Nationals 05 MUSH in the SLUSH
If you were looking for a cross race that dreams are made of, we got it this year. Actually, we have had that race the past three years. With 8 inches of snow dumping on the course the night before and hundreds of racers racing the morning before the Elite race, the race became a mush in the slush.
The promoters even decided to keep the ice and slush on the start despite the protests from UCI officials---apparently ice on the start is not UCI Legal. We saw why 5 seconds after the starter's gun went off. A poor soul caught an ice rut and immediately went from the front middle of the pack to the far right taking down a good portion of the men's field. At the first corner, another large portion was taken down as everyone went from 26mph to 5mph on ice to take the first right.
I got lucky for the start with guys flying left and right up and down. I held my 40sish start out of 100+.
So the game begins. I fell on my own. I fell with the help of other racers. The fact is I fell a lot. I even fell into a face full of mud on one of the 4 run ups---remember I hate to run and now we have 4 if you don't fall down but probably 5. The leaders are gone with T Wells leading the charge. Treefarm brought him back to only drop his chain with half a lap to go. Without that chain drop, there would have been a sprint. But there was a chain drop and T Wells pulled a much deserved win by 3 seconds. Treefarm was dissappointed of course but headed back to Belgium for some more CX Love till Worlds.
The course was good but you could only pass on the pavement. Everytime you ventured off the muddy single track, you caught an ice rut and went some direction. I made my way to the mid 20s and rode with Horner---not bad.
Despite the results, I did finish. As Horner and I were about to get lapped, Horner sped up and I slowed down to watch the last run up between Wells and Treefarm. The officials took my number along with the guy beside me but gave me a DNF and him a placing. Oh well. DNF or 28th? Take your pick.
Great fun and crowds galore but some of the strangest things I seen done by a promoter.
----you didn't have to pay to see the race but had to pay ($5) to see the expo.
----If you wanted to eat you had to pay to get into the expo and then pay to eat.
----If you wanted a beer, you had to pay to get into the expo, then pay to get into a separate Beer Tent(also not allowed by UCI), then you could buy a beer.
----no Starting grid per UCI rules but only wanted 8 guys on the front row that was 45 feet wide.
----the biggest fault was today. Not recognizing Katie Compton as the reigning US Champ. Yes, she doesn't have any UCI points for a call up but at least recognize the bad ass. In the rules by the promoter he even states he will call up last years top 20 finishers from Nationals. I and others thought that was a little rude. Anyhow, she started 3 rows back and kicked everyone's ass. She won by over 1.5minutes. A Knapp stayed close but by lap 3 Katie was gone. Even during the race, the local announcer seemingly refused to talk about Compton but then our man Dave Towles got on mike. No soccer moms were out but Dave put the word out on Compton and the Colorado Cross scene. Thanks Dave and we look forward to hearing you at the Boulder UCI races next year.
Great weekend and great races. Cross is over for us but the Voodoo riders are still at large. Look for us at the 24hrs of Old Pueblo.
And I must say Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night.
The promoters even decided to keep the ice and slush on the start despite the protests from UCI officials---apparently ice on the start is not UCI Legal. We saw why 5 seconds after the starter's gun went off. A poor soul caught an ice rut and immediately went from the front middle of the pack to the far right taking down a good portion of the men's field. At the first corner, another large portion was taken down as everyone went from 26mph to 5mph on ice to take the first right.
I got lucky for the start with guys flying left and right up and down. I held my 40sish start out of 100+.
So the game begins. I fell on my own. I fell with the help of other racers. The fact is I fell a lot. I even fell into a face full of mud on one of the 4 run ups---remember I hate to run and now we have 4 if you don't fall down but probably 5. The leaders are gone with T Wells leading the charge. Treefarm brought him back to only drop his chain with half a lap to go. Without that chain drop, there would have been a sprint. But there was a chain drop and T Wells pulled a much deserved win by 3 seconds. Treefarm was dissappointed of course but headed back to Belgium for some more CX Love till Worlds.
The course was good but you could only pass on the pavement. Everytime you ventured off the muddy single track, you caught an ice rut and went some direction. I made my way to the mid 20s and rode with Horner---not bad.
Despite the results, I did finish. As Horner and I were about to get lapped, Horner sped up and I slowed down to watch the last run up between Wells and Treefarm. The officials took my number along with the guy beside me but gave me a DNF and him a placing. Oh well. DNF or 28th? Take your pick.
Great fun and crowds galore but some of the strangest things I seen done by a promoter.
----you didn't have to pay to see the race but had to pay ($5) to see the expo.
----If you wanted to eat you had to pay to get into the expo and then pay to eat.
----If you wanted a beer, you had to pay to get into the expo, then pay to get into a separate Beer Tent(also not allowed by UCI), then you could buy a beer.
----no Starting grid per UCI rules but only wanted 8 guys on the front row that was 45 feet wide.
----the biggest fault was today. Not recognizing Katie Compton as the reigning US Champ. Yes, she doesn't have any UCI points for a call up but at least recognize the bad ass. In the rules by the promoter he even states he will call up last years top 20 finishers from Nationals. I and others thought that was a little rude. Anyhow, she started 3 rows back and kicked everyone's ass. She won by over 1.5minutes. A Knapp stayed close but by lap 3 Katie was gone. Even during the race, the local announcer seemingly refused to talk about Compton but then our man Dave Towles got on mike. No soccer moms were out but Dave put the word out on Compton and the Colorado Cross scene. Thanks Dave and we look forward to hearing you at the Boulder UCI races next year.
Great weekend and great races. Cross is over for us but the Voodoo riders are still at large. Look for us at the 24hrs of Old Pueblo.
And I must say Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night.
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