Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing

Snelling...4th Place in the 35+123!! Made it into a break with Michael Hutchinson and went with for another 1 1/2 laps until 2 Safeway guys (Nils and Kyle Glerum) and another Morgan Stanley mate bridged. The peleton was so close but they never quite latched so we kept our heads down and opened up a gap. So good to get another 3 guys to do some work offering some much needed recovery. Riding with Hutch for 45min was ridiculous. Everyone took their turn without missing until with a 1/4 lap to go, Chris Phipps (Morgan) and Kevin Metcalfe (Specialized) bridged making it 7. Just prior Safeway and Morgan started playing games so I just attacked hoping to keep two more (making it 3 Morgan) from joining our group. My attacked failed and I was caught just before some rollers and was almost dropped. Just as I was struggling to connect with the group, Phipps attacked. I wanted to go but couldn't. Now were about 4k from the finish, with tired legs and attacks and counters starting in ernest. I put in another effort that forced a pretty long chase and I thought it was good but I just couldn't catch Phipps. With Phipps up the road and two more Morgan and a Specialized chasing it wasn't in the cards so I waited for the turn. Kyle (Safeway) went to the front led the last 250m into the last corner. Hutch and the other Morgan guy came up underneath me for a slow motion sprint. I nipped Metcalfe but Morgan went 1 2 3 and I got 4th. Learned a lot about riding in a break. PAINFUL.

First race of the season! I showed up with very little expectations as far as how I would like to perform. A lot of these P/1/2 guys race straight through winter and come into January and February in mid-season form... especially this year, since the weather has been clear

for a month straight.

The course cuts through a business park with numerous 90 degree left/right turns, and a short power hill which is followed immediately by a 180 degree turn. Four guys got away in the first few laps, and two of those four stayed away for the rest of the race. Jesse Moore held on at the end to outkick Nate English(who won the Cat.4 race here last year!). My goal for the race was just to ride hard and not get dropped. I stayed near the front third of the field for the majorit

y of the hour, but had nothing left for the final sprint.... pack finish. Looking back, I feel confident that I can hang and compete with the top guys once I get into better shape. My winter training and new power meter are starting to pay off... I already feel stronger than I did last year.

Immediately after the race, I got sick with either the flu or salmonella poisoning. I am guessing that this is the snow gods seeking revenge for racing in early February and neglecting my poor skis. I am looking forward to traveling/racing with the rest of the cre

w in the coming months!!!