Thursday, September 27, 2007

StarCrossed + RAD GP Weekend


Well after about two days on my feet helping to set up the StarCrossed course at Marymoor I had a suprisingly solid race weekend. I started at StarCrossed on the second row, which was sweet, and was elbow to elbow with Trebon going into the first corner. I ended up following the Danish champ Joachim Parbo the first time around the track and passed him on the inside the first time coming off the track and was going to try and bridge up to the leading trio of Trebon, Wicks and Heule. Unfortunately coming off the track Parbo and I collided... someone had changed the course sometime after I left at 2 pm and the start of our race, so I kept going straight when I was supposed to take a 90 degree right hand turn. I set the course on Friday and had ridden it probably close to 20 times so silly me I thought it would be the same for my race that's why I didn't pre-ride the course that night. After that debacle the game was back on but the chase goup I was in was never able to make a dent on the leaders advantage. Our group ebbed and slowed and eventually swelled to 8 riders at the end. I was feeling comfortable in the group but didn't feel the need to go to the front and push the pace, the last lap came up quick and I sat up in the last few corners not contesting the sprint for 5th through 12th, I was 12th. Sunday was a beautiful day down at Steilacoom for the RAD Racing GP. When I arrived the women's race was already underway so I was too late to pre-ride the course but luckily the course was pretty much identical to years past. I had another good start and made my way towards the front heading into the infamous sand run-up. The race sorted itself out and I managed to fight my way into the second chase group. I didn't want to hold back like I did at StarCrossed and I went to the front to set the pace. I managed to ride Erik Tonkin, Troy Wells, and Michael Gallahger off my wheel and soloed the last bit of the race on my own with Tokin quickly closing in on me with one to go finishing off the day in 8th. I was pretty content with my riding for the weekend and I'm looking forward to getting stronger and faster as the year continues.

Thursday, September 20, 2007