Smith impresses in Team GB debut at Oldenzaal
Utmost & Ian Brown’s Academy rider Zach Smith made the perfect debut for Team GB at the UCI Nations Cup in the Netherlands as he came out as the standout GB rider.
Facing a competitive field of over eighty riders from Belgium, Germany and the host nation, Zach found himself racing alongside some of Europe's top youth talent.
The event comprised five laps of a 4.2km course that would test both endurance and technical skills. The riders would have to navigate a range of challenging obstacles, including rock gardens, a pump track, log rolls, steep drops, and jumps that required both precision and bravery.
Starting 46th on the grid, Zach made an excellent start, quickly advancing to 22nd place after lap one, with fellow Team GB rider Wilfred Pugh in tow.
Zach continued to pick off places over the next four laps to finish a credible 16th place with only eight seconds separating 13th to 16th.
A superb effort from Zach in a race which also featured the eventual winner, Youth Olympic Champion Lars Peers.
Zach reflected on the race, saying, “It was an incredible opportunity to compete alongside some of the top riders in Europe, and I felt proud to represent Team GB on such a prestigious stage.”
There is little time for rest as Zach now heads to round two of the British Cycling National Series being held at Cannock Chase with fellow Guernsey Velo Club rider Mark Le Page and top Junior Academy rider Charlie Tourtel.
Written by Rod Smith
