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USGP of Gloucester |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Matt DeMeis
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Sunday, 08 October 2006 |
USGP Grand Prix of Gloucester
Gloucester, MA
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UUUGH!! It's monday and I hurt all over. Why you ask? Because I just finished a whole weekend of getting my head kicked in by the fastest cyclocross racers in North America. It was a crazy crazy weekend of racing. I'll make this one short because there really isn't all that much for me to say on the matter. 2 days, great weather, tons of spectators and a 'nats caliber field. Cross is huge now, HUGE.
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Day 1: I had a pretty good race this day considering JB and I started at the back. When I say back, I mean back. Last row with no one behind me. I was next to the "National Team" from Haiti. I chatted with them a little because they tried to tell me my tire was flat. I tried to explain that it wasn't and that you need somewhat low pressure for cross. They were racing with road pedals and what looked to be 23mm tires. Hard core. I was pulling for them. So the gun goes off and I wait a few seconds and then start sprinting like crazy.  | | click to enlarge |
First lap is a slugfest of dust, yelling, waiting and sprinting. Once we settled in I tried to leapfrog from group to group. I felt like I was riding really well and making up lots of time, then I flatted my front tubular on the 2nd to last lap not far from the start/finish. I had no time to pit if I was going to try and make the last lap so I rode the flat front. If you're going to try that, a quality glue job is a must. So I almost made it to the line but Trebon blew my doors off and I went home to try and rest for the next day. By "try and rest" I mean I went home to spend my evening gluing on a new front tubular.
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Day 2: Pretty much the same exact start scenario as Saturday. Started at the back since most of the field was sitting on the start grid 30-40 minutes before the start on fluid trainers. I had absolutely nothing this day. I was going as hard as I could. Nothing. People I am usually way ahead of were coming by me. This is really demoralizing watching the race ride away from you. I could sit here for days and try and come up with excuses why I got killed but it's pretty much cut and dry. I got doored, plain and simple. Sitting on the line for 20 minutes in the wind and shade didn't help me any. I was shivering when I had to start sprinting. Ouch. I'm surprisingly motivated now however. Next weekend is the New Gloucester, ME Verge series kickoff. I'm hoping I'll have some better legs and the course will suit me a little better. I'm not so good at those non-technical dirt crits.
Some things to note from the weekend:
Al kicked ass in the masters races.
Redbeard rallied on day 2 of the B race to place 29th and achieve his top 30 goal.
Mary got 4th in the B race on Saturday.
JB ate his Oat O's and had a stellar race while I got dropped on Sunday. We all need to learn to eat like JB!!
See everyone at the Verge kickoff.
Matt
Photos by: Brian Pierce/thedrownedgod.com
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