World Cup course excites Carling

JIMMY CARLING said the World Cup mountain-bike course at Fort William in Scotland had given him the bike ride of his life. Carling finished 10th at the National Championships from a field of 30-plus top UK riders.

But riding the course was the big attraction, said the Guernsey rider.

'Because it was a World Cup course I wanted to ride it and it was the best I've ever ridden.

'We had a 12-to-13min. climb out of the main arena and at least a 10-minute descent back down. It was an awesome course.'

Not a lot had gone right for Carling this season and he admitted he had not spent much time in the saddle in the weeks leading up to the championships.

But he was glad he went.

'It was a painful experience, a hard, hard race. But it gave me some of the most fun I've ever had on a bike.'

Carling has decided to opt out of the last round of the National Series this weekend, but promised to be back at his best for 2005.

'Next year's going to be a big year for me and my goal is to go to the worlds.'

Tobyn Horton and Tom Sherwill also competed at Fort William.

Horton was 18th in the same race as Carling, while Sherwill concussed himself in practice for the downhill.