REPORT: NICE PRICE SPECIAL

The headline event for Yeti in 2009, the Nice Price Special, was a two day race at Cannock Chase. With qualifiers on Saturday and the main event on Sunday it was something a little different to your usual XC.

Another thing a bit different was the weather - heavy rain, created deep mud. But the team raced regardless with the return of Martyn Brookes. Matt sends this report on the weekends action:

"For the first time in 2009 the entire Yeti team lined up on the same starting grid - a rare occurrence because usually we're all in different categories. Spirits were high and there was plenty of banter, with organisers Pat and Ag joining the mocking of Martyn's news ginger/sun bleached look!

With 30 seconds to go that all ended and we were ready to hit the first singletrack. Still tired from a week in the Pyrenees I was pushed back into fourth with Chris and Martyn up the road. Conditions were made difficult by the mud, but thankfully the organisers had reduced the laps by one to reflect that. After lap one Chris - tired from the precious day of racing - let me by to try and catch Martyn. A combination of my effort and Martyn's flat tyre meant it wasn't long before that happened - I couldn't possibly comment on which contributed the most though!

We spent the next few laps sliding around on off camber descents and twisty singletrack. By lap three I was tired and the heavy rain did little to inspire me. However as the rain got harder the mud became less sticky and the course got easier. This contributed to a great final result as I finished second, with Martyn and Chris taking third and fourth.

Ruth was the only woman to finish as the others didn't complete the race! It wasn't a free-win by any means though - just to complete this race took serious energy.

The event itself was really good fun despite the poor weather. Banter between riders lifted the overall mood as did the marshals with cow bells, friends, family and other random people all of whom probably thought we were mad for racing in such conditions.

A big thumbs up goes to the organisers who, despite the weather managed to keep a light-hearted atmosphere. Hopefully next year the weather will be a bit better and we'll see a load more people racing this unique event."