Utah Cyclocross #3 Wasatch County Fairgrounds Heber, UT 10/17/2009
The start
There it is. The day has finally arrived where all of the hard work of the past year has come to fruition. After spending hours and hours on the bike with one goal in mind and having only one focus for the entire season, it happened. I got the win in what turned out to be the most exciting race in recent memory, and not only because I won, it really was exciting.
The run-up
Saturday was another of those amazing autumn days in Utah; clear blue skies and warmish temperatures. At race time, it was about 60 degrees. Perfect. I duplicated the rituals of the previous week by waking at 6am and getting the waffle breakfast and coffee started. I arrived at the fairgrounds in Heber about an hour prior to my start and set up the trainer for a warm up in the sun. I got a good half hour in while watching those around me change multiple flats due to the goatheads that littered the course.
Half way to go!
This week there were about thirty riders at the start of the 35B race and due to my second place finish the week before, I got a call-up to fourth position. The usual fast guys were there on the front row and we settled in for the pre-race announcements. The word was given to go, and as usual, Peter took off like a shot. I struggled to stay on his wheel in the long strait, but as we approached the run-up, things tightened up again. At the end of the first lap I was third wheel out of five in the lead group and I kinda knew what to expect from Peter and Tim, but I didn’t know the other two at all. We all took our turns at the front, but mostly I tried to stay second or third wheel.
The move has been made
The laps ticked away and not much changed. I knew where I was going to make my move and the plan was to stay second or third wheel until the designated spot, but conditions changed going through the start/finish for the final lap. Peter drilled it again and rapidly developed a fifty meter gap on me and the other three. I stood and went as hard as I dared as we still had about seven minutes of riding to go and managed to close in again by the top of the run-up. Shortly after that we approached the triple barrier section and it seemed like Peter had a slight issue that forced me to the front before I was really ready. You’ve gotta go with the opportunities as they present themselves, so I went to the front of the group while still planning my attack at the predetermined spot. I eased off the pace just enough to recover while not allowing anyone to pass as we traversed the infield of the horse track. On the outside of the track there is a grass area that we wound through that was becoming more of a mud bog with each successive lap. At the end of the bog, there is a hard grass section and that is where I made my move. As I stood and hit the gas, I could hear that another rider had the same plan coming up on my right. I beat him to the turn thereby eliminating any passing opportunity until the very long straightaway finish. I held on to first position going the finishing strait and drilled it coming out of the 180 degree right hander and out sprinted the others for the win.
Sprint finish!!
So, that’s the story I have wanted to tell for the last three years--since I last won a cross race (or any race for that matter) in the C category. The best part is that Mrs. Dave was there to witness my success. The last time she saw me win was in the beginner MTB category a long time ago. This win is dedicated to Mrs. Dave for putting up with my training schedule that takes up all of my free time between my work and school schedules. Whoohoo!! Next week is at my least favorite venue- the equestrian park in Draper. This one has a long paved climb that usually creates all kinds of gaps, but I feel that hill may work in my favor this year. We’ll see! Check out the results at utahcyclocross.com Till next time……
; "The start")
; "The run-up")
; "Half way to go!")
; "The move has been made")
; "Sprint finish!!")
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