VH1 Blogs

The route was basically the circuit course in reverse as well as the TT course from the day prior.  In total this route was 52 miles.  Right off the bat I knew the legs were garbage as I was nearly dropped on the first climb.  Over the next 30 miles I tried to find something in the tank, but the solo effort and heat from the day prior left me empty.  I was racing against a high school buddy that I haven’t seen in 15 years, so I spent the time catching up on him and his family.  Just a side note, he is a tri-guy and has never ridden in a pack.  Lets just say it was scary and dangerous anytime he went for a waterbottle!  At mile 32 we had a feed zone.  The chomps and carborocket Holly handed off were a lifesaver. I still almost got dropped on the climb out of Fremont, but was able to hang on. The pack stayed together until the last climb which was 5km long and that same distance from the finish.  I was able to find a little form and was able to finish the climb strong.

Big props to JDUB who was riding strong.  I have never seen him ride better!

Result:5 of 18

17 miles in 103 degree temps, sounds fun doesn’t it? Mark has a good write up of this race. I scouted the course earlier in the day and found the perfect place to breakaway, if the legs were feeling good I was going to go near the bottom of the second climb (Donkey Flats road).  The group was together and team Evo was setting the pace(they held the top 4 TT times).  At Donkey Flats I went for it solo style.  Within 30 seconds I thought I was going to die, but held on for the next 3.2 miles to take the solo win.  Who would have thought I was a breakaway guy? Anyway I don’t know why but the timers gave everyone the same time.  I finished about 100 yards in front of the 2 chasers and an additional 100 yards in front of the 2nd chase group. Oh well, if it were not cat 5 I would have complained.  It was cool to get my first road win, and even cooler to do it on a solo run to the line.

Result:1 of 18

Lets just say it has taken me a month to thaw out from this race.  JDub and SkullCandy give good write ups of the conditions, however I think they were WORSE than reported.  I narrowly escaped an ambulance ride into Evanston due to hypothermia, and happily rode the senior citizen bus to the finish from the Bear River service center.  Congrats go to Adam for finishing!  Despite the cold I actually felt pretty good on the long climb to the summit.