San Luis Abismol

And so the Story goes.

Alarm clock goes off: 4:45 am.
I wake: 453 am.
Eat a bowl on oatmeal throw the bag, the bike, the girl in the car and Im on the road.
Stop off for a latte on the way.
Black coffe would have been better.
Arrive in San Luis: 7:20
Pick up my number, then I walk the corse.
Watch Brandon take third in his juniors race. He was in the wrong place when there was an attack with just a few laps to go and two riders managed to say away.
He hung in there and won the field sprint.
Wamed up with steve just cruising around.
Felt a little tired but otherwise strong.
Got an oppertunity to take two laps around the course before our race.
Decided that I would attack the small grade leading into turn three at every possible oppertunity.
I secured a position on the line for the start.
The race started and I had some minor difficulty with my right cleat.
Finaly got my shoe on the pedal after three quarters of the field had surged past me.
Took it easy for the first three or four laps trying to move up towards the front.
Made a couple moves and then I would loose a couple.
Finally moved up the back of what was becoming the lead group.
there would be two main goups (the second of which would be lapped and pulled.)
Followed the plan and attacked on the hill.
Gained three positions.
Attacked again.
Gained three more positions.
Attacked again.
Was first wheel going into the fourth turn with about 12 minutes to go.
I lead the field for three laps attacking on the hill. I would get a gap only to have it closed on the straight downhill leg through start finish and into turn 1.
Feeling strong I decided it was time to let some of the other guys do some work. We had alread whittled the field down from 50 to about 17.
I took turn 1 wide and let a couple guys behind me pass.
I stood up to get my speed back in and pop back in hoping for 5th or 7th wheel.
BAM!
My right calf cramped up.
I sat down and tried to spin through it.
But the group surged and someone else attacked on the hill into turn 3.
I stood up to try to close a gap and my right calf completley tightend up.
It was parralyzing.
I followed the group for two more laps watching them fade away around the turns.
They were still in my sight, I just couldnt make any time.
Id stand up and my legs would shut down and they would slowly disapear from my sight.
I almost pulled off and called it quits.
That would have been a pretty long drive just to give up.
In my mind the story that was playing in my head was maybe, just maybe if I pedal hard enough something might happen that would slow the field.
A crash (although you hardly wish a crash on anyone)
A flat.
Maybe they woul all just get tired and decided they had it in the bag and would slow down for the lap or two into the sprint.
I passed two more riders who were shot off the back.
Rode as hard as I possibly could.
And got pulled on what would've been my last lap.
I would be lieing if I said I wasnt a little disapointed.
But hey what can you do?
Im young and there will be plenty more oppertunities for...

Operation Domination
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Stuck around and watched Marco put the hurt on the old guy division. It was one hell of a race to watch. with a two man breakaway with only 3 or four laps to go that two other riders bridged up two being cought by the field into the last turn. All of a sudden a little guy shot around the inside and accelerated right into a gap. That little guy was Mark and the effort was good enough for a third.
great job mark.
Also congrats to Kim Turner on another victory in the womens 4's. I think its about time she cats up and lets some of the other women have a shot at the gold.
Left after the masters race unfortunatley. So I didnt get a chance to see the thres or the pros.
Next up is the Santa Barbara Tri on August 25th.

happy riding