Boulder's big CX wknd, cross racing week 8

For the last several years the last weekend in October has always hosted big-time cyclocross races in Boulder. UCI races which offer the pros precious points, good prize money, big crowds and lots of media exposure. For us amateurs, many of us had this weekend circled on our calendars because a lot of us wanted to represent well. After all it was one of the biggest weekends in Colorado cyclocross, right up there with the Ft. Collins USGP and state championship wknds. It offered 2 days of high quality racing on one classic course, and one new, soon-to-be classic course.

Saturday's race was held out at Boulder Reservoir. Can't even tell you how many years I've been racing out there. I remember racing there as a 4, trying to race my GT road bike with 27mm Vittoria cx tires that maybe offered 5mm of clearance under the fork. I think I flatted twice that day. I also remember in 2005 or so, I was racing the 3s, and we had Katie Compton joining us in most every race. She would start in the back, and maybe i'd hold her off for 2-3 laps, but I would almost always get chic'd. funny stuff.

Back to this year's action...Boulder had received around 8" of snow the Wednesday prior to the race. As of late I had been pretty gunshy of super muddy races, only because I only have 1 bike and seldom do I have anyone in the pits. I was hoping at least that I could race with just my 1 machine and not feel handicapped as other racers were maybe getting fresh bikes. Turns out that wasn't an issue. While there were some super muddy corners on the western part of the course, all in all my bike was working just fine that day. I rode a couple laps and decided to run the Tufo Cubus at 26/27psi. Then went back to the car, cleaned off the bike some, and then continued my warm-up on the paved and hardpacked dirt roads surrounding the reservoir. Having some consistent results this year, I was the 5th call-up in the 35 Open race, meaning I'd be on the front for the start.

Yes, that's Frank Overton, next to me in a cheetah suit at the start!

I hear the whistle but end up not clipping in right away. No worries, I roll out in maybe 10th or so as we dive into the chicanes leading to the only manmade barrier on the course. Rather predictably, Pete Webber & Brandon Dwight steam past me from their poor starting spots, and join Chris Case up at the front. Right away I knew we were all off their pace and would hopefully consolidate our losses and race our own groups.The gravel stretch heading due west was very hard for me, kinda bumpy in spots, into a slight headwind, and long. I was hoping to ride with a group during that section especially, but was in no mans land for at least 2 laps there. The course was freakin' amazing though. Lots of techy corners laced with time-release perfection of 8" of snow from a few days prior, turned into a soupy thick muddy mess. I managed to keep my bike upright, and was riding the corners really well. But I just did not have the power I needed to bridge back up to the top 5 let alone top 10. Faia was up the way trying to work on Robson. Overton was up there too. My group for the day seemed to be Keller, Quinones, John Tarkington, Christian McCarthy, Ryan McFarling & Brian Hludzinski. Tarkington has a huge engine I know. He started back and chewed through a couple groups, before resting in our group for a lap then going on the attach to finish 6th. Brian also is a great rider and I knew I'd be best off trying to hold his wheel a bit. I was able to come around Keller, Quinones & McFarling on the last lap or so, came across the line in 12th. Not a great result by any means, but considering the deeper field and the almost-epic snow & mud conditions, I was content on that effort. And there's always tomorrow!

Sunday's Boulder Cup was out at Valmont Bike Park. A truly amazing venue, I had last raced there in the fall of 2009, but missed the race there earlier this season. While many of us had hoped the course would dry out mostly overnight, we were still treated to an amazing mud bog on the south end of the course, and a few slick corners for our 1:30 start time. I had to run my Specialized Tracer tubulars, as I had picked up a goathead in my front Cubus the day prior out on the Boulder Res course. I rode a couple laps on my pit wheels, saw the accumulating mud, and decided I'd put my race wheels on and head back to the car to clean my bike one last time before our start. I rode the long sweeping street just above and adjacent to the Valmont Bike Park, so was able to get in a pretty good warm-up without thrashing my bike in the mud. Again, I was 5th position call-up in our race. We hear the whistle and put power to the petals. unlike the day prior, I find my pedals instantly and we're off. I was in about 4th or so during the first lap. No problem, considering how stacked our field was. I was in a great group near the top 5, and was super motivated hearing my name a few different times throughout the race. As we descend down towards the approach to the 5280 stairs, a red/white/black blur of Chris Case comes absolutely charging by on the bumpy, off-camber approach. At that point we all knew the pecking order was being developed.

I was riding with Wisner, Overton, McCarthy, Farrell & Tarkington. I could really ride the 180 deg muddy turns well, and also of course the muddy bog on the park's south side. With 2 to go, I play some mental games with myself but am determined to leave it all out there on the course. A good line selection through the mud bog, and a great line selection just before the finish straight...and i was all setup to hold onto my spot somewhere in the top 10. I warm down, grab some food and come back to see i had finished 5th! pretty awesome result for me, esp. for a CO Cross Cup. will not forget this one.