The Virginia Blue Ridge Criterium marked a bit of a going away party for myself as my parents move away from what has been my home since we moved here in 1998. The event is part of the push to change Roanoke into an outdoors town that brings tourism and fun times to the area. Roanoke is an awesome town with beautiful mountains, hiking trails, rivers, and plenty of great outdoor activities to go around and the city and county are starting to show Roanoke off to the world. Since leaving for college Roanoke significantly updated their river greenway system, revamped some mountain bike trails, started a youth mountain bike team, brought a big time marathon to town, and most recently had Deschutes Brewing decided to open their East Coast operations in Roanoke, some huge changes. When I left Roanoke for college I didn’t think I’d have any interest in coming back, but now, now it seems like a pretty cool place to be. Roanoke is definitely headed in the right direction and bringing a big Pro Criterium with good prize money should definitely help the city move in that direction (Had to get some home town bragging in).
Leading up to the race Corey Davis and I had the opportunity to visit a couple of schools to talk to the kids about the race, cycling, and a lifetime of exercise and good nutrition. It was awesome to see the kids get excited about bikes, ask questions, and have a little break from school. I also signed my first autograph, I'm not sure the kid knows how unknown and not cool a middle of the pack continental professional cyclist is, but…I’ll take what I can get.
The lead-up to the Criterium was actually a little hectic for me, between school visits, packing up my childhood bedroom, talking to local TV station, and getting in a couple good training rides the days filled up fast. Mostly though, I just got a little too nervous and emotional as I left my childhood home. It’s sort of all fine until you realize you’re leaving and then it’s oh wow, it’s actually happening. The day of the crit I think my heart rate was through the roof just sitting on the couch trying to calm the nervous energy. The Roanoke Crit isn’t exactly a big race on my calendar but since I was leaving the next morning and it was in my hometown, the pressure seemed liked it was on. I spent the morning finishing some packing and getting a last visit to Sweet Donkey for pre-race pastry and coffee with my sister. I tried to take a nap but had too much nervous energy to fall asleep.
The lead-up to the Criterium was actually a little hectic for me, between school visits, packing up my childhood bedroom, talking to local TV station, and getting in a couple good training rides the days filled up fast. Mostly though, I just got a little too nervous and emotional as I left my childhood home. It’s sort of all fine until you realize you’re leaving and then it’s oh wow, it’s actually happening. The day of the crit I think my heart rate was through the roof just sitting on the couch trying to calm the nervous energy. The Roanoke Crit isn’t exactly a big race on my calendar but since I was leaving the next morning and it was in my hometown, the pressure seemed liked it was on. I spent the morning finishing some packing and getting a last visit to Sweet Donkey for pre-race pastry and coffee with my sister. I tried to take a nap but had too much nervous energy to fall asleep.
Eventually it was time to throw the kit on and ride the 30 minutes from my house to the crit course. A cool opportunity to ride directly from you home couch to the race. I got there just in time to say hi to some friends working the event and for the rain to begin gushing out of the sky. All day it had stayed away but as the women’s race was underway it came down in droves. If nerves weren’t on high alert, they were now. By the time we headed to the line the rain had finished, the sun had set, and a group of 75 guys sat anxiously on the line. Being the seasoned Pro I am I took my call-up and immediately went backwards because I couldn’t clip in off the line. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out eventually. After being on the receiving end of a Curtis Winsor super smash I finally made it toward the front just as I saw the field sit up with three guys up the road, yup, I’ll take that, and immediately jumped right and across the gap. From 30th to off the front in a straightaway, thanks Curtis. The break was solid with Chris Young (Rally), Corey Davis (Guttenplan), myself, and one other. Chris did a lot of strong pulling but we weren’t super smooth when Mike Stoop (Guttenplan) joined the move. After sitting on for a lap he attacked and I followed right away with no one else from the break tagging in. That was essentially it for the night. On rainy days it’s best to be off the front and the break usually goes early, as a small group working together is much faster in the wet corners than a peloton fighting for position. We were gone and away probably 10 laps into the race and kept hitting it for the next 20 laps or so before we were gone for good. It felt like we hovered at 8 seconds forever, then 12 for a while and then it ballooned up to 45 seconds almost instantly. Game over. For the remainder of the laps I got to enjoy the crowd and figure out how I was going to beat the best crit rider in Virginia.
The entire time the crowd was amazing, from my sister screaming on the back straight to cheers of my name as we ripped down the homestretch. It was definitely a night I will remember for a long time. Eventually we got close to lapping the field, but we eased up and let the field sit 20-30 seconds ahead of us. I didn't want Stoop snaking through the field faster than me and getting away. Laps went by as I kept looking at Curtis for advice, trying to figure out how to shake Stoop. With four laps to go and the peloton still dangling ahead Curtis told me to attack Stoop. 5 Minute power v. sprint power, we’ll see how it goes. I was a little antsy and attacked into two left handers, which Stoop took so much better than me I got zero gap. I didn't wait long to hit it hard again. As the road tilted slightly up at the Start/Finish I hit it. Boom, gap open, Curtis jumping up and down and freaking out on the side. Let’s go. Look up, oh crap, the field is right there. At the same time I jumped 3 guys went free of the peloton and the peloton sat up, 20s became zero seconds in two turns.
I hit the back of the peloton through a technical right left uphill section and took it slower than I had the whole race. My teammate saw me and immediately hit the front full gas to keep Stoop off the back of the pack. With three laps to go he and I were trading pulls going all out to stay off the front, with 1 lap to go Stoop’s teammate went back and collected him into the back of the group, three turns later they came flying by me. That was it for me unfortunately, my legs out of gas from the last three laps trying to keep him away, but the slowing peloton and poor timing of my catch slowed me down too much. Maybe if I would have waited another lap or two, or the peloton hadn’t slowed or, or, or… It could have been the perfect sendoff and for a couple laps I thought I’d actually done it, won the hometown race my last night at home. Alas, Stoop got the better of me and I had to deal with the second step on the podium. It was still an amazing time. A post race Burger and fried Oreo at Jack Brown’s finished off a hell of a night. It was amazing to have so many friends and family come to downtown to cheer me on, check out a bike race for the first time, and withstand the threat of rain to see it all happen. A huge thank you to Roanoke for an amazing sendoff. Roanoke will always be my hometown and I look forward to frequent visits in the future, to enjoy the amazing roads, good food, great people, and a wonderful place to grow up. Thanks for the memories.
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow