No Belgium

This decision was made about a week ago, but I am not going to make it to Belgium this year. I might do another post about it later.

Another Crash and back to NC

Well the criterium was pretty sweet. The pace was solid. and there was a "s" turn the people decided to crash in about every third lap. Eventually my ticket was up i suppose. With 9 laps to go, two guys crashed there, and i had to go to the outside and centered up the haybails stacked up against the barrier just past the corner. So luckily made it without any "on the ground" action, took a free lap, jumped back into the action and that same lap ended up bridging to a 4 man break. I am sure the officials were stoked to see that haha. So, the break ended up being 9 guys with 7 laps to go, and almost functioned but not quite and we got caught with 3 laps to go.

Overall the race was cool, but my luck was anything but helpful, but i will be back next year for sure and have another go at it.

a Crash and a Snowball

Well i started out my ventue in Altoona PA with a nice little crash. The whole circuit race was out on country roads, but came into town and through a residential area to finish, with six 90 degree corners in the last km. It had been raining slightly, just enough to make the roads wet. So everyone battled it out over the 5 km before town for the top 15 wheels, I take the first corner about 10th wheel, make it through the second in the same position but not without some thrown elbows to keep it, and third corner, maybe 400m to the line, the guy in front of me slides out, and i just watch him, making sure i get through inside if him, and BAM i slide out just the same, come to a stop and look back to make sure no one is going to hit me, they don't. and I remount and ride in an amazing 1:41 down in only 400m. I grinded my hip pretty good, and just a little on my arm, knee and hand. but the nights sleep was difficult and today that crash sort of snowballed into a bad stage 2. I had good position when we hit the first climb up to Blue Knob ski resort, about 26 miles in. the climb wasn't too bad really, but stair stepped the whole way, and the steep parts were steep, and I drifted out of my top 15 wheels slowly to the back of what was already a 30 man lead group after the first 2km of the climb, and my hip didnt really hurt, but apparently i was compensating for it somewhat with my left leg, because my lower back got super tight and my power output went to crap and I didn't make it over the first climb with the leaders and rode the rest of the race in what was the third group, of 11 guys. Not a good day to say the least, seeing as i had winning this one in the back of my mind when i drove up here. It came down to a sprint from 20 guys, thats almost ideal for me. So that makes it even more dissapointing, and now i am not really looking forward to tomorrows criterium, because i don't think these people know how to ride there bike much less race through downtown, oh well.

Tour de Toona Points Race

Well I am heading up to PA tomorrow for the cat2 points race. Wish me luck and I will try and do updates from each stage.

FBCC Criterium

Well a good weekend came together today. I had great legs, nothing hurt, I always had more if I needed it. I desperately wanted a field sprint, but it was too much to control, and the teams weren't strong enough. Thad Dulin (Nerac) had a nice ride and lapped the field, assuring the win. While Darby Harris (Hearns) and Brandon McKeever (Hincapie Bianchi) got away with two other riders late in the race and stayed away. Sooo, I got the field sprint I wanted, too bad it wasn't for the win, but I won it and wrapped up 6th place. I was happy with that, I mean I really wanted to win one of the FBCC races this year, but I am still pleased with the weekend. My first Pro Am win is not far away...

FBCC Road Race

81.5 Miles, 11 laps, mostly flat and fast with two climbs. A three man break got clear early and built up a solid lead of 2:00, but that fluctuated down to a minute on a few occaisons when the field really hit the climb solidly. The pace wasn't too bad but it was hot out and that slowly wore on everyone, and late in the race a couple of singe riders and a group of two bridged to the break which was sitting only 1:00 off the front of the pack. As far as I know there were seven riders in front at that point, with 3 laps to go. The pace was solid on the smaller of the two climbs and there were a few attacks on the gradual downhill off the backside and I was sitting second wheel going through a right hand turn as we switched roads, and this was where the riders crept off in the previous laps, so I attacked out of the corner, got a gap and put my head down, its kind of rolling and curvy but very fast. I managed to get out of sight and could actually see the lead group pretty quickly. I made it within 0:25 of the break and looked back and saw four more riders coming, so I eased off and we quickly caught the group on the next lap, putting 12 riders in the lead. Just inside of one lap to go, 3 more riders bridged across including Justin England, so that more or less assured that we wouldn't get caught. The pace wasn't too bad the last time up the final climb, no one attacked, so a 14 man sprint. Justin attacked with 800m to go and everyone covered that, and maybe 450m to go I countered, got a slight gap, sat down and put my head down and ramped it up with all I had and BAM the legs locked up almost immediately with cramps. I had to stop pedalling almost immediately and unclip and dangle my legs toward the ground. Kind of unfortunante, but thats racing. I don't think I should have made that move anyway, I should have been confident enough in my sprint to be patient and wait for that. I liked the course, I ride those roads a lot. Again, I miss the priveledge of teammates like I have in the collegiate races. But overall, I was happy that I got myself into the winning situation, even if coasting across the finish line in 14th is quite far from what I had in mind. Tomorrow is another day and another race, and the legs are good, so we'll see what happens.

FBCC Time Trial

20km Time Trial: flat, fast, out and back course, ever so slightly uphill going out, with just a touch of wind. It was really very nice conditions that were condusive to fast times. I did a PR of 26:43, which slotted me 14th in the Pro12 field. I am pleased with the time, which was 37 seconds faster than last year. It's just a confidence factor more or less, because I am much more interested in tomorrows Road Race and sundays Criterium. My Lee's McRae College teammate, Preston Anderson smashed the course in 27:12, claiming 6th in the Cat3 field.

my lovely sarah

Well I couldn't update without throwing in a picture and Sarah is gone to Europe for a few weeks and I miss her! So I figured this one was perfect.

Keep checking back for some race reports, hopefully the good kind

French Broad Cycling Classic

well, it's that time of year...this is the asheville omnium, and the locals usually like to hold down the fort and I am no different.

All the courses are flat this year, a little too flat but it's that way for everyone and everyone says they can climb so it really doesn't matter, and the same people say they can sprint (hmm...i think i say that?). I'd say a field sprint in the road race is likely or a suicide early break, but we'll see what happens, that part of the world can serve up some stiff wind so who knows?

I'll try and do reports for each day. and hopefully get some pics up as well.

Italia!!!

Well the World Cup wrapped up yesterday. It was a interesting game, both goals in the first 19 minutes, then nothing else through regulation and both overtimes. I have to say I was pulling for the US haha but apparently we are all talk and no walk. And past that I was pulling for Germany. But given the finals I was pulling for Italia, the cyclist in me could not allow me to pull for France. I am glad Italy won, but I have to say France dominated the game as far as possession and shots on goal. And I consider myself a Zidane fan but I mean his "head butt" manuveur falls slightly outside of what I call classy or professional. Despite his actions being unsportsmanlike and uncalled for, you have to admit it was pretty impressive, I mean he levelled the Italian guy completely. PKs in the World Cup was pretty exciting and I am glad that sorted it out, because sudden death would have taken forever because everyone was pretty much dead. But anyway, congrats to Italy, as well as Germany for winning the consolation game.

Downtown Lenoir Criterium

Well I finally got back into the groove today and raced my bike for the first time in....umm three weeks. Thats quite a long break in competition and I felt it slightly, feeling a little "off" in my technical cornering, etc. but the legs felt solid, and I felt fresh. There was solid money up for grabs, so some pros show up, a few AEG guys, a Toyota United guy, and a few Nerac riders, and a Successful Living guy, plus all the normal regional fast dudes. So I tryed to get into the break that I knew would go early with all those guys in it. But the unfortunante reality is without teammates, I can't be everywhere at once. So I covered the move right before the one that stuck, and missed it. Seven guys rolled off, and lapped the field. In that chaotic mess, three of those guys got off the front again along with four new riders, basically putting 11 riders up the road. Long story short, I conserved well and won the field sprint for 12th comfortably, which put me nicely into the money. Overall I was happy with how things went, but the race does make me appreciate the awesome teammates I have in the collegiate races in the spring. Sorry no pics from the race, I'll work on getting some up soon.

