Colorado UCI races: Blowin' in the Wind
So, I'm in the great town of Boulder, CO, or as I like to call it, Bend Sr. There's been a lot of comparisons between the two places, but I’m not gonna go into that other than saying, I like them both, but they both have their flaws. I packed up the Pedro’s van last week and drove out to, “help,” the Cliff Bar Devo team. I say, “help,” because they didn’t really need any. I did hook them up with some tools, a stand and a bench along with some lube, but they didn’t really need me to shuttle them around since they all live here anyway. It’s a great reason to get out here again and to do some work along with a few UCI cross races. Plus, I did end up helping out a trio of Velo Bellas, including the cyclingnews famous Barbarella, for the weekend, who we also sponsor. Ben Turner is doing a great job with his Cliff Bar team and has a great commitment to the environment. Pedro’s is really happy to support Ben and his crew of talented youngsters as he drives around to races leaving an almost 0% foot print.
On to the races! If I had to use one word to describe the weekend it would be….WINDY! Holly heck! Day one was out at the Boulder Reservoir and had a mix of pavement, gravel, grass and sand to challenge the 60 or so racers lined up. The highlights were 2 actual, real sand sections. Dry sand that closes as soon as you ride through it. Ugh. The second was a sweet long section that you could take speed into and had a right turn lead in to a straight followed by a ride up. Umm…hard. Being a UCI event, I knew the competition would be fierce, but Trebon, Wicks, Johnson, Powers, Wells, Kabush and more???? Oh man, can’t these guys race on the East Coast when I show up? From the start I found myself in great company and a flailing Trebon came by me after he had slipped a pedal at the start. I knew I’d pay for it in the end, but I couldn’t resist pegging it after my great start. For a bit I was hanging around the top 10ish with Tonkin just ahead. Sweet, just the race I wanted to have all season! Unfortunately it was only meant to be for about 35 minutes. After that point I imploded and it was spectacular! I went from about 15ish chasing a group of perennial fasties to 34 and lapped with 2 to go. Ha! The only saving grace is that I was able to out sprint 2 of the 3 guys who passed me on the last lap…including another Oregon racer out for the weekend, Tonkin jr…er, Sean Babcock. I heard that Erik said he has the most raw talent that he’s seen since Barry, and we all know how that turned out. Sean has been killing it in what I believe is his first year racing mtb and cross. All I wanted to do was catch the group of 5 ahead of me for a few laps, but I was alone and the wind was killing me. I just wanted to sit on a wheel, but by then I was done. Travis Brown came by me late on his single speed which was cool. He didn’t get lapped and finished 19th. Hard day, but fun.
Day 2 was held in town at one of the venues from last years USGP. I was stoked to race it because on this course last year I had food poisoning and watched the race lying on the ground…and sitting in the porta potties. No need for details. This course was wide open, fast grass, few turns, some sweet sand again, and a long uphill pavement start/finish. Nothing special happened this day either. Mediocre start followed by passing some and getting passed by others. I thought I got pulled with 3 to go, but the results say 4 to go. Oh well. Ryan was, to say the least, 2 gears faster than everyone. He passed me and I rode with him till about ½ lap to go. From there I soft pedaled the remaining lap and 2nd place (Johnson) never came into sight. Ryan lapped everyone but the top 14. He shoulda been racing the Superprestige. 28th was the result for the day. Sean finished in the 30s again and we both agreed that it’s a bit different than racing in Portland. I was pretty far back in the start grid and I think Sean was in the last row. Oh yeah, it was windy too.
For the rest of the week, I'll be doing some shop visits and trying to work my way to another UCI weekend in southern CO. I think the competition will be a bit less, but I doubt it will be any easier. It'll be nice to be used to the altitude though.
Props to my boy Weaver for winning the single speed Cross Crusade this weekend. I couldn't be happier for anyone else! Nice work! Thanks for reading.
On to the races! If I had to use one word to describe the weekend it would be….WINDY! Holly heck! Day one was out at the Boulder Reservoir and had a mix of pavement, gravel, grass and sand to challenge the 60 or so racers lined up. The highlights were 2 actual, real sand sections. Dry sand that closes as soon as you ride through it. Ugh. The second was a sweet long section that you could take speed into and had a right turn lead in to a straight followed by a ride up. Umm…hard. Being a UCI event, I knew the competition would be fierce, but Trebon, Wicks, Johnson, Powers, Wells, Kabush and more???? Oh man, can’t these guys race on the East Coast when I show up? From the start I found myself in great company and a flailing Trebon came by me after he had slipped a pedal at the start. I knew I’d pay for it in the end, but I couldn’t resist pegging it after my great start. For a bit I was hanging around the top 10ish with Tonkin just ahead. Sweet, just the race I wanted to have all season! Unfortunately it was only meant to be for about 35 minutes. After that point I imploded and it was spectacular! I went from about 15ish chasing a group of perennial fasties to 34 and lapped with 2 to go. Ha! The only saving grace is that I was able to out sprint 2 of the 3 guys who passed me on the last lap…including another Oregon racer out for the weekend, Tonkin jr…er, Sean Babcock. I heard that Erik said he has the most raw talent that he’s seen since Barry, and we all know how that turned out. Sean has been killing it in what I believe is his first year racing mtb and cross. All I wanted to do was catch the group of 5 ahead of me for a few laps, but I was alone and the wind was killing me. I just wanted to sit on a wheel, but by then I was done. Travis Brown came by me late on his single speed which was cool. He didn’t get lapped and finished 19th. Hard day, but fun.
Day 2 was held in town at one of the venues from last years USGP. I was stoked to race it because on this course last year I had food poisoning and watched the race lying on the ground…and sitting in the porta potties. No need for details. This course was wide open, fast grass, few turns, some sweet sand again, and a long uphill pavement start/finish. Nothing special happened this day either. Mediocre start followed by passing some and getting passed by others. I thought I got pulled with 3 to go, but the results say 4 to go. Oh well. Ryan was, to say the least, 2 gears faster than everyone. He passed me and I rode with him till about ½ lap to go. From there I soft pedaled the remaining lap and 2nd place (Johnson) never came into sight. Ryan lapped everyone but the top 14. He shoulda been racing the Superprestige. 28th was the result for the day. Sean finished in the 30s again and we both agreed that it’s a bit different than racing in Portland. I was pretty far back in the start grid and I think Sean was in the last row. Oh yeah, it was windy too.
For the rest of the week, I'll be doing some shop visits and trying to work my way to another UCI weekend in southern CO. I think the competition will be a bit less, but I doubt it will be any easier. It'll be nice to be used to the altitude though.
Props to my boy Weaver for winning the single speed Cross Crusade this weekend. I couldn't be happier for anyone else! Nice work! Thanks for reading.
