TeamBlue

Monday, June 30, 2003:

VICTORY

Saturday at the Wildflower Rush in Crested Butte, marked my first win as a semipro. It came extactly one year after upgrading. Crested Butte was the last race I won as an expert. The course was better this year, they made it a little longer, and added more singletrack. The wildflowers were in full effect, the single track was fast, bumpy and dusty, but fun as hell, and there was some luck involved. The race started with a fast pace on the first climb. I was sitting comfortably at the back of the leading pack of six, with a few seconds on the following group (most of the pack). We caught the first pro 7 minutes in to the climb. By the top of the first climb i was in 5th, about 20 seconds behind the lead, but he and his (trek) teamate were pulling away. The first part of the first single track descent was straight and bumpy as all get out. Fingers off the levers, loose grip on the handlebars, point her straight, weight back and pedal like hell. 44x11 spun out. Hard braking and into the trees. Could it be, i made up time on the descent, and the two leaders are on factory Trek Fuel's. Misfortune strikes a friend. JJ is on the side of the trail. Thats too bad, words of encouragement, but now I'm in 4th, and I dont see anyone charging up from behind. This is good, as what felt like a comfortable pace on the first climb, may have been a little overzealous. It turns out LT HR drops as elevation rises. Crested Butte starts above 9000 ft, and climbs from there. As long as I'm on sweet singletrack, and not feeling that bad I may as well keep the pace, I'll blow when I blow. Toward the top of the second climb, I see Mitch coming up. Maybe I can race with him for a while. He catches me right as we crest for the big descent down the front of the mountain. I stay with him for a while, but gaps open on the little rises on the way down. Another fast straight section, and the adrenaline starts to flow like it does on the best of days. I start to reel in him(4th) and third place. Correction the second of the two leading trek riders flats, we're now 2-3-4.

I get within a bike length at the beginning of the second lap, and Mitch attacks for second. I decide its better to hold a steady pace and hold my place rather than risk blowing up while trying to go for the win. It sure was painful though, to watch Mitch and Aaron ride up the road without me. I held a steady pace, though, and kept Aaron at a constant distance, but Mitch was gone. On the second climb of the second lap I start seeing someone new coming back to me. And he's wearing the same kit as the semi pro leader. I finally catch him on the descent, and sure enough it was the same trek rider i had watched ride away on the first lap. It was clear he had blown. I rode his wheel until he swore and flatted. I offer words of encouragement and motor on my way. His descending style was bothersome and now I occupy 3rd place. The day just keeps getting better and better. I can see Aaron around a bend in the single track.

The third lap. I WILL catch second place. Ok so not right away, the dust and dehydration have combined to give me the strong gag reflex. So strong in fact that I end up getting rid of some of my stomach contents. Not a full-on puke, but good enough for government work. Once I get that overwith though, its back to the task at hand. On a little descent on the first climb, I get going so fast over the waterbars, my bottle explodes when I land. There goes my water for the lap. I still have some gatorade though. I drink as much of the water as possible and pour the rest on my back. I normally dont litter during races, but what good is an empty bottle with no top? Thats what the post race sweep is for isnt it? Second place is mine on the straightaway after the aspen grove. Jam the flat singletrack. As the descent begins, can it be? Is that Mitch? It must be a pro who's blowing up, but no! The lead will soon be mine. As I catch Mitch, I notice he's going awfully slow. I encourage him to speed up so we can put a bigger gap on Aaron, he declines and lets me by. There should be something more dramatic at this point. The race lead should not be given up, even if we are all friends out there. I orderd Mitch to stay on my wheel, but his day was over. Every bit of my glycogen stores is used to maintain the gaps to second and third. But not so concentrated as to not have fun on the final descent and sprint for the finnish.

doug // 11:22

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