Here is the race report from Rip:
The morning of the race (hammies still slightly fatigued but not as sore), I went to check in and found out that I was going to be fined for folding the edges of my numbers. So one of the volunteers was nice enough to re-pin my numbers. About 5 minutes before the race, nature called and it was not going to wait so I went to take care of business but discovered the number had been pinned not only to my jersey but also to bibs AND my bra! So by the time I got unbound and took care of what I originally went to the bathroom for, they were doing the final call on my name with 15 seconds left before the start!

The race began with sunny skies and fairly comfortable temps as forecast but gradually clouded up. The 5-1/4 mile course had three grinders and one challenging climb, Cochran Hill, that had a tough false flat at the top. We were set to do 9 laps for the race. The pace on the first few laps was moderate with several attacks that were quickly reeled back in by the field. I made a few strong pulls but with most of the field being unknown and the tendency of the race, I did not want to exhaust my legs too much in case it came down to a field sprint. Not knowing if anyone would work in a break and with all the recent travel, I was not feeling particularly strong enough to make a solo.

With 4 laps to go, I decided to see if a couple of the women wanted to work together to make an attack and hopefully establish a break. I coordinated the planned efforts but by this time, with 3 laps to go, it had started to rain. We decide to wait one more lap to see how the rain was going to effect the roads so everyone was in agreement to execute with 2 laps to go. We were about 1 mile into the rain test lap, going downhill around a slight left curve when unfortunately, all at once, all the women who were part of “the plan” went down! Luck/timing/position had me on the inside of the curve so I escaped upright but is was sad to watch this happen…not because of the plan but for their hopes on the race. Now on to Plan B – which I did not have yet.

Another mile into this 7th lap, the bottom fell out with lightning, thunder and strong winds so the officials called the race short due to the potential dangers. So this was the last lap. The base of the steepest section, about 1-1/2 miles from the finish, was followed by a quick descent, and then 1+ miles of some flats, a grinder and then the final left turn to the slight uphill finish straight away. I am not the most efficient TTist, especially on flats or slight climbs, so figured an attack on Cochran Hill might be my best chance to form a break and hopefully eliminate some of the field in the sprint.

I left it in the big ring and was about half way back in the pack when we started up the climb and then decided to give it a shot. I hammered it as hard as my legs could go, heard gears clicking beside and behind me but just kept my head down and never looked back. The false flat at the top of the climb hurt like crazy but I tried to not let up. Negotiating the descent as quickly but safely as possible, I started on the flats and just kept my vision forward. Going up the grinder to the final turn, I still did not know if the pack was catching, about to swarm, or if I had a gap. I rounded the last corner to the finish line, glanced back to the course, and to my surprise, found no one in sight. I kept the pace going until the last few meters, sat up, zipped up my jersey and crossed the line with hands in the air. It felt amazing just to be able to do that as I never had enough time in past races! But the magnitude of the accomplishment really did not sink in until the past couple of days.

The crit on Saturday was not nearly as much to write about. Simple four left hand turns with pretty much flat terrain, cooler but sunny weather. I felt recovered and rested and the field was 11 deep. There were a couple of new faces, one of which was attached to a set of quads, each the size of my waist! So my initial plan, if it came down to a field sprint, was to stay on Quadzilla’s wheel through the last turn using her draft on the straightaway, hoping she will have taken enough headwind and I would have enough kick to go around her.

The “race” all stayed together…race in quotes because only a couple of us actually made any attacks or put in strong efforts (Quadzie was not one of them) . I felt pretty good so launched several but the straightaways were long enough everything was pulled back together quickly. Last lap after the third turn I was in good position on Quadzilla’s wheel. She took that leg to the right side and then suddenly cut turn 4 to the inside and I followed. About this time two other racers were coming on the inside so I had to swerve out to avoid hitting them and lost the wheel. Unfortunately, two girls did go down in that final turn, one of which had also crashed in the road race two days prior. To avoid this another girl also had to veer wide, almost lost it but recovered and the three of us sprinted for the line with Quads clearly winning and I was a close .03 seconds behind 2nd place for 3rd. Wish I could have taken the Silver but was also very happy to be upright.

Very pleased with the experience coming away with a gold, stars and stripes jersey, a bronze, and Best All-around Rider award. Was able to watch several friends compete, helped with the feedzone for a couple of the guys, saw a fellow rider from Winston take the gold in her race and a good friend from Cali take Silver. And as with every race, learned a little more. Good stuff : )

Rip

Peter Brentlinger took some great before and after photos of Joe.

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