So there I was, back in Bourg d`Oisans France where I had spent 6 days riding in the big hills just 6 weeks earlier. But this time I would not be riding around for leisre, rather I would be lining up against some of the worlds best MTB marathon riders in a World cup round. We were staying up in a ski town called Les des Alpes. Its more of a city up there and by god does it have some single track. The town also has glacier sking so its sort of weird when your kitted up on a sunny day for a mtb ride and there are stacks of people getting around in full ski gear with boards and skies. The race started up in this town and pretty much dropped straight into a 5 km descent down some pretty knarly single track before a major climb up the the next hill over. So the day before the we (the Ghost team, and me) headed out to ride some of the course. I soon found myself out of my depth and going way to fast to control the bike. The steep technical descents arnt my strenght and I had 2 crashes with the second one a bit of a big one ending me up in a tree with a few little dizzy spells. Still I was ok after a bit and decided better to run down those bits. Especially since I didn't want my trip cut short by a broken bone. So race day came and I was feeling pretty good. Legs were rested, I had eaten well and was hydrates so there was nothing really to stop me from have a good race, and that's just what I had. The start was up a short climb to break us up a bit and then into this single track. The first few kms of the single track had fully bermed corners and some little jumps too. It was high speed and lots of fun. I had settled in around 40th or so place not wanting to be too pressured once the trails got steep. It worked out pretty well with me staying alive to the bottom of that trial and feeling ready for the first climb which would take us well over an hour and to a height of 2200 meters. I rode strong and caught heaps of guys by the top where we dropped into another crazy single track descent. I rode the whole way this time but there were some pretty mad short lines that I didn't take but could see that other had which would have been so much quicker. Still better in once piece at the bottom then not getting there at all. From the bottom we climbed again but this time it was a singel track climb with some great views down the valley and a few walking sections too. We had to get up Alp d'Huez and before he hit a descent down the other side that was single track the whole way but annoyingle kept on going back up again. It went on for about 15kms where it would be down down down and then back up a bit. I just wanted to be either going down or up so I could get a rythem. But soon enough it was the home straight a 20km flat sprint to the line in Bourg d'Oisans. I felt good and rode hard but just a few kms from the finish I thought to myself, I havent eaten or drank anything for about 15kms. Probably not a good thing. Then just like that I got my first leg cramp. I quickly grabbed the bottel and drank a heap and had some gels I had as well. I had just got that leg going again when the other went the same. Damn two bung legs and just 2kms to go. But I got them going and limped my way home. Lukily I had not lost any places and crossed the line in 5:02 hrs. I had managed to get 25th palce as well which was awesome, especially since it was a world cup. The team had a day of mixed results. Ester took the win convincingly by some 15mins which was great. She was so happy. Anna Ennicson had been in 2nd place riding strong when she got a flat and things just didn't go well from there on in. She didn't get it up with the gas and needed to wait to get some help. She lost 15mins and then had to stop at a technical zone to pump it up some more. She ended up in 4th just 1min off Parla Pezzo but it was sad cos she was riding so strong. Anna Baylis was riding well to start with but soon an old friend dropped by to visit her and she found her heart rate up around 220 and she was feeling short of breath. She has had this before a few times and it would be pretty scary to have. She went on to finish in 7th but just rode easy not wanting to push the limits. So now were back in Offenburg Germany for a few days and on Thursday we leave for Sweeden for the next world cup round. I wont have a bike with me but it will be good to see the place so im not worried at all. Ill take some riding gear and maybe I can borrow or hire a bike if I really feel like. From Sweeden its off to Norway and then Ill be flying to New York. Crazy to think that in 2 weeks ill be leaving Europe. Think im ready though and NY will be a blast with Audrey and Wes.