This past Sunday I raced in Sumter, SC at the Killer 3 MTB race. From guys from BikeSource that ridden it, there was going to be a lot of off camber riding and then a lot of sand covered road (that part of the course we did last year, so I knew what to expect there). It was cold, low 40's at the start of the race, so warming up wasn't a whole lot of fun, but eventually got warm, and got all set to line up for the start.
The Pro/Cat 1, 19-29 guys went off and then a woman who was still racing from the earlier races came around the start finish, which meant we would be having to go around riders from other categories the ENTIRE race; usually you are able to get at least 20 minutes or so into the race before you have to start dealing with slower traffic. . . oh well, it's the same for everyone.
Got a good start off of the line, felt really good about that since it's been a little while since that had happened, instead of being a bike length behind as everyone started I was right in line with the other guys that got good starts. I continued going hard and got into the woods first, this wasn't necessarily my goal but I was hoping to go into the woods in the top handful of guys. I probably rode for about 5 minutes in the lead, I wasn't confident of the pace I was keeping, whether it was too slow or too fast, I knew Bobby Bryson (also BikeSource) was in 2nd so I let him get around me, Justin McLean also went around me as well which was ok. Behind me was another teammate Chris Audet. Within a few minutes of Bobby taking the lead, we had opened a substantial gap up to the rest of the field, I couldn't see who was in 5th place when I looked back.
The four of us continued to lead the rest of the first lap together. Five or 10 minutes into the second lap, I was riding in 2nd behind Justin McLean (I'm pretty sure at least), I had a bobble in one of the many of camber turns. I didn't crash, but Bobby and Chris were able to get around me and the three of them opened a little gap as I got back clipped into the bike. I felt like I could probably catch back up to them. Unfortunately within a minute I wadded it up in a sandy section and went down. I got back up and on the bike, but the gap had grown. I tried to pull back to the other three, but I couldn't seem to get any closer. Unfortunately I knew that once they got to the road section the three of them together would be able to go faster than me by myself. I continued to push but was never able to close the gap noticeably, occasionally I could see them ahead one or two turn, but never closer.
I rode the next two plus laps in no man's land in 4th place hoping the three leaders would slow up, and I'd be able to catch some or all of them. Unfortunately this didn't happen and I ended up finishing 4th. This wasn't the quite the result I was hoping for, but at the same time I had ridden pretty well except for my two bobbles that came one right after another. Major congratulations to Bobby who came in 1st, Justin 2nd, and Chris 3rd. Each had really good races. Matt Moosa, also from BikeSource, one the Pro race as well, so it was certainly a good day for BikeSource.
Results
The Pro/Cat 1, 19-29 guys went off and then a woman who was still racing from the earlier races came around the start finish, which meant we would be having to go around riders from other categories the ENTIRE race; usually you are able to get at least 20 minutes or so into the race before you have to start dealing with slower traffic. . . oh well, it's the same for everyone.
Got a good start off of the line, felt really good about that since it's been a little while since that had happened, instead of being a bike length behind as everyone started I was right in line with the other guys that got good starts. I continued going hard and got into the woods first, this wasn't necessarily my goal but I was hoping to go into the woods in the top handful of guys. I probably rode for about 5 minutes in the lead, I wasn't confident of the pace I was keeping, whether it was too slow or too fast, I knew Bobby Bryson (also BikeSource) was in 2nd so I let him get around me, Justin McLean also went around me as well which was ok. Behind me was another teammate Chris Audet. Within a few minutes of Bobby taking the lead, we had opened a substantial gap up to the rest of the field, I couldn't see who was in 5th place when I looked back.
The four of us continued to lead the rest of the first lap together. Five or 10 minutes into the second lap, I was riding in 2nd behind Justin McLean (I'm pretty sure at least), I had a bobble in one of the many of camber turns. I didn't crash, but Bobby and Chris were able to get around me and the three of them opened a little gap as I got back clipped into the bike. I felt like I could probably catch back up to them. Unfortunately within a minute I wadded it up in a sandy section and went down. I got back up and on the bike, but the gap had grown. I tried to pull back to the other three, but I couldn't seem to get any closer. Unfortunately I knew that once they got to the road section the three of them together would be able to go faster than me by myself. I continued to push but was never able to close the gap noticeably, occasionally I could see them ahead one or two turn, but never closer.
I rode the next two plus laps in no man's land in 4th place hoping the three leaders would slow up, and I'd be able to catch some or all of them. Unfortunately this didn't happen and I ended up finishing 4th. This wasn't the quite the result I was hoping for, but at the same time I had ridden pretty well except for my two bobbles that came one right after another. Major congratulations to Bobby who came in 1st, Justin 2nd, and Chris 3rd. Each had really good races. Matt Moosa, also from BikeSource, one the Pro race as well, so it was certainly a good day for BikeSource.
Results
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