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Wednesday at Wakefield #2

I lined up on the second row for the Sport class race, and chatted with Jody until seconds before the start. This was nice because it takes my mind off of the stressful start.

The race starts with a pack of racers about 6 wide and 6 deep. You have to hammer up a washed out gravel road that can handle about 4 wide, then into singletrack. Starting the initial climb I settled into 5th. This is right where I want be. I'm surprised I'm in this position, as last week in the Masters 35+ race I was hammering much harder and was only about 15th up the hill.

Into the singletrack in fifth. Another surprise, the two people in front of me were slowing me down. At the first straightaway I put down the hammer and passed #4, but #3 knew what was coming and pushed hard to maintain his lead. At the second straightaway I hammered again and took the #3 position. The two guys I passed faded. The #2 guy was in and out of sight.

At the long straightaway on lap 1.5 I glanced back and saw a rider 150 feet back. Within a minute or two he was catching me. I was still riding strong, so I figured he was a strong rider who had a bad start and just took him a while to pass everybody, so I let him pass. Dang, dropped to 4th. I was able to keep him close. My goal now was to keep right on him, and maybe I can take him at the end.

Lap 2.5 the sky opened. I went around the bermed switchbacks and tires tracked like on slick ice. Had a couple dabs. I had NO traction and had to slow it down. This let #3 gain a little distance. I could hear riders behind me, but couldn't see them, so I still had a good lead, but there was no safety. Slowing down was necessary, but concerning. I passed a couple expert female's. This was positive as it added riffraff to slow the riders behind me.

Toward the end I was behind an expert female that was going pretty fast, but a little slower than my ideal pace. I made the mistake of settling in behind her and just told her to keep it strong. After about 30 seconds I heard and saw riders behind me. Damn I may have blown it. Never settle in. I called to pass, she obliged, and I put down the hammer. Number 3 came back into view.

Now about 100 yards from the finish and I see a new rider ahead. #3 has passed him. Oooo yea, prey. Sucks for him to blow a #1 or #2 lead so close the finish. It was a short, steep, wet, rutty climb. He was struggling cresting the top. I kept the hammer down and blew by him. The rider groaned an expletive as I passed, confirming that he was a person of interest. I kept hammering to the finish and took the #3.

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