Bit of an unusual one this ! the Redbull Uphill Chasers was first held last year, as an event to put amateur riders up against a select list of invited Pro's from across all discipline's in Cycling. For 2012 the format was exactly the same, held on Park Street, Bristol, a pretty steep hill ! as I was soon to find out .. 
 
Just over a month or so ago, when Red Bull first advertised the event, I immediately sent of an application "kinda" hoping I'd get a chance to go down and qualify.. however, I was doubtful I'd even get to do that, on the first come first served basis .. Yet, to my shock (and horror!!) on the Friday I got an email from Red Bull to say I had made it in.. this was just to try and qualify though, so my hopes were slim. So on Saturday morning off we flew to Bristol, with my trusty GT cruiser BMX. There were BMX'rs in last years event, however all were on 20" wheels, my cruiser is a 24" wheel bike..

The qualifier itself was a low key affair held on a side street to Park Lane. There was simply a couple of blokes with a van and timing equipment set up, and all I had to do was sprint up the hill fast as hell, then head home.. Only a few hours later, out of the 60odd that had a go, I made the last place available for the main event - 16th. Something I was not expecting I can tell ya !

So that was it, the nerves were quite apparent, totally unlike the downhill racing, which doesn't affect me after all the years of racing, but this was an unknown for me, that was for sure! After some Pro carbo loading, a hot sausage roll and a rather large cake (see the facebook pics..) I felt ready to take on whoever ! 

After a mad rush back to Bristol, just in time to drag the cruiser out of the car, I was in the riders briefing meeting (a posh cafe) and after bumping into a few familiar faces, the fizzy drinks peeps randomly selected the 16 amateur riders and 16 Pro's into pairs for the first heats.. The riders were a mix of types, several Pro 4x racers, on 4x bikes with slicks, a TDF Liquigas rider, and quite few Pro XC MTB'rs. However the majority were on carbon road bikes.. and all of these guys were full-on warming up on rollers in the pits ! hhmm.. little old me, only one of two guys on BMX's.. The pit area was sealed off, and as more and more spectators started to arrive, I decided to make it look good, and some basil faulty type warming up and stretching, and trying to keep my head down, as every time I looked up there was a camera lens in my face ! ooo-errr - not used to this I thought ! 
After a one-chance practice, and using a gate for the first time, the heats started. The knock-out format meant you had win to stay in. Duh ! It was at this point I felt I was being clocked.. on the other side of the pits was Rob Reed, the "other" guy on a BMX, a Pro rider, who was well over 6' and had a serious look in his eye! now I'm fast off the block, but thats against the local kids in my estate (circa 1986) this guy is apparently competing in the Olympics. By now the crowd was 6000 strong, the atmosphere was nuts, cameras and spectators lined the course all the way up, which was a good 20+second flat-out sprint with a few chicanes on the way up.   

Before I knew it, there I was next, on the gate with Rob next to me. I was shitting myself to be honest. How the hell did I get here ! looking up all I could see was hundreds of people and a rather large scary looking bloody steep hill ! up on the pedals, where do I look!? up ? down ? I looked to my left, And Rob was looking down (at the gate) OK, ill do that I thought .. riders ready ! watch the gate, and BANG ! he got me alright, so it was a mad chase to the top, trying my absolute best to reduce the distance. 3/4 of the way up, my gears span out, and he had a good 2metres on me. Did me best, but hell my hamstrings were on FIRE. 

So that was it, we rode back down, had a quick chat, and I was a happy spectator for the rest of the racing, which was awesome. Prokop snapping his chain, two roadies taking each other out, and one rider collapsing from the effort ! The guy in the chicken suit got knocked out in the first heats, just like me. After taking a few photos, I headed home, reflecting on one mad, mental evening, that I was lucky to be part of. Something I won't ever forget. 
 
Cristian Tomlinson.