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Channel 3 MTB Race |
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Written by Sean Daley
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Wednesday, 11 June 2008 |
Channel 3 MTB Race
Andover, CT
6/8/2008
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If it’s too hot in the…
Oh my god was it hot this weekend at Andover, CT, for the Channel 3 MTB Race. It was a blistering 90 degrees as we lined up in the sun to wait for the word go and start our suffer fest.
I had fixed my bike with a second water-bottle holder the night before, to have extra water for “operation hydration.” Ky was there to hand me my two water bottles a lap, I was burning through a water and mixed drink each lap, it was really hot.
After a good warm up with my buddy Kat, we lined up and waited for the word. There were about 14 of us and when the gun went off we were all bunched together. The course was pretty open to start and then went into some cool single-track before hitting a big open climb. I attacked on the first climb and the heat took me over. I started seeing spots and got dizzy. I fell back to the back of the pack where the other victims of the heat were hanging out and rode the rest of the first lap in misery.
By the time I made it back to the first big climb on the second lap I had doused myself pretty good, and was feeling better. I started attacking and made up a lot of lost time. I was picking off riders who were cracking because of the heat and making my way to the front. After three laps I had moved up to about 5th and was getting stronger.
I was pumped because I almost dropped in the first lap (a few guys did). On the last lap I caught a rider I knew from the week before (who I knew was a top three guy) so I really started to pour it on. When I had about a half a lap left I saw a rider I knew was in my group and gave it all I had to catch him but went down hard in the section of singletrack that ran along the river (the second time in the same spot).
I wasn’t able to catch the rider who finished third, but I managed to hang in there for forth, 30 seconds out. Not bad. It was a rough day for a lot of people, my hats off to all of those who fell off the back and suffered through to the end. I heard a lot of guys dropped and jumped in the river! I almost did as well.
The day was great, “operation hydration” paid off in the end. After a fifth place last week at Pats Peak I was pumped to be one place nearer the podium! Maybe next week.
Until then,
See you at the races…
S
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