In Episode 5 of Season 9, Neil, Xan and Matt review the European Championships in which Xan brought home a top 20 for GB in the Elite Female category, and had two totally contrasting races for the Elite Men and Elite Women. Xan gives the inside story of how the race went, and just how tough the course was.

They also talk through the two bike frames that took some of the limelight from being a chimera Orbea for title-winning Aerts, to a UCI DQ for a frame that was... apparently... approved the day before the racing.

Round 4 of the National Trophy is reviewed, a race in which Neil was competitor, team manager, pit crew and shopkeeper. It was Hard Work for everyone behind the scenes after a dumping of rain before the race, but the course itself was decent - challenging skills, fitness and pit crews, and it delivered close racing.

They return again to the tricky question of what the future of the National Trophy should look like, as it becomes more of a challenge for organisers.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the opening of the World Cup, with races in Tabor and Flamanville. Xan will be racing both rounds and so listen in for her throughts, and come back next time to hear how she gets on.

Neil finishes up getting very over-excited about some new Grity kit that has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping! Pop over to www.grity.co.uk to check out the new kids long sleeve jerseys and their Full-Send sale!

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Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.