Starcrossed, Rad Racing GP...UCI Cyclocross

I've been a little slow on the report, but I have to post what a sweet weekend of racing it was. I said I wanted to chase some fast guys around, and chase I did. The conditions were epic and exactly what I would have wished for on Sat night. After pre-riding a few times I was psyched with how the soft and tacky the course was, the corners were fast and sticky and the off camber stuff held just fine. I watched Serena start with the elite women and then had to jump on the trainer. About half way through my warm up it started to drizzle, more of a mist really, but it started slow. By the time I jumped off the traininer and headed to staging it was really starting to rain. I was called almost last of the 70 or so riders that started and had an awful start position, but a good start. I felt strong and went hard for the first lap before I settled in. The rain had it's own plans and it started fully downpouring (Check out this photo of Molly and Wicks...and the rest of the album here). I was loving the rain, being under the lights and all the technical slippery stuff. The course was a great mix of flat fast sections and technical cornering on slippery grass or off camber traverses. I was with a good group that was going back and forth working and pushing each other. The new tyres were dialed in and feeling really good. I just kept hammering. I had just pulled to the front of the group I was with when we got pulled with two laps to go. Regardless of being pulled I was happy with where I finished and the effort. Mostly it was just a super fun race and a real solid workout.
Serena and I packed up the wet gear and headed to her dads place...we didn't really get in till around midnight, but there was no rush the next morning as the races weren't till the afternoon.
Sun was about as opposite weather from Sat as could be. Perfectly clear, blindingly blue, and warm. Warming up on the course I knew I was in for some torture. It was dry and fast. The "Knapp Time" run up definitely lived up to its reputation. That sucker is steep and long and no fun when you are running up it for the 8th time. The rest of the course was a mix of technical descents with lots of loose gravel and tricky corners, some climbing, and flat grass sections that were really windy. I had a decent start, but went backwards after some of the climbing and running. I found myself riding alone between a fast group in front of me that I couldn't bridge up to and a bunch of stragglers behind me. I realize I have a tough time when I am riding solo and there's nobody really pushing me and no wheel I am chasing. It was tough. I wasn't really sure if I was going all out and I just rode my race till Page and Huele came around me with 2 to go and again I was pulled, this time only about 100 yards from going out on the last lap...ah well. A good workout to say the least. It was a long drive home, a late night, and a tough Monday, but well worth it. I know going into the weekend I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but I think it was a good experience and definitely helped me see where I need to be for the rest of the season and ol' cyclocross nationals in Dec here in Bend.

Time to step it up!

Check out videos of both Star Crossed and Rad Racing Here

Complete Star Crossed results for all categories are HERE.

Complete Rad Racing GP results for all categories are HERE.