"I was almost perfect, but I made two mistakes": Cameron Mason pinpoints marginal difference between victory and defeat

When comparing this and past season, you could barely recognize Cameron Mason. The Seven Racing's Briton has become a regular top-10 feature this winter with 5th place at the European Championships in Middelkerke and already two second places. The most recent came this Sunday when Mason was once again beaten to the victory by Belgian champion Thibau Nys in Flandriencross Hamme.

Unlike the Koppenbergcross two weeks ago where Mason was looking at Nys' back the entire second half of the race from a considerable distance, his odds looked much better in Hamme. With multiple riders in the contention, race could've gone in any direction.

But Mason and Nys proved to be the strongest, creating distance from the likes of Joris Nieuwenhuis and Lars van der Haar. Then it became a duel in which Mason was perhaps the less lucky one.

"I stayed calm for the first two laps. Halfway through, I accelerated," Mason said in his best Dutch, which he's currently learning. "I think Thibau and I had the best technique on this course, but Thibau just had a little bit more in the last two minutes. That's why I'm not just happy with this second place..."

Mason broke away from the rest of the field halfway through the race, with only Nys able to close the gap. A battle ensued until the final straight. Nys decided to accelerate several times in the final. "I was following at the limit, but at this level, you can't make any mistakes. Up until that point, I was almost perfect, but on the last lap, I made two mistakes," said Mason. "It could have gone either way. Today, the win was really close, so I need to let this sink in."

Despite an improved level, a victory in a major televised cyclocross race is still missing from Mason's list of achievements. But with his current performances, it shouldn't be but a matter of time till everything clicks for the 25-year-old Brit and he is able to raise his hands across the finish line.

The big difference from previous seasons is the very composed approach Mason has to racing. "I start every race very calmly, that's how I wanted to start this season. I'm in control, and whatever comes out of it, comes out of it. In these kinds of races, I can really show what I'm capable of, if I can truly focus on the race."