Brecktobercross 35+ open race

I’ve been dead tired all week with lack of sleep, stress and on top of that my right knee has been killing me – the last 2 days I’ve been limping. I don’t know what I did to it. Maybe the stupid triathlon and the 10K that left my knees in the worst pain of my life or the change in seasons and the cyclocross specific training and transitions.

But, most of the pain goes away when the official says GO. I lined up front next to my bros Tim and Greg. Greg has the fastest holeshot in town and Tim knows how to win, so if you get in a group with these guys things will come together. Greg got the holeshot and I grabbed 2nd wheel with Tim on 3rd. I knew the start would be critical because the first hairpin turn was crucial to be in the top 5. After the 1st lap we had about 10 within range and we wittled and the course wittled them down lap after lap. Flats, crashes and rolled tubulars were all over the place. I couldn’t keep my front tire from washing out and mid-way through I took the lead and rolled around a corner and went down and took out the 3 guys behind me. We hopped back up and I hit the gas. Mid-way through the race I took the lead and rolled around a corner and went down and took out the 3 guys behind me, my front tire was sliding out all day. 1 lap later we saw the guy that went around us and he rolled a tubular. So, it was down to Tim and me. All I wanted to do was hang on for 2nd. When you are in a break with the best 35+ cyclocross rider in the country, you count your lucky stars and ask yourself “what the hell am I doing here?”. 2 laps to go and we both did our share of the work to ensure that nobody was going to close the gap. The last lap Tim turned up the gas and his better handling skills opened it up. He attacked hard on the last run-up. I tried to respond, felt a sharp pain in the knee and sat up and rolled in 2nd out of about 50 guys.

I think Tim and I had the advantage of 10,000ft lungs and good tire choices. I’m nervous to pull out the tubulars after seeing so many roll today.

It was good to see and meet the CO crossniacs as well.

The neighborhood represented today. Tim and me 1/2 in the 35+ and Jeff took the W in the 3s.

Jared