Youth MTB European Championships, Hallby Sweden
Utmost Academy rider Zach Smith attended the Youth European Championships held in Hallby Sweden competing against the best youth cyclists from 28 countries across Europe. The event which attracts over 600 riders, is regarded as the most prestigious in the mountain bike calendar, in three challenging events; Time Trial, Team Event, and Cross-Country (XC).
The course at Hallby which is very close to Jönköping, was set over 4.2km’s of gruelling single track, with steep rooted climbs, fast enduro descents, and some very challenging A lines which you would expect in an event of this nature.
The first event would see Zach in the U17’s category competing against 263 other riders in the time trial (XCT) with the top 45 best times being eligible to compete in the Short Track XCC race the following day. Zach demonstrated remarkable speed and precision to record an excellent time of 2.13.896 and would see him 37th/120 overall in his age category and 120/263 out of the U17’s, some five seconds off the XCC qualifying time.
The team event enabled Zach to team up with Juvenille National Champion Ben Whitehouse and Slovenia No2 youth rider Ula Ravnikar Bolcina. The combination of their three XCT time trial times gridded them 52/130 and would see each rider complete one full lap of the XC circuit. Zach went off first in what is described as the sacrificial lap, as the sheer volume of riders would hamper a clear run - something that the 2nd and 3rd riders would enjoy. Zach would make up 7 places to come through the start / finish in 45th place. Despite riding well, the remaining riders would lose 15 places over the remaining two laps to finish in 60th position out of 130 teams, an excellent result in their first event of this type.
Taking his combined time from the Individual time trial and his lap time from the Team Relay would result in Zach being gridded in 62nd place in the full cross country race completing 4 laps of the dry, dusty course. Zach started with the main pack and would see his normal fast start hampered as the other riders with elbows out would be jostling for position. Also the magnitude of the riders on course would see at times, the single track come to a stand still and this was shown in Zach’s first lap of 14.25, some 3 minutes off the leaders opening lap with a clear track. His remaining laps would all be all under 14 minutes, with his last lap of 13.34 earning him 82nd position.
After the races Zach said “the XC race was tough, but I loved every moment of it, racing in such a prestigious event made it even more special. The time trial for me was my standout performance of the week.“
Zach's Dad, Rod Smith commented “The event was mind blowing. The organisation and live coverage was on another level, with many GVC members tuning in to watch. It was great to see the support of British Cycling staff at the event, who were able to offer moral support and advice to the 21 travelling riders. All the riders were a true inspiration to the future of Youth MTB racing and was made that more special with Zach representing the Guernsey Velo Club.”
Written by Rod Smith.
