Cyclocross season is going pretty good so far. I’ve been entering into the Master’s category but I am finding myself competing more on level with the elites as we all depart at the same time.The way the format works is that the Elite, Experts and Master’s all start at the same time, but a score separately. This type of format allows me to enter into my respective category while going pedal-to-pedal out with the more trained and younger guys. Where I find my advantages (being that I have a family and career to consider) is that I have experience, patients and don’t fell I need to prove myself every time I race a bike. Combining these elements; while adding in that I have don’t tend to give up too easily, allows me to race strategically, wisely and without panic. That said; here’s how the races have been going, and I’ll try to keep it short:
Sept.-30-2007 - Coupe Quebec # 2 – Chateauguay, QC:
We had great weather for the day and the course was fast and while using only 2 dismounts. The majority of the course was wide opening dirt roads and double track with very little mud. The field was fairly deep with some experienced guys ranging from a World Cup Mtn Bike Pro, Current and former Elite Champions on the Quebec Mtn Bike circuit and a host of Road Pros and Elite coming out to show what they have. So going into it I knew it would be important to have a good start. Going into the first lap I find myself on the wheel of one of the strongest guys in Quebec who is leading out the lap. Heading into the mid part of the lap we were only five off the front and I felt great, so I attacked. Surely these guys are wondering who I am to attack them and I could here them getting together to come get me; and just then a wipe out allowing the four other to slip on buy. I remount and get back to the group a lap later but by this point two leader were off the front. I stayed in the 3rd, 4th, 5th place group until about the 45 min mark were I decided I needed to settle in and conserve. The other guys pulled away for the next couple of laps but also seemed to settle in a pace to conserve allowing me close back in. The last lap was a good one as I brought able to close in on the riders in front of me and we in turned got closer to 2nd place as 1st was long-gone; but we ran out of time and that’s the way it ended. The final result is I won the Master’s group by +/- 6 minutes and slotted in 5th for the day.Oct.-7-2007 – Coupe Quebec #3 – Terrebonne, QC
I’ll make this one quick. Good weather, tough group comprised of the majority of the same group as last week and including a strong showing form the Ottawa riders. The start was good as I fielded in at around the 10th place mark on the first lap. The course was more of a small Mtn Bike race more than a typical Cyclocross course but was still fun to race on. I choose to race this race more conservatively as I felt the course would fatigue a lot of the front runners who might have under estimated the course. By the 45 minute mark that seemed to be the case. I found myself feeling really good and catching riders at a good pace. With two laps to go I surged into 5th and had caught up to 4th and 3rd and decided to attack them going into the last lap but went into the last section a bit too fast and over shot a turn and got caught up in the tape that outlined the course. That tape may seem easy to break, but I had a hard time getting off of my bike. It seemed like forever but in reality it took about 10-15 seconds to untangle it from my bars. By the time I got back into my pace, my position had been decided because I could not close down the gap to get back those positions. For the day I ended up 2nd in the Masters behind the Ottawa guy who beat me in Magog, (but I closing in on him) and 5th overall for the day.
So in closing I’ve been really consist finishing 5th overall in all the Cyclocross races I’ve entered so far while finishing 2nd twice and 1st once in my category. I’m getting used to the strength of the other guys around me and improving my efforts each time by finishing closer to the leader each race.