They Might Be Rockstars?

this is my new favorite summer pic.

while i am on this update topic, finally a race on the horizon. i am doing a criterium in Lenoir saturday, so I'll do a post after that. til next time,

10 Years and a TT

Well tuesday the group ride went awesome, hit a new high on the power tap...1431 in one of the county line sprints. Then that night went to see a concert in downtown Asheville, 10 Years, they were really good, and luckily Sarah could go, so all in all it was an awesome show. Then wednesday, I did the Time Trial on the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. I matched my time of last year when I felt like a champ, while this time I felt like crap, so I suppose thats okay. It was super windy so I am hoping all the times were slow and that I still did okay overall. Then today I just went and cruised the MTB around for an hour or so, that was super fun, but looks like its back to the grind tomorrow for my last training block before U23s. Til next time...

Just an Update

Its been a while since my last post so I thought I could at least give an update. No racing the last two weekends, last week was a nice rest week, then this week has been pretty tough, 21 hours in 6 days. including 4 hours on the TT bike and 2.5 on the mtb, so that was a nice change of pace. I am kind of on the whatever plan until wednesday, when I'll do the time trial in charlotte on the Lowes Motor Speedway, so I'll try and get some pictures up form that since I havent posted any lately.

Maxxis Georgia Cup: Dahlonega Ga

Well, not much good news from Georgia. Good legs, not much sleep, warm weather, and no results. Pretty dissapointing expedition to the Black Mountains of Ga, where I thought I could do some damage, but racing is racing and as always, there's plenty more to follow. Up next on the agenda is....well, some hard earned rest. I am going to take 2 or 3 days off the bike and try and enjoy some summer activities. After I get through those depressing days of no bike, its go-time, as I like to call it. Bigger hours and more climbing to get ready for u23 nats. Theres some races in Greenville NC this coming weekend but I think I will wait and make a late call on doing them or not, let the body tell me after I start training again. Sorry no picks from the weekend this time, papa was doing the DS duties not the camera man duties. addio

Well not much has went down since my last post. Big weekend coming up for me his weekend down in Dahlonega Ga. Probably my favorite races of the year, and I faired pretty well there last year, so hopefully i can build on that this year. The courses are tough, theres an uphill time trial saturday morning, Blood Mountain I think, it's not bad, advertised as 7 percent but it might be slightly less than that I am not sure. It's 7 km long I think, so all in all it's not difficult, and should serve as a good opener for the evenings road race. Then sunday is the big one, 143 km and a loop that contains 3 solid climbs, the first is about 5 miles long, the second is only about 2 but last year I found it the most difficult because it's steeper than the others, and the third is only about a mile but has some brutal rolling false flat for quite a ways after it. We do this lap twice, so it's hard, and theres a lot of attrition through the mid-way and end. Most likely a group of 4-6 will come to the line and have to sprint it out. Hopefull I can make that selection and then have some snap left for the end.

Soto Memorial Stage Race: stage 4

Yeah, so I figured if I can't win and get on the podium that way, I would make my own podium and pimp my way onto it.

Well, stage 4 was brutal, again in the mid 90s. The course was a rolling 77 miles that ended on a 3.5 mile climb. I felt really good on the loop and stayed out of trouble, but didn't get any points in either of the days two sprints. But it seemed like every time the pace was high or there was a cross wind, I would end up in the top 10 wheels, so I decided to stay conservative and take my chances on the days final climb. Turned out to be a bad decision. We hit the base 2:30 behind a five man break, I hung in well until there was a lead group of 6. Then, they started attacking each other about half way up and I was the first to fall off the pace and then quickly ran out of gas after I was riding by myself. A good number of people caught me and I ended up finishing just outside of the top 20. Defenitly a little dissapointing considering this should have been my day to rip it up. I ended up 25th on GC and 5th in the points competition. I am happy with how everything went all-in-all. I defenitly learned a lot, and got to experience some new situations in my first stage race. Hopefully all the hills this week will help get the climbing legs rolling finally.

