The UCLA cycling team has been promoting a killer race up in Pear Blossom for sometime now and this year they decided to open it up to USCF categories. The course was very similar to Devils Punchbowl RR, the only difference being they took the first right up a steep ~1 mile run up to the finish cutting the lap sizes down a bit. The course was roughly 13 miles a lap with 1500 feet of climbing per lap. The Cat 3's did 4 laps, the P123 raced 5.
The Cat three race was pretty tame for the most part. The biggest selection came on the second lap seeing only about 1/4 of the peleton in the main field. The course took its toll on the riders with fewer and fewer riders in the lead group every lap. Cresting the hill on the last lap only about 15 riders remained. There were a few attacks and counter attacks on the downhill and the false flat leading into the finishing climb. When the lead group began the final climb there was still a rider 200m up the road. Several riders attacked and the gap whittled down, but no one was willing to do too much work with the finish line rapidly approaching and the pitch of the road growing steadily. At 200 meters to go local Santa Barbara Platinum Performance rider Chester Gillmore attacked, passed the rider who was off the front, finished with a very comfortable sized gap and as the Belgians would say, "no one else in the photo".
Doug Urbach rode a solid race in the CAT 3's and finished 16th.
Chris Walker, AKA The Vampire put the screws to the Pro field throwing the entire peleton deep in the pain locker. He then slammed the door, locked it, and threw away the Key of said locker. He took second place in a very strong p123 field.
RESULTS
Chester Gillmore, 1st place- CAT 3
Doug Urback, 16th place- CAT 3
Chris Walker, 1st place- P12
7 comments:
Way to go Team!
John
Congrats Chesta!! Lots more Vees in your future I think.
Nice one CG & CW
Hey CG now the walk goes with the talk
cho choo
Chester! Congratulations! You've now exceeded my entire run of competitive cycling, as I look wistfully on from the sidelines at you and Todd and Mary. In fact, should you so desire, you might actually beat me in a running race these days. Work, eh, sucks. The photography in Sedona isn't bad, though.
Seriously, you rock.
Hope everything is well with your family.
Best,
Mark Hespenheide.
Right on man way to go! One of many to come I'm sure.
You da man chestet. You are in for a fun year of racing until I leave the threes which then it will be a fun lifetime of racing between us.
Great job!
3 little words... awesome and inspiring! You've been working hard and it's nice to see that hard work pay off in a big win. Glad Dad was there to see it.
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