Ontario Crit.

Another Local crit, different year, same course, same crowed, same prize money, same race tactics, same idiots. Different entry fee, $41 dollars if you don't pre reg. Floyd was right. OUCH!

Anyway, because I'm USpro Crit champ by rule I'm allowed to race any Crit free of charge. I just have to wear my kit that shows I'm a national champion.

So I packed the family in the Saab areo wagon and we hit the road. As we got to the course, we noticed a very ugly cloud just hanging over us and shortly after, little sprinkles of rain started to fall from the sky. No good. But I was there so I was going to race.

The race got started pretty quickly with attacks coming from some strong guys and as I made my way to the front I started to attack with them, keeping my word that I would race as hard as I can even if I get dropped. I really want to test myself in these local crits so when the big ones come I’ll be ready for any race strategy.

After numerous breaks failed it was clearly going to be a field sprint. With three to go, Iggy, Danny, Ian, Sterling, Justin and I line it up to lead out Justin. With 1 to go, Sterling coached the young kids all the way until it was his turn to pull. Sterling took me out of the last turn, which is a good 400m until the finish line so I just put the head down and went for it.

photo (C)socalcycling.com

It was weird, I looked through my arms and I didn't see anyone but Sterling. I guess Sterling and I ran away from the field in our last kick. I crossed the line first, Sterling second and Justin 3^rd.

I later learned that Justin had pulled a famous move called "the Saturn sit up". That's when you make a decision (as a sprinter) to follow your lead-out, or pretend you will follow and as you hit turns, you slowly back off giving your lead-out guy 4-5 bike lengths on the field before anyone even notices.

Thanks Justin. Well that's it for now. I hope to be racing up north at the Marco Crit and RR this weekend.

p.s. is i get some pics ill upload them.

Valley Of The Sun

After learning I had to attend VOS this year I geared and hit the road with Chepe, Danny and Justin.

On the way out I had about 5 hrs to think about the race and just think in general about life and how blessed I am to have a loving family and a healthy clean career. I also thought about the NOW team "No opportunity Wasted".

I say that because every since I’ve been a bike racer, when it came to time trailing, I never took it 100% serious and I said to myself, it will change today.So for the TT, I made sure to get a proper warm up, have a TT bike and all the necessary equipment.

The winning time for the TT was just under 29:00 minutes for the 22.5k TTI finished 3min back at 32:00minutes. I know it’s a lot but I was very content. For the first time I didn’t get caught by anyone, in fact I caught two people.

For the RR everything was going good. The legs felt good but the pace was really slow. Ouch had the race lead so they road tempo for the first 2 laps of the 5 ½ lap race. After going so slow I heard a voice in my head that said “ if they don't attack, you attack” so that’s what I did. (who ever wrote that to me in a email….thank you). After the field caught me, I came back yelling calling the peloton a bunch of punks for allowing three guys to control the race. I guess I crossed the line with some guys and soon later guys started to attack. I found myself in a two-man break that went clear and opened a 2min gap that stayed clear for 2 laps.

We were caught with 1lap to go. As were approaching the final climb, Chepe, Danny and I are lining it up for the sprint and possibly for the win. With just about 1 k to go, the race car pulled in front of us and stopped the race do to a crash just ahead of us, that they couldn’t clear out of the way in time for our finish.   RACE OVER…EVERYONE GETS THE SAME TIME.  Can you believe that? (This is why VOS is not what it should be, because of things like that. In my opinion, the officials made a very bad call to stop the finish with last than 2k to go).

Moving on to the crit.

Again, Ouch hits the front and everyone and their mother just follows…I just cant believe it so I attack and get the race started. After trying to be in every break, I’m going across to a break and my chain breaks.

I roll to the pit and ask if I can get a spar bike, the official in the pit says tic, tic, tic. I’m like what? He goes, tic, tic, tic….the clock is running.  I’m like you disrespectful dick head. That pissed me off so bad. (again another reason why big names don’t come to this race, thats no way to treat anyone).

It took me three laps to find and bike needless to say I wasn’t allowed back in after he told I would be able to.

Chepe pulled off a good win by surprising the field with 1 lap to go after Justin set him up. Chepe gets win #1 in RR colors. Justin 4th Danny 7th.

Next up....I dont know...

After skipping the snow and cold at boulevard on Saturday, we decided to just stay at camp and train with the team and finish the week off with a Crit down in the San Diego area.

With rain in the forecast I was mentally prepared to race in the wet as we did last year. But the rained held off and that made for a exciting crit.

Justin, Iggy, Danny and I started the 80min crit out numbered, out powered but not out smarted.

The field was composed of Jelly-Belly (10guys) Virgin Blue (10guys) Team Type One (10guys) and a bunch of trigger happy local guys putting the smack down.

I was pretty nervous about how I would feel because being at camp with Oscar, Pene, and all the other pass Tour De France guys, its like a mini stage race for me.

However the legs felt great, I actually felt like the race was pretty easy. I did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it and that my friend is a great feeling.

My gut feeling was that the field would split and for sure there would be a break. After numerous tries none were successful and with 5 to go the field is together for a field sprint. Iggy and I are now in a position to set up Justin for the field kick. 3 to go jelly belly is on the front setting up x-uspro crit champ Brad Huff and with Type 1 and V-blue around it was very important for us to set up right behind the first lead-out which we did and with 1 to go I hit hard with Justin on my wheel and passed the jelly belly guys going as hard as I could taking Justin into the last corner waaaaaaaaay to hot, however I do believe I got skills, so we made it through up right and as I started to sprint up the hill, Brad Huff and Jon Cantwell (V-blue) jumped Justin, that putting him in 3^rd position with about 150 to go. As I pulled off I watched Justin go from a all out sprint to sitting down (I got really nervous) but soon after he stood back up to sprint again. I later learned he had to sit down to switch to a bigger gear.

Justin passes Huff and Cantwell to takes win #2 of the year and I have to say he beat some fast guys. Check out the link below...its the finis.

P1020286(2).MOV (10.20 mb)

I'm here in WestLake, Ca just outside of Woodland hills for yet another Rock Racing training camp.

Yesterday was the first ride and I already see where things are headed....ouch!

In the team meeting yesterday, Rudy (the Belgium DS) said "don’t go to hard in the beginning of the camp, after 7days you will hate life" . Thank God he said that because we went over a climb yesterday and I did 310 watts next to Mike Creed for the 18k climb. I got dropped with 2-3k to go, so I was content.

 ill try and take pics and update you all with as much info as possible. I just hope to stay motivated knowing that my biggest stage race my only be Valley of The Sun...haha wow