Series: Mountain States Cup (MSC)
Distance: XC lap race (2 hours)
Altitude: max:3018m, min:2719m
Climbing: 1500m for race
Temp: min 11, avg 15, max 20
Result: 2nd overall in Pro Men Category
Race Link: http://www.cyclecyndicate.com/
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First podium in the states! I am really stoked, with my result - second in the pro field. So all this living at altitude is paying off...
We arrived a day early in Cresta Butte and managed to pre ride the course. I noticed a rider on a Morewood bike so i went over to him - it was Gerrit! (some of you might know him - he is a machine downhiller from RSA). He is living in Canada now and is ranked in the top 10 in the NORBA DH, it was good to see another saffer out here racing!
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The race...
Initially the pace was not too bad, i think everyone was a bit weary of the course so nobody attacked really hard to begin with. Slowly we dropped riders off the back until only 3 of us were left up front at the end of lap 1/3. Second lap i could not keep up with the mountain goats and let them get away deciding to push the rolling section of the course and the downhill to chase back. Third lap I came right again and managed to get my HR up again and really put the hammer down, managing to come within 17sec of the leader on the line ... watch out Nick, next time the course might be longer... or i just won't drink so much Guinness on thursday!
The course...
Course designers here have an affinity for ski slopes and singletrac. We did 4 or 5 clover leaf loops per lap (i was dizzy and delirious so can't say for sure), each loop went up to the summit of the ski area and then back down on some fire road or trail. A couple of rock gardens added a but of spice, my Mongoose handles like a dream through that stuff and i always seemed to catch the Full Suspension riders there for some reason... go figure ?? We linked onto the DH course for a bit so we got our fair share of braking bumps and powder dust to help the lungs cope (not!).
After...
Coffee and a bit of fishing in the fast flowing river (ha ha) to chill out after the race. Check out Sager's fish... and his website http://www.jasonsager.com/
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On Sunday, a group of us went out for a ride that would have summited 3 peaks - as we got to the top of the first, the Rockies started growling with thunder and panelbeated us with hail and ice. Nice. Mid summer in the Rockies.
For the best Latte in Cresta Butte, go to...
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Road trip there... how is this scenery ... ??
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