Utah Cyclocross #1 Weber County Fairgrounds Ogden, UT 10/3/2009
The much anticipated start to the cyclocross season has finally arrived. I spent most of my year working toward CX and now that it’s here, the excitement is almost too much to handle. As in prior years, the Utah CX scene has grown by leaps and bounds and there are even more categories of racers. I am again riding in the Masters 35+B group which was about thirty strong at the start line. I arrived to the start a little late and was relegated to the back of the group. I had my work cut out for me as I saw some familiar faces of past competitors and they were on the front line. The word was given and I charged as hard as I could toward the front of the group as it strung out. About mid-way through lap one there was a split of two off the front and about ten or so of us chasing. I stayed on the faster wheels when I could and moved up a few only to commit some stupid error and lose time. The two off the front stayed there throughout the race and those of us in the chase group traded places over and over again. After a spectacular endo over a log, I was unhurt but whatever rhythm I had going was slow to return. I was passed late in the final lap but held on to 9th place. Not great, but I am somewhat satisfied as the time gap from first to tenth was only about a minute. I got the new (to me) tubulars all glued up and ready to go for this week. I hope they make me at least a little bit faster and avoiding crashes should also help speed me up a bit too. This season it’s just me representing Bikeman.com in Utah as Big T has had some health issues that will sideline him through the CX season. He will be there cheering me on though. Till next time……
; "Image")
Show/Hide comment form
