Subaru Cup PRO XCT

I was looking forward to this race all year and can't believe its here and gone. In a way I wish I could have a redue.

I went to the course on Wednesday and rode all the technical stuff a few times to find the right lines. I thought that I would be able to get some air over the Trek Firelane rock but found out that wasn't gonna work and crashed pretty hard.

For the XC race everyone gets call ups based on your UCI points then after that it is a random draw. I didn't have any UCI points and got picked last! So I started dead last.... On the parade lap we all got piled up right away and I just stood there and watched the leaders ride away. Once we got going again I started hammering to make up as many places as I could. I was moving up really fast and on lap 3 I was pretty happy with my position. Thats when I blew... I never really felt like myself out there but really started going backwards on lap 4 and 5. Then I just barely hit the 80% rule and got pulled... I think that if I wouldn't of killed myself that first lap I might of had the energy to maintain my pace and finish on the lead lap.

Short Track was much the same, I got caught up in a crash when JHK went down in the first corner and stood there watching the leaders ride away. I was feeling sluggish out on the course but it seemed like I was moving up each lap. With all the fans going crazy I dug deep but just couldn't turn the pedals any harder and slowly started to go backwards again and got pulled with 3 laps to go.

In the Super D race I just decided to have fun, go down the hill fast without killing myself and don't worry about the results and that exactly what I did.

All in all this race was a big learning experience for me, my first year as a pro I am privileged to have this race in my home state and have all the fans on my side. Racing against some of the best racers in the country, including both Olympic men is crazy. I have a lot of years of racing in me yet and it is just beginning....

Ore To Shore

Ore to Shore always has a good turn out. Its not as high profile as Cheq 40 or Iceman but the fast guys still show up. I had big goals... stay with the lead group for as long as possible and to race smart.

I managed to stick with them for somewhere around 10 miles in. A few mishaps caused them to get away, but it was probably for the best otherwise I might have blown up to early.... After riding by myself, fighting the strong winds Darrin Braun and a group of guys caught me and I got in their train, that lasted for only a few mins and Darrin and I broke away and were gaining on Issac Neft. 

Then out of no where some other dude was in our draft. Darrin, Issac and myself were working together really well, but the other guy didn't seem to be doing much work....

Issac eventually dropped off and it was left to the 3 of us. I could tell that Darrin and that other guy were feeling better than I was, I tried to hide it but it was not easy. About 5 miles left Darrin throws in an attack up a hill to test the waters, I could not respond but they slowed back down and I bridged back up only for them to do it again. Thats when I decided that I was blown, I rode as hard as I could making sure that no one was gaining on me. I crossed the line in 12th position. 

I am very happy with my result, if only I could of hung in a little longer and had a shot for that 10th place... maybe next year.