The course at the Missoula XC C1 kept you brutally honest, starting out with a more or less nonstop 800+ foot climb followed by a ripping downhill to the bottom. Although I’m racing in the u23 category they race and score both the pro and u23 riders together. I started out hard, but once I was alone I quickly settled into fourth knowing I had to complete four total laps of this brutal course. I absolutely loved the tight and steep corners on the decent and pushed really hard on the climbs to try and hold off the riders behind me. Had a bit of juice left going into the last lap and left it all out there, fully pinning myself on the climbs and descents. Caught third place in the final corner and took advantage of my skills in the mud making an outside pass where it was a drag race to the line and I came out on top!
