close to Miguel Martinez. Emil F. imposed a rhythm that separated him from the rest of the group, and he arrived in first place with ample margin. The handling and technique lecture he received, by following the wheel of Miguel Martinez, is bound to stay with him for life.

Thank you Miguel!

Emil F. First Place

An all Veracruz Podium

Michel raced for the first time with his 26' bike. He had some trouble at the start and was boxed. After working his way around several competitors, he arrived in third place.

Michel pressing on.

Michel third place

Emil F., Miguel Martinez y Michel