Racing with young pups and stuck in bushes

I competed in the Riverside Rampage MSC stage race this past weekend. This would be my first true test of the 2012 pro men's talent in Colorado and last race prep for the Growler.  The Breezer Cloud 9 is race ready with Stan's No-Tubes Podium Gold wheelset and Maxxis Ikon rubber, it has been 6 hours race tested at Phil's World.

 I am not completely recovered but ready to open the throttle and work on my high-end.

The uphill time trial was first.  I had a good start and was keeping Jason Donald in sight most of the way.  I pulled up at the timer on the side of the trail not knowing the finish line was around the corner.  I probably lost 10 seconds and about 10 places in 7 minutes, Ugh!  The Circuit race at 1 pm was next up.  I was opened now and looking forward for more time to move through the field.  28 riders strong stormed out from the line.  I was in a big gear and wound up so I took the whole shot.  When I settled into what I thought was a descent pace 10 guys rolled by and I was digging deep to stay in the top 15.  Jay Henry rolled through and was immediately in control of the next group.  I passed about 5 guys in the following 3 laps and was 8th or 9th at the finish.

When the XC rolled around the next day I was prepared to stay tough for a top 5 if I was feeling it.  35-40 strong in the pro men's race.  The largest field I have seen in about 10 years!  About 20 guys stayed in the front group for the first two miles then it split to 5 or 6 before the single track on North Backbone.  We were greeted by a string quartet about a mile in!  That was a first!  The field got congested and Mike West was again trying to ride through the field literally and caught a few riders off-guard.  I knew Mike's tenacity for speed and stuck his wheel for about 2 miles passing 2 or 3 riders.  Near the end of the lap Mike flatted and I caught Jay Henry.  We rolled through the start/finish together then Jay went into time trial mode to catch the group ahead that was supposedly 1 minute up-Not!  I had to let Jay go and he managed to ride 2 minutes ahead of me by the finish and didn't pass anyone.  I stayed ahead of Schyler Trujillo and Damian Calvert until Uncle Nasty.  I was in the process of showing Damian the lines when I came out of my pedal and lost my balance and landed upside down in a bush.  Lawn dart with a bike stuck on me!  Damian was awesome and stopped and helped pull me out.  Schyler passed me and finished about 30 seconds ahead.  I was 9th at the end and have a sliced thumb and an ear that looks like I did a round with Tyson.  I finished 11th overall for the Omnium.

photo courtesy Eddie Clark/Mountain flyer

photo courtesy Eddie Clark /Mountain Flyer magazine 

As for the other AO riders; Ethan Passant rode strong for placings just outside the top 15.  My wife Jenny was second at all three events including the omnium, chasing Kelli Emmit.

Photo courtesy Eddie Clark/ Mountain flyer magazine

 Amy Biesel finished 4th in the time trial, 3rd in the criterion and was 3rd overall in the omnium in only her second pro race.
Jon Brown raced on his single speed and was 26th and was riding a soft tire to the line.

Race article: http://www.mountainflyermagazine.com/view.php/mountain-states-cup-1-riverside-rampage.html

Next event on tap is the Original Growler, 64 miles of high desert single track love!   Alpine Orthopaedic riders should bode well next weekend given their home course advantage.  Till then, rubber side down and stay out of the bushes!