Typical features of all these races are call ups based on series placing (5 top spots first) then registration order. They tape out a start grid 8 across, and however far deep is required. An uphill paved start location, long enough to string it out a bit, before the first technical spots. Fully taped course with LOTS of turns, and twists. These are REALLY nice courses. I have considered moving to this area just for these nice courses... if I could guarantee the whole series was like this.
There were also HUGE fields. Friday was the smallest with 51 cat 2/3 finishers. Which is misleading because they started the 2/3 field, and both cat 3 masters fields together. So there were 100 finishers, and I would guess about 50 dnfs on Friday. 121 finishers on Saturday, and 135 on Sunday with about the same attrition rate. That was just my races.
Friday - Dark Horse Stampede:
6am depart time to arrive in time for some course recon, since the only open course times were at 10:30. I hear last year was a mud fest, this year was total opposite... the course was dry, hard and bumpy with lots of elevation changes.
The start through the finish, then a left hand drop and immediate rise that stalls. The big feature was an amphitheater bowl similar to Kirtland park, but MUCH deeper without the terracing. The course twisted across this four times, leading to a set of three 4x4 uphill steps. The left side was widely spaced, the right was close. If you could ride it, you'd be setup to grind up the hill to a paved section, otherwise you were running. Some twisty stuff to the barriers, and then a set of 3 downhill sweepers. Another paved climb and more sweeping turns, lots of up and downs across the the back side.
I figure the course was just a bit over 1.6 miles with no real recovery spots. I was always concentrating, either hanging on for descents to set up for a tight turn, climbing a lung buster, finding a line. Work, work work.
I got a semi good start from my third row call up, ending in the top 20 or so. Did the start drop, and got stacked as a guy in front of me stalled on the next climb. I saw Steiner pass me, and figured I now had my rabbit to chase. I ran the stairs the first lap, and settled into the chase.
I figure I caught Dave at the start of the second lap, and encouraged him follow... well I would have, but neither of us could talk. I was able to start riding the stairs on the left side, and worked the rest of the course. Dave pulled his foot out of his shoe, and had to stop to get that sorted.... so he pulled the plug to save it for the remaining races.
I kept it rolling, continued to pick off guys. I ended up in a battle with one guy for a while. Heading into 2 to go, the 90* heat started to get to me, on the start pavement I decided to grab a drink from the bottle I carried with me. Mistake, I must have unintentionally just sat up for that drink when the guy got a gap. I tried to get rolling again to catch him, but made up no ground. I rolled in with no sprint for 23 place.
Day one in the books. We stayed on site, ate an amazing Belgian Waffle, watched Katie Compton school the womens field. JPow and Trebon fight a huge battle. JPow was rolling through the pit every lap for water and riding the tight side of the stairs. Trebon eventually got a gap, and I think JPow pulled the Steiner saving it for the next two days, finishing third behind Barry Wicks.
David Yohe rocked a 5th place in the cat 4 mens race, which started at 5:00.
I tried to eat twice my body weight in food before the next race.
Saturday - Java Johnny:
Katie Compton was quoted as saying that this course was her favorite over all. Better than any domestic or Euro course she's raced. They closed the road adjacent to the park for the start straight, and built ramps to get up over the curbs. Lots of twisty bits and three paved sections, the start climb, the climb behind the pool, and a flat finish sprint. The technical bits were two right hand 180 turns in the volley ball pit... nobody rode them, pro or otherwise. There was a tight downhill 120* turn around a tree, and a hairy up and downhill S turn around a pair of trees.
Leah Halloran pull a Katie Compton on the Women's 3/4 field and won by about a year and a half.
Another HOT day, I decided not to carry water and risk loosing places due to a lapse in concentration. I would drink after the race. I again got a third row call up next to Steiner, Jason Halloran. Ryan Williams and Pete Duecher were there as well. The start was a bit crazy, but I rode it super aggressively and again did reasonable. Jason made his way to the front and didn't look back.
