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Starcrossed 2008 |
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Written by Joel Liefke
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Thursday, 25 September 2008 |
Race: Starcrossed
Date: September 20, 2008
Location: Redmond, WA
Photo Credits: Phil “Phancy” Kamolz and CX Magazine
 My favorite time of year, fall in the Northwest. Fall brings on College Football, the change of cooler weather and of course Starcrossed, the premier event in Cross in the US, many would say. For more information, check out Starcrossedcx.com. As usual, I spent the day before the race setting up the course with my friends from the Hagen-Bermans team. This year, I was the rebar and PVC guy along with taping 90% of the course. Terry, Rich and Steve do a great job of getting all the best equipment and signage so that the course is covered in sponsor signs and booths. This year the course changed only a little from last year, longer open sections for passing and a couple new off camber sections that will definitely challenge people’s bike handling skills.
 Day of the race, there looked to be ~85 participants signed up for the Masters Cat 3 race, so looks like a good start would be required to avoid getting caught up in the masses coming into the run-up after about the first ½ mile. Got the Kona Major Jake all lubed up with Slick Willy, pumped up the Panaracer Cross Blasters to 40 PSI and I was ready to roll. One thing I noticed the day before, the clouds were rolling in…which meant this could be great, as the course would be nice and muddy by the start. Little did I know, it would rain all day which provided the perfect cross conditions.
 Everything was perfect, except for the race, you know you just have a really bad race now and again, well this was my turn. Not sure if it was all the hype coming into the event and I over-stressed myself or if I was pooped from hammering in 500 pieces of rebar the day before, either way, didn’t have a great ride, but the course and fans were amazing. I got a 3rd row start (Thanks Terry!), and hit the run-up in about 10th. Upon dismount, the guy behind me plowed his pedal into my cassette and after the race I looked and it was pretty bent. The first lap wasn’t too difficult, but on an off-camber section in the back, I got sideswiped by another rider who took me down right as I was getting ready to head up the backside of the Velodrome. 1 lap, 2 hits…lovely.
 Laps 2-4 were pretty much non-events, my legs just didn’t have the power so I just pushed along as best I could, but that didn’t stop the masses from passing me. Lap 5 turned out to be the one that put me out for the count. I was rolling in about 35th place I’d guess, when going around a mud to cement transition, I went down in front of one of the biggest crowded areas right before the run up. Before I could pull myself up, I was down about 15 places.
 On lap 5 I hit the deck again, right before the run-up and from there, I just held on for dear life. Caught a group of 5 riders and we duked it out for the next 2 laps before I finished 62nd…rough day at the office, but the better news, no damage to the Champion Systems Skinsuit (I thought for sure I ripped the leg on the slide out on the cement, but only thing that ripped was my skin underneath!
2 races, 2 lackluster results, I need to figure something else to get on the right path. Thanks again to all the Starcrossed crew, world-class event and the highlight of most people’s season. I’ve also included a shot of Sam Johnson who opted to race the Cat 3 race in a Speedo and cape…props to you my friend considering the 50 degree, windy and pouring rain conditions.
Until next time…
Joel
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