Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic
Saturday was the first BIG nrc race (national race calender) of the year and for the most part every team was well represented in the pack. Notably missing was the Navigators squad and Jelly belly bean team. However this did not make for any change in the usual mess and speed this race brings.
The whole race was pretty fast and the rock boys did a tremendous job being represented in every serious break and at the end we were setting up Kayle for the win. With two to go, we are sitting 8th wheel back right behind Toyota and a couple of BMC guys. Going into the last lap as we are still lined up 5 deep, Kayle crashes and I had no where to go but over him and two other guys. In a matter of seconds a sure win came crashing down with less than a lap to go. Kayle, David Clinger and myself all crashed at once giving the easy win to Ivan from Toyota United.
The Road Race was 120 miles over flat to rolling hills and once again the boys did a good job representing the team and in every major break we had guys. In the most significant break of the day pertaining 16 riders we had 3, which are good odds for us.
That break later came back to see two crazy solo attacks which included Austin from Rock. They stayed away for a long 2 1/2 laps which was about 45 miles. They were caught in the feed zone on the last lap.
Right before the first hill on the last lap Kayle flatted and I thought the right thing to do was to give up my wheel for him....which should not be my job, but as a bike racer you have to think fast and make split second decisions and I thought it was the proper thing to do, which played out to be a good move because he got back into the group very fast. I chased after getting a wheel change from the team but never got back on, so I turned around and headed to the car.
I didn't see the finish but the guys said once again they had 4 guys lined up but with the confusion they lost each others wheel and didn't get a chance to help each other when it counted.
For those of you who knows Rudy on my team, give him a call, he had a really nasty crash in the last 3k of the RR and was taking to the hospital by our staff.