Went out to Iowa City to do some racing this weekend. I haven’t been doing a very good job of this so far this year but here is a quick recap of the weekend. It was my first dedicated Cat 2 race and there was a pretty elite field that showed up from through out the mid-west.

Fri was a night race which was interesting. There were huge lights run by a semi truck but a lot of the course was still very dark. The course was by far the most difficult I have ever done, including a descent (slip-n-slide) down a big hill. I had a good start and the race was going good, it was a 40 min event. I was in second and closing on first most of the race until 1/2 lap to go I got marker tape in my rear wheel. I sorted it out and was in 4th...I reeled in 3rd and the other guy happened to be a (good) Cat 3. So 2nd place on the day, I was very happy.

Sat more of the same. Slightly different course, including a crazy railroad tie uphill run. I got a terrible start nearly getting taken out and had to pull a foot. So first corner I was maybe in 40-50th place. I light probably ALL my matches and worked up to 5th in the first half lap. I just sprinted my ass off the whole time. I got into the lead chase group of 4 with 4 up the road and sat in seeing spots for quite a while. Then I got on the front trying to bring it all back, One racer got shot off the front group and my group lost a guy. Last big hill I was racing for 4th and got gaped on the hill. Going for 5th but the guy with me was giving me a handful...we changed position 3 times in the last 3 corners. I came around on the last turn and sprinted with all I have. Nabbed 5th on day 2, still in the money and tired as could be. Not too happy with the finish but glad I made a descent result out of it all.

Sunday, the hell day. By this point I was so beat up I wondered if I could even start. My back, hands, feet, and legs were all killing me....but hey this is cross! Got a pretty good start, 5th or so and our group quickly got away. The 4th place guy took a spill and I got tangled up in it. So I was pretty much in 4th the whole race with a big gap ahead and behind me. Money again, cool.

It was an awesome, long weekend of racing. I am pretty happy with how it went-- three top 5s with 1 podium-- and got lots of USAC points. Currently I am ranked 16th in the nation for Cat 2 Cyclocross. There was however some humble pie involved....a 15 year old phenom WON all 3 days (he is #1 in the nation)!!

Montrose (state championship) is next weekend...Im feeling pretty good, we shall see how it goes.

Razzle Dazzle

Mark French

Today I went down to do the much anticiaped T.D.G. I woke up to rain but hey that wasn’t going to stop me. The drive was even pretty short, relatively for a Champaigner. I got there about when Gene and Greg were about to start for Masters and walked some of the course. Greg and Gene rocked it finishing toward the top in the Masters.

After my walk I was freezing, soaked, and running behind. I had to get dressed and bring my “B” bike to the pits (my Schwinn single speed)--Gene made me nervous about flats. I was all set and had about 20 min to try to warm up, mostly sitting in the car with the heater on was the best option.

I lined up for the Open division and saw a few heavy hitters especially Ben, one of the top Cat 1/2 Chi Cross boys, and a couple other good 3’s. Of course I got off to a bad start, guys were actually running for the start and doing better. The course was full of snow that was melting and made crazy thick deep mud but some spots were still frozen and icy. Needless to say this was a very hard race.

I was in maybe 10-12 after the start and I dropped the hammer for the first 1/2 lap, including an over the bar endo down the major hill in the race, but made it up to 3rd. Ben and another guy had got a good start and were a ways up. I payed for this effort for the next lap but stayed in 3rd. The race had been shorted from 10 to 8 laps because of conditions and for the next few laps I felt great. After about lap 6 I started getting tired, it was grueling, and the guy behind me had been breathing down my neck. We also started dealing with lapped traffic, I ended up lapping all but 8 of the guys in the race. We started exchanging 3rd position. Then on the last lap I was trying to lay down a big effort,. came in too hot to a off camber slick corner and hit hard, getting gapped in the process. I tried to close in but ran out of real estate. I think this fall might leave a nice reminder bruise on my ass.

So my first open cross race I ended up 4th. Not too bad, I am pretty happy--though I would have been much more satisfied with 3rd. Of well, at least Im not too hurt, just a little scraped up. Also I didnt break my carbon tubular, sweet. Finally this is my first 3 digit pay out so that is very cool, I wish all races paid this good. Big up to Gene who pulled out 9th in the Open as well. I know its kinda weak but I did sign up for the Classic race after the Open but all out full body shivering told me to get in my car and warm up, so I skipped it.

I know this was a little long but this race really got me cranked up and I cant wait for this season. I felt pretty good in this race but it was a reminder that I need to crank up the training to prepare for these high end efforts. Next up Hillsboro, watch out for the flying streak known as Wildcard!!

Jason

Mud, Snow, and Frozen Toes.

The only thing you know for sure going into the Tour de Groundhog is that the conditions are going to be shitty. Anyone who opened their eyes and looked outside today could see the 2010 edition would be no exception. It was raining throughout the day, and while the snow kept much of the course frozen, it deteriorated badly with each succeeding race.

Gene, Jason and I were there, and next to Mack, were probably the most visible team at the event. Gene and I did the Masters race (30+, 40+, 50+) and for most of the race were trading 2nd and 3rd place. Then a Team Mack rider came out of nowhere and passed both of us with a couple of laps to go. Gene ended up 3rd in the overall Masters, and me 4th. The overall winner of the masters was a 50+ rider, so not only did I finish 4th overall, but 2nd in the 50’s. D’OH!

Jason and Gene did the next event, the Open Race, and the only one that was actually paying out. Both finished in the money, which probably covered gas, at least, for the day. Not sure the actual finish in the Open cat, but I can say you could not have paid me enough at this point in the day to do another lap. Both are to be commended for their effort. I know they were suffering throughout the event.

Gene has some pictures, and Mack will probably post some too. However, they will in no way convey the slog or the miserable, yet somewhat exhilarating, conditions of the track. The “Yeah, I can do this” factor was huge for everyone who participated. That’s cyclocross though, love it or hate it, you race against the track/conditions as much as your competitors

Greg