JOK Chasing Sprint - Final Chase - 14th overall, 13th on course - 4 mins down on M.Hubmann
Oleg and Ralph 1 min ahead, Murray and Andrew 30s ahead, Jegor 6s behind, Raffael Hubber 20s behind.
Very quick of the start line with 3 tasks in mind. 1, catch Andrew, 2, Beat Andrew, 3, Beat Oleg if possible. So I rushed off after Andrew pretty much full pace. Almost messed up 1 as I wasn't guided in as I expected but quickly relocated and pulled a good race face as GG took some pictures. Didn't even see Jegor just behind me and smashed it up the hill. Surprised to suddenly see Ralph just ahead (apparently went over his ankle) but he was getting away. On the plus side he was pushing me on to slowly catch Andrew and Murray. Noticed the three of them swerve left entering the circle so I took a nicer line and punched the control just behind them both and ahead of Ralph. Also just behind Oleg who messed this up pretty badly. The train had formed.
Murray pulled away and the 4 of us were left to chase. Small hesitation before 3 looking at 8 without realising but corrected soon enough. Nice to 4, just behind Oleg still. At this point saw Raffael, Swiss elite and he joined the train to 5. Let Oleg and Ralph do most of the nav but I did notice were were too far right to 6. They went off too far right to 7 as well and I got a small gap by taking my own line, very proud of that. This allowed me and Ralph to pull away up the mental climb to 8. Ran just on Ralph's tail to 8 before pipping in front of him into the control. Side by side most of the way to 9. But then we both hesitated when we both realised we weren't sure what spur we were on. Saw Raffael and chased him, think Ralph went the wrong way here, then eased off anyway.
Murray had missed 9 badly so me and Raffael pulled away. Took a very bad line up a crag with lots of water running down it and Raffael pulled away a little bit. Oleg also caught up a bit. But gunned it to 11 and opened up a gap. Raffael beat me, then Oleg not far behind, Andrew, Ralph and Murray behind him.
Proud of that although it's a shame that most elites probably weren't going all out. Would hope that Ralph was going full pace for at least the middle section, and reckon most of the others in our train were going quite hard too. Very pleased to have beaten Oleg. Always a win although he's still a bit ill and coming back from a few weeks of rest. Awesome experience in with some rapid elites, great relay/middle simulation, and brilliant fun. Be ashamed if you missed this, an opportunity like this doesn't come round very often at all.
http://www.jok.org.uk/chasing_sprint/2014/results/ - overall
http://www.jok.org.uk/system/files/chasesplits.htm... - splits, beat Daniel.H to number 2, claim to fame