Phew for what was original thought to be a relatively easy simple 60 mile mountain bike ride with only 2300ft of climbing became one of the hardest races I've ever been a part of. Over the course of the 60 mile ride I made plenty of mistakes, had a touch of bad lucks and mediocre legs. All in all for my first real Pro mountain bike race it didn't go to bad as I still limped in just outside the Top 5 in 6th. Virginia took it to the endurance mountain bike scene though with Jeremiah Bishop (2nd) and Keck Baker (3rd) getting on the podium giving the good 'ol VA 3/6 top spots as well as SS national champion Gordon Wadsworth.
Clearly the Virginia boys came to play. It was quite the long hard day...here is the full story.
Clearly the Virginia boys came to play. It was quite the long hard day...here is the full story.
Jay Catlett and I rolled down to Augusta, GA early Thursday morning to pre-ride the first half of the course filled with pine needles, dips, and quick turns along with some open grass and gravel road sections. Friday we relaxed and pre-rode the 2nd half of the course: A completely different world with more extended climbs, roots, and creek crossings and long road and field sections before a final ~10 minute runup to the finish on gravel roads and jeep trails. I thought the course suited me well but couldn't decide between the originally planned Santa Cruz Highball (Hardtail) or the Tallboy. I stuck to my plan and went Highball but will forever question if it was the right plan, I was banking on smashing open road sections but didn't quite have it when the race went off. Race day came and preparations went well, it was supposed to be 80+ and hydration and fueling was likely to be key, I loaded up on powerbar gels and clif blocks and thanked my Dad repeatedly for making the trek to make sure I got bottles throughout the race.
The race started much more mild then expected as we made the mile long journey to the single track. As we entered I got into the woods in third but not without a stroke of bad luck first, a rider trying to get inside ran into me and knocked one of my bottles out, shouldn't have been a problem with the first feed inside an hour. The racing stayed hot and cold depending on the mood of the group until we hit this ravine ~30 minutes in. With everyone getting off their bikes the leaders drilled it to stretch the field, the following grass and gravel roads were HARD. I stayed safe and remained in contact if only barely, bouncing the heart rate all too close to 200bpm for a 60 mile mountain bike race. At one point I was so out of it I tapped someones wheel and actually went down, causing an issue with riders behind me. Oops. Stupid and I hope I didn't screw up his race. This section broke the field with a group of 10 of us leading heading in to feed zone 1. I had drained bottle one knowing hydration was key but due to a bobble between Dad and myself, I was left without a bottle. After having my backup bottle knocked out I was worried. I trudged on, losing contact with Keck who was flying through the woods but regained when the pace settle as we snaked alongside the lake back to feed 2. I was incredibly thirsty and counting down the miles, was fortunate to grab two bottles from Dad and Jay each to keep me safe. The race got going again right after the feed with guys drilling it on small single track sections and road sections.
In another ravine that required dismount Keck got a couple seconds and I never saw him again, he was flying through the woods faster than I could hang. Time off the mountain bike hurts and Keck was dialed. By the time we hit the road section he was 15s up, a gap I would usually hope to close but already 1.5 bottles drained, I was hurting. The next road section found me hanging on for dear life to a group of 4 chasing Drew Dillman, who was chasing Keck and another rider. Emptied bottles we passed through Feed 3 for the first time, problem was feeding had to occur on way back, another 10 or 12 miles away and I was thirsty and out of water. The backside loop hurt and I cracked hard. Drew and another rider road away where I wanted to attack and I struggled through. Shortly I was left in 7th mulling my way around the course enjoying each descent and struggling up each climb. It was an ugly time, the first time this year I felt completely cracked. As the loop continued I was losing it, mentally out of it, tired, thirsty, dehydrated. I saw the course marshall ushering me back up toward Feed 3. Thank goodness, I can make it up the hill, I thought to myself, the relief was real, and much needed. I screamed for three bottles going in to Feed 3 and thankfully had my Dad, Jay, and Emily Wadsworth there for my salvation. I finished one of those bottles before I left the feed zone, and another before I got back in to the Single Track after the road section back home, bottle three was 3/4 gone within another 15 minutes on the trail. Finally with my legs back I could actually ride and had my head back on straight just in time to hit the gravel road back to the finish. I got the rider in 6th and blew by him, he was clearly in and ugly place, a similar place to where I was before Feed 3. I rolled in to the finish shaking my head, unsure of what just happened. Ouch.
All in all, 6th place was only one spot outside of my original goal of Top 5, so I couldn't be too upset. Some bad luck and honestly some poor racing early cost me, how much, I don't know, the legs weren't having it today and hurt early, but maybe the hydration cost me most. Who knows, I won't dwell on it. It was the first time doing a race like this and my first time in a Pro field racing alongside guys with outside support and I learned a lot. I think I may have picked the wrong bike and my pressure felt low all day until I hit the front with a CO2. I should have stopped at Feed 1 and gotten a bottle at all costs, I could have gotten back. These lessons were learned the hard way with 10-15 miles of serious suffering before being brought back to life by 3 bottles and a gravel road finish. Next time I will be more prepared. On the plus side I step away from Marathon Nationals with a 6th place finish and 40 UCI points which should help down the road. The Santa Cruz Highball did its thing even if I didn't have the legs to let it fulfill it's full potential, the new Cutaway BSlow Racing jerseys made it just in time to wear and look awesome, and my Swiftwick socks kept my feet comfortable even as I trudged through the many creek crossings. Can only complain so much. Some fellow collegiate riders Luke Vrouwenvelder and Byron Rice rolled in Top 15 and Top 20 respectively just as blown as I was. We wasted little time heading down to the glorious lake that taunted us and jumped in to cool off and refresh only to feel the sharp sting of saddle soars, a great metaphor for the day, positives washed away by negatives, but in the end the lake still felt darn good. Beside having zero desire to do a mountain bike race again, I'm sure I'll be back to make a run for the podium some day. Onward and upward.
A final huge thanks to my Dad for running around all day feeding Jay in the morning so I could rest and relax and then Jay for running around all week with me, dealing with my prissy self prior to the race, then finishing your race with a broken seatpost only to run around to Feed 2 and 3 to make sure I had bottles. I owe you a lot. Best support crew in the business, sorry for dragging you around, but thanks for being a good sport.
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow
A final huge thanks to my Dad for running around all day feeding Jay in the morning so I could rest and relax and then Jay for running around all week with me, dealing with my prissy self prior to the race, then finishing your race with a broken seatpost only to run around to Feed 2 and 3 to make sure I had bottles. I owe you a lot. Best support crew in the business, sorry for dragging you around, but thanks for being a good sport.
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow