Sunday, June 10, 2007
Hibbard!
The state race started out with TA making the moves. Eventually 3 TA riders and one River City got off the front and the pack settled in for a nearly comatose "chase".
First time up Briggs the group does a moderate pace, but I pop early! By the time I'm through the twists I'm solo and waaaaay back of the pack. Should I have sat up and gone running? Well, I gave it both guns and by the time we hit the Start/Finish I got the bumper of the wheel car and finally settled in to the pack. Can something feel powerful and awesome at the same time it was the result of my current weaknesses?
The next trip around was COMPLETELY uneventful and, thanks to lazy pack dynamics, the climb was low and slow. I had time to totally recover, eat and chat endlessly with whoever looked the least annoyed.
Fast forward to the middle of lap 3 and we finally catch the last of the long winded break. I look over at Hibbard and make a comment that this would be a good place to go. He seemed resistant. I suggested he'd probably have counterattack company and that was all it took. The pack didn't even cahnge cadence when he left with another unattached and a TA rider. 15 minutes later they had 2:30. Buh-Bye. I'd just like everyone to remind themselves of my prediction as of June 4th...
On the fourth lap my teammate Brice was cramping, I was out of water and my legs were done. As we hit the corner for Briggs road Kytola jumped hard and the pack chased up the climb. And then I pulled the pin, well not really, but I had to watch the pack pull away up the grade as I puffed and ground my way over the top.
In the mean time, Kytola made it over the top with 3 or 4 others and eventually a group of about 8 formed up with about 10 chasers. Eric says he spent a bit of time at the front trying to keep the separation which turned out to be effective. I chased hard with a River City cyclist, then Richard Haight and eventually a Wate MAnagement rider.
Hibbard stayed way with 30 or 40 seconds for the win, Kytola followed Jacob Hill and Tony Kic in the wind up and left them a clean pair of heels for second. I felt really good coming in around 20th... if only I could climb :^)
Lets count the new State Champs so far: Hibbard - Eugene, Rosenberg - Eugene, Turnbuckle - Eugene. Snap.
See ya at the Crits and Mt. Tabor
Gary
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10 comments:
Way to go Mark & Eric!
Thanks for the reporting Gary. It's nice to be able to keep up even when I can't make it to the race in my own backyard.
What was with your boy Quinn sporting the CMG colors? Riding for himself basically as a CAT 2 on Paul's he had two top 5's and a great finish at his first ever NRC race. One race under his belt for CMG and he DNF'd?????
What's the dilly G$
Yeah, the Eugene boys did well in those fields, but the Portland guys did pretty well in the 1/2's and the Masters 30-39. Huge props to Mssr. Hamilton for taking 6th in the Sr. Men and then riding away from the Masters 30-39 field.
i'd encourage all the 3's to do the senior men's race next month - i think we can make it interesting. that leaves gary 4 weeks to stop stuffing his face and start eating leafy greens with a prayer of making it over the hill with the big boys.
G,
It takes a lot of work to keep up this body and truth be told I eat a ton of veggies. It's just that they're in addition to everything else...
Oh, and where were you yesterday?
I do plan on "racing" the Senior division. :-)
Gary,
I will join you on the 1st - should be good training for Cascade Classic.
Scott
i was out of town. got home while you were getting popped on briggs.
A shout out to Mike Rosenberg (40+ Masters) for a great ride on Sunday. From the lead breakaway, he attacked midway up the Brigg's switchbacks and held off the lead group for a solo win. The Thursday nighters and home court advantage was certainly a factor.
First off, Rouleur is a cool moniker!
Second... after spending years chasing Mike up Sprinter's Hill for the Thursday Nighter I am not shocked in the slightest that he stayed away. That guy is white lightning up steep climb sand can downright motor on the flats.
It'd be cool if he wore the State Champ Jersey when I outsprint him :-)
Gary
so gary, i never heard how you thought those pretty wheels looked from the back on tuesday.
i told you, the train was leaving the station, and you went and forgot your ticket.
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