OLI BECKINGSALE KICKS OFF WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN

Oli Beckingsale kicked off his World Cup campaign this weekend in Houfallize, Belgium.

260 riders lined up to start the World Cup opener on the hilly and technical course, with the previous days heavy rainfall making the going even tougher. Oli’s 2007 ranking enabled him to start towards the front of the pack but as always with World Cup openers the racing was always going to be flat out, and the prospect of the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer and it’s ever presence in the competitors minds was set to strain team loyalties as riders battled against their own team mates for limited places.

Beginning the race with a two minute long, steep road climb a pound lighter thanks to his new Giant XTC Advanced SL hardtail prototype, Oli fought through the 260 strong field up to 30th place before hitting the singletrack. Along with fellow Giant team mate Adam Craig, Oli settled well into the racing and continued to move up into the teens, getting up to 14th place with a couple of laps to go. The final laps were tough and Oli finished in a strong 18th place, a great start to the World Cup season and a good sign of things to come.

“I feel like I am over my problems of last year, the confidence is back up and that I can ride in the top 10 sometime in the next couple of months.”

Oli’s great performance means that he will line up 18th on the grid for Round 2 in Germany this week.

To see Oli’s diary, visit his homepage at www.olibeck.com and for more information including blogs from Giant International Team riders in the run up to Beijing visit www.ridelife.net/rideLife.html