Rocketing towards the run on lap 1. That's me in 6th position. Thanks to BK for the nice overview of postioning in the opening lap. Race number three in the Alberta cross series was the second race in this weekend's double header in Edmonton. The weather was a great deal warmer on Sunday with some welcome sunshine and the absence of the nasty wind of the day before. Yet again the organizers had prepared a perfect course to test the skills and fitness of the riders. Although this course felt more wide open than the day prior, it had numerous high speed corners, a well placed double barrier set, a runup and a tricky ridable steep incline.
For the second day in a row my start didn't fail me and I found myself in the top 3 from the gun. It helped a great deal that the officials called up the top 5 riders in the overall cup standings, being in third overall is starting to pay off. Despite the solid start I didn't quite have the punch of the day before and missed the break of the day that included Heemskerk, Friesen and Hopping. I found myself in a chase of about 8 riders hanging about 20 seconds off the pace. Up ahead Friesen had some unfortunate bike trouble and had to pull out and Hopping eventually choked under the incredible pressure Heemskerk was putting on the front of the race. After catching Hopping our group gradually dissolved leaving only a select 4 or 5 to contest for second as Heemskerk yet again proved to be out of reach. I focused on putting pressure on the group and riding smart. I tried to get a sense of who was strong in the group and where they were suffering and managed to play my cards well enough to shed everyone except Webster and Toth. Toth made the move of the day riding away with second place and Webster took me in a tricky incline where he was able to ride and I was forced to dismount. Those few seconds cost me 3rd place and I had to be content to coast in to 4th. The payout at this race was incredible and even with 4th I walked away with a couple of hundred dollars.
It was a fun event, very well organized, and doing well is making this season one to remember. I am still undecided as to whether or not I want to contest the national championships, but if the form continues to improve I made make the journey. Next up is event number 4 in Red Deer this coming Sunday. I need another top 3...
5 comments:
Toth for second! Any thoughts on being beaten by an elder?
I don't know what to say, the man is incredible some days. In the past two races he has never been a factor at the front, but he is consistantly in the top 10. I beat him in all of the other races by a large margin, he came on on Sunday strong and deserved his second place. In cross age isn't so much of a factor. One thing I have learned is that cross is an equalizer. Its tough for everyone. Being good on the road, in crits, on the track or in mtb doesn't automatically make you strong in cross. Good cross riders are a different breed altogether and the racing is very unique in all aspects making occurances such as these less surprising. The strongest man on the day wins in cross, many older men are strong, Toth is one of the strongest older men this side of the Atlantic if you ask me.
Hey Per,
Peter is also one cagey rider who will figure out a way to win (or at least finish second).
Now if I can only figure out starts maybe I'll be there at the end. (but it is fun running down people from the back of the pack)
BC
4th place ain't bad Per. Good work and good luck next week.
I say go for it at nationals. If you're strong you could have a great day and pull off a big race. You never know if you don't go.
4th???? Come on now Per, thats not the sort of result i expect to see from a 6ft 4 albino veteran of two Belgian spring campaigns.
I hope you rode home from Edmonton as penance.
Now if i can just crack the top 20 at my next race...
-CR
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