Green Mountain Sports CX #1

Photo by: Six Degrees to Slush

A new record high temperature was recorded in Denver today-- somewhere in the mid 90s. this is not your typical weather report when you think about a cyclocross race report. More than a few people commented on feeling dizzy and getting chills in the middle of the race which is a sign of serious overheating. Thank goodness the ACA officials ran the races on the short side of the race time (ie: our 45 minute race was actually about 40 minutes).

Today's Cat. 4 race fielded about 40 starters and the officials based call ups on last year's standings. Although I earned some points in 2009, it was not enough to get a call up leaving me to wait for us to fill in the start rows numerically which left me with a 3rd row starting position. we took off down the length of the soccer field and looped around the goal and headed back towards the single track. By the goal, I had worked my way into about 10th wheel and then into 5th wheel by the single track. A few quick pedal strokes, some inside lines and some jostling set me up into 3rd wheel before the stairs. I sat in until the climb back towards the start/finish area and then took a tight inside line into first position (see picture). I somehow managed to get some toe overlap and caught my right Achilles area on my front chainring so I have a nice cut back there to heal up now.

I rode a fast and steady pace the rest of the race only allowing 3 riders to get past (one of whom won in Colorado Springs yesterday and motored on to 1st today as well). On the third lap I started getting sloppy in a few of the loose turns and could see the 5th wheel rider starting to get closer. I kept on the gas and tried to build up gaps where I could but he finally caught me in the final uphill towards the finish line and he came charging with some power. I was able to respond only long enough to catch his back wheel and he took off again into the final hairpin turn.

I'm very pleased with how today's race went, especially given my history of poor performance in the severe heat. Boups complemented me on my form today saying that it looked like I was having a much better time staying on the gas for the whole race over last year.

As far as my skills today, I was much more comfortable through the barriers today than yesterday and I think a big part of it is I was able to come into the barriers fast, dismount at speed and carry that momentum into the remount. The barriers yesterday were in awkward pseudo-uphill areas where I could not carry any speed into them and lost more momentum on the dismounts and getting over them. I also felt really strong on the stair run up today but I should have taken another lap through them in warm up and decided if I was going to go with a double step or hit every stair for a matter of consistency.

I hope this isn't all a fluke and that I can continue to improve and stay in the front of the pack.

A few things I've picked up on from Wednesday Worlds and short track racing is knowing when to sit in on a wheel and when to attack, to importance of powering all the way through the apex of a turn or hill. Next up to work on is responding to attacks.