It was evident that my efforts on Friday were costing me as I could not match the pace of Dave as he passed me... or those of the other 10 guys or so that did the same. I did my best to get a groove going, and worked hard to maintain gaps... which worked alright. Yes, I did execute my best sprint on a cross bike for 41st place. I didn't gain anything, but I also did not loose the one place I could have from behind.
Jason killed it for fourth place, Dave got 33rd, Pete finished 68th and I think Ryan DNF.
Overall I was happy with the race until I found out my finishing place. Still I raced a good start, raced hard, sprinted the finish and put in the second day.
Compton won the women's race again, and JPow saved enough to ride away from Trebon on the last lap.
Derek raced the Elite masters 1/2/3 race, and finished 33rd.
Bruce MacDonald rode to a strong second place finish in the mens cat 4 35+ race. Yohe finished 3rd in the cat 4 mens race. Rocking team results.
This time I tried to drink twice my body weight in water before the start of the next race. I only ate my body weight equivalent this time.
Sunday - Harbin Park:
This is the big race. C1 is the highest UCI category cyclocross race.
After the paved start shoots you into a fast downhill section, twist around some up and down tree sections and a long uphill grind to the finish line, leading to a long slightly uphill sand pit. By the time I hit the sand, I was totally gassed from the climb. Then twist around some more to the downhill sand, a gnarly uphill switchback around a tree, some 4x4 crossings. Hit some pavement, grass, pavement, then two sweeping downhill turns, lead to another super fast downhill, followed by a quick rise. Sweep through the woods, another sweeping downhill turn to the barriers, and back to the start sections.
We again watched Leah "Compton" Halloran ride away from the field from the start. Another impressive win on her part.
I was super tired, but still motivated to race well. Again a third row call up, I aggressively hit the start, rode the technical sections hard and sprinted to the first sand crossing. I ran the sand the first time, and was totaled on the other side. I started to bleed placings like crazy. I totally had to talk myself into racing as hard as I could, which was not as hard as I wanted. Guys were passing me, and try as I might I could not hold the wheel.
I ended up running the sand all but the third lap, which I shocks me because I think I would have spent less energy spinning through it. I also know that it took everything in me to move my feet as I ran it on one lap. I read the the pro's were doing the downhill at 40mph! I was closer to 25. So I gave up loads of time there... especially on the third lap. As I came through the barriers a guy got around me, and I intended on drilling the down hill to catch him. In the end the little dip at the top bounced my chain off the front ring. Since I run a single, I couldn't just pedal it back into place. I know, I tried... for a LONG time. I kept rotating it wondering why it wouldn't go up, must have been oxygen debt. At the bottom of the hill I managed to really screw it up and wrap the chain around the crank. I had to hop off, and untangle it while about 10 guys rode by me.
In hind site that was probably the best thing that could have happened to my race. I lost a minute on that lap, which gave me some recovery. There's something about recovering from a mechanical that says, those guys are not as fast as I am because they were behind me. Now that my bike is working, I can go catch a lot of them. So I did... I actually ran negative splits, with the last two laps being my fastest laps. I even totally drilled the uphill finish over taking another 4 places to finish in 47th. Not a stellar place, but acceptable considering two hard days prior and my lack of drive on the first 3 laps. I had hoped I could top 20 all three days, instead I nearly hit the top half of all fields, only really succeeding on the first day.
Jason killed it for second place, Dave got his best finish at 22nd. Pete flatted out early. Bruce got the upgrade and raced in the 2/3 race, but I don't see his result anywhere.
Derek had a rough race in the Elite Master's race finishing 43rd and Yohe must have had a rough day also, finishing in 28th in the cat 4 race.
We high tailed it out after the 2/3 race, since we had 4 and half hours of driving to get home. I ended up eating continuously for about half the drive, literally. I gained about 5 pounds over the weekend, I think that has a lot to do with the amount of water I had to drink as it's already coming off.
Overall, I'm happy with the weekend. I learned a lot. Raced my bike hard on courses that were fantastic, in larger fields than I've ever raced with. Lots of rest in order now, man am I tired. Then the big push in the NEOCX series as the racing here starts to get serious.
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