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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Josh West
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Saturday, 05 May 2007 |
Greenbrier AMBC
Boonsboro, MD
4/29/2007
This year's Greenbrier Mtn. bike race was a UCI-C2 event. The C2 caliber combined with PERFECT weather brought out a huge field of competitors. It was my first race of the season and one of two chances to qualify for NORBA nationals. I had the flu a week prior and took five days off, so I wasn't expecting much in the way of results, was just hoping to get a spot in the top 15 to qualify for nationals.
The course at Greenbrier is true mtn. biking terrain. The 5+ mile loop starts out on a grass raceway that quickly turns uphill onto a gravel doubletrack that quickly turns into a really nice race course studded with really fast and flowing but slightly technical descents (my new Juicy Ultimates are aptly named, it is like push-button braking, easily the nicest hydros I have used to date.) with a few more technical rocky sections, and one significant climb that went at my lap times like a stick in the spokes.
There were 38 starters in my class (Expert 30-39). As usual, there was a pretty fast tempo at the start. Being my first race of the year and just getting back to good health, I was not in the mood for sprinting off the line. I chose to stay towards the back of the pack at the start and take it all in. The pack strung out quite a bit as we rounded a gravel corner to head up the first hill. I was able to settle in early and pass a handful of riders who went to hard at the start. Then I gained a few more spots at the bottom of the first technical sections where a few riders got confused by the rocks and choked each other up. I rode through them and caught up to a few guys I could keep pace with. A bit later, about halfway through the loop, the monster climb was in my face. I was able to gain a few more spots on the climb. After the climb I was able to pass two more riders and that was about it. Stayed in 13th to the finish. Good enough for nationals and generally not a bad result for my first race and just getting over the flu (and a pretty stacked field ta boot).
Josh West
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