The Colorado cyclocross season kicked off with a couple BCR/BCT (Best All-Around Series) races in Colorado Springs and Breckenridge. I set myself up for the season by dumbing down the expectations after a lackluster road season.
Of course, the arrival of the new steed (a 2008 Blue Sky Velo Edition Ridley X-Fire) did little to douse the fire and I've been preparing with the odd 7-hour mountain ride and plenty of cornering practice at the local greenery. I still don't feel as fit as in the past but I'm certainly improving my 'cross skills.
The first race of the season took Jenna and me down to Colorado Springs. I was late to the line and ended up toward the back, but this was still probably better than any Cat3 start from last year because there were at most 20 people in attendance -- weird!, the 'Springs isn't that far away, guys.
The difference today would be the steady diet of uphill. My strategy of sitting back and waiting for others to blow paid dividends. I made a move (pictured above) on an uphill section that would put me in the lead with just about 5 laps to go (best Cat3 result in 2007, 22nd).
I tried to settle down and see if I'd get caught, but when the move from behind didn't materialize, I knew I had to throttle down and see what would happen. With about 3 laps to go I noticed no one at the Blue Sky tent on the top side of the course ... they were all camped at the finish. Best to not 'eff this one up.
Isaac trying to not 'eff it up.
Getting the bell at 1 to go.
Coming into the finish with the win was true elation, and I'm still not sure what I said across the line but thankfully we can review the video and figure it out.
I'm sure the win was just as sweet for Jenna (the person to whom I am pointing in the picture above) as it was for me, considering all the whining, complaining and pouting she's had to deal with when my previous 140 races hasn't gone nearly so well.
After the race we took a beautiful drive northwest into the mountains to Breckenridge. We settled down in wonderful accommodations -- fit enough for even the most full-term of preggos -- and prepared for another day of racing.
Sunday brought much larger fields with much deeper competition. Another win was probably not likely but let's say there was plenty of determination to prove it was no fluke.
This race was much faster and much more technically challenging. I think I did well to stay within sight of 2nd place. I was much better (compared to last year) at sticking on wheels and using what little draft was available. Toward the end of the race I started getting unhinged and for a while it looked like I would end up in 8th place. On one of the last uphill sections I reached deep into the suitcase of courage (pictured above) and made a desperate attempt to stay in contact with 6th place.
Isaac chasing the 6th-placed rider beneath the gondolas of Breckenridge.With only a few sections of the course remaining I charged up the final hill, caught the 6th-placed rider and the 5th-placed rider (who had flatted) and recovered for one final effort at the line. I caught 'em by surprise and took 5th on the line! Thank you power loops! In a lot of ways I dug a lot deeper for 5th on Sunday than I did for 1st on Saturday; though both were equally satisfying.
Let's just hope the "Hammer of Tulsa" has a few more tricks up his sleeve (on courses without so much uphill) before it's all said and done :)
