Alberta Cyclocross Cup #1: Hardcore Hop n' Hurl

This past weekend was the official start to the 2006 cross season. After a couple of weeks of playing around on the cross bike and some hot laps it was time to see what form I had left from the road season.
At 6 am I was out the door to BK's to meet up with him and Cummings to hitch a ride up to E-town. After a quick espresso in the Kullminator palace it was off to the Queen Elizabeth Highway and the 3 hour rip up to the provincial capital.
The Hop n' Hurl is a staple of the Alberta cross calendar and offers an incredibly fun course mainly running on cross country ski trails. With a couple of group splitting climbs, fast twisting descents and a well placed double barrier near the finish it is an exciting course for riders and spectators alike.
This race was very well attended with 25 riders rolling to the line in the Elite mens race. From the gun I found myself right in the middle of the group. I managed to take a couple of spots on the climbs early on, but found myself on the wrong side of a small split containing virtually all of the favorites. Over the flat grassy power section I managed to jump across and secure a ride on a very fast moving train. Throughout the race the pace was consistently high and I was not in a position to attack or really drive the pace. The lone Dutchmen in the race, Heemskerk, ended up rolling away with a few laps to go and eventually built a solid enough gap that the race became one for the second step on the podium. Throughout the finishing laps it shaped up to be a race of attrition as noone seemed in a position to launch an attack. Finally on the last lap Nick Friesen drove it hard over the climb and through the rollers splitting the group. He held his gap until the line with Hopping about 10 seconds behind followed by myself another 10 seconds back.
I was relatively happy with 4th place in the season opener. I can't say I felt great, especially with the 3 hour drive in the legs that same morning, but I think I pulled off the best result I could have. The competition is very strong this year and it looks like it will be a solid season. With some small improvements I think hitting the podium should be realistic in the coming weeks.
Next up it "School of 'Cross presented by Bow Cycle" this Sunday on my home course only minutes from the house. With several of the top guns away on international assignments this could be the big points grab, and with the likely appearance of my teammate and current Alberta Road Champion Collins it will be a solid event.
New pictures HERE