Until next time it's all rest for me, I think the state championships road race is next weekend, then the road race in Dahlonega which has been one of my objectives since I got 6th there last. year.

Soto Memorial Stage Race: stage 3

Circuit Race: 55 miles

Well what a day. Started off like any other hot race. Then the rain started, then the lightening started, then the thunder started, then the sleet started. Long story short, the race was neutralized with 20 miles to go, and we got to go home early. After all the results, points and GC were posted last night, I sat 3rd in the points competition, and 22nd on GC. So before all the excitment in todays stage, we did two bonus sprints, both of which will still be scored. I took 3rd in the first, moving me into second in that competition. Then it was pouring for the second one and I didn't get myself into position to contest it, and I don't really know who took the 3 placings in that one. SO, the anxiety causing situation...the leader on GC, also leads the points competition. So, theoretically I could be sitting 2nd in the points comp depending largely on how the second sprint sorted out. Which would mean the green jersey would default to me for tomorrows stage, how fat would that be! I guess I'll find all that out later tonight or in the morning. Maybe I'll be decked out in a leaders jersey for tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me.

Soto Memorial Stage Race: stage 2

Stage 2: 75 Minute Criterium

Today was somehow hotter than yesterday, mid 90s all the way. The course was flat and fast with six corners. One of those courses where its not really easy to sit in, but you can still manage okay in the back. I got a good starting position on the front row and rode in the top 5 for the first 10 or 15 laps. Theres bonus sprints every 5 laps, for time bonuses and sprint points. I won the first won pretty easilly actually, I was surprised. So I hung around in the front and managed second in the next one. Then dropped back a little but still got back up and had a go at the third, but wasn't far enough up, but didn't feel like I had the snap I had on the first two, so I decided to chill and not use up anymore energy on the rest. I sat mid-pack for the rest of the race, the pace wasn't so bad, but the heat was defenitly slowly taping into everyones reserves. At some point mid race a couple of guys got off the front and got a sizeable gap and held it to the end. With 4 laps to go I made my way back up into the top 10 wheels and decided I needed to have a go in the sprint to try and get some more time bonuses. I was sitting 8th wheel coming into the finishing straight which is fast and sort of dips down slightly and then gently rises to the line. I knew from the third bonus sprint that I would be hard to come around many people. But the pace was fast and I had a solid sprint and managed to get 5th in the field sprint, which I think will end up being 8th overall. So, as far as I can tell I secured 16 seconds in bonuses, which should move me into 24th or so overall, depending largely on how everyone else faired today. Hopefully I should be sitting top 5 in the points competition as well. So overall I am happy with how things went, it would have been nice to have contested a few more sprints but I think being conservative should pay off over the next two days. My LMC teammate, Preston Anderson got a bad starting position and the cat3's started really hard, and he got gapped off the back early getting caught behind some weaker guys and got pulled. But I think he should be ready to roll tomorrow for the circuit race.

In the Picture, I am third wheel fighting for position with Cesar Grajales going into the last few laps. He rode in the front the whole day, it was pretty amazing.

Soto Memorial Stage Race: Stage 1

Stage 1: Time Trial 6.9miles

Well, finally got to get rolling today. It was a toasty 92 degrees and really humid. The course was rolling and rough pavement, with a couple of steep rises and sharpe corners. I opted for the deep carbon on the back instead of the disc. I didn't warm up for very long to try and hit the middle between being open and the risk of dehydration. I felt good from the gun and started fast. I rode pretty strong the whole time and just faded a little on the way back. My time was 17:00 which earned me 30th. I wasn't too stoked about that but mid pack is okay cause I got my worst event out of the way, so it can only get better. I start tomorrow 1:31 down to Cesar Grajales (Navigators), so I have some work to do to move up before the finish on monday. My LMC teammate Preston Anderson had a solid ride, and recorded a 16:55. So we both go into tomorrows criterium a little down on GC, but I think we can move up over the following stages.