Hell's Kitchen Road Race

HKRR this morning: 20 miles in the cat 5. One lap. Two big climbs. 65 rider field.

Sat in at about 20 position for a few minutes while Jorgen sat up front and tested the field with some good pace setting. We kept it together until the first slight climb, when we pinched off a few of the riders who didn't train in the off-season.

Climb 1: I was feeling good, so I attacked. Nobody responded for a moment, since Jorgen was on the front. He blocked for a minute til others tried to chase. I was away for about 5 minutes, but then I hit a headwind and couldn't increase my gap. I got pulled in but sat in at about 8th.

Hell's kitchen: They call it that because there are three stages to it, each one steeper than the last. And everything goes to Hell once you get to it. Jorgen kept it going strong on the front, and some people tried to attack, but nothing stuck. Then after about 50 yards, everything blew up. There were people everywhere, we were catching masters and women 1/2/3 and I didn't know who was who. Keeping a high cadence, I went my own pace with a high cadence in a light gear. It got me quite a few places back, and once we got to the end of the climb, I was in a group of 5 with another group of 10 ahead of us.

Jorgen was still on the front of the lead group, and I gapped to them on the descent. Apparently people in Arkansas don't know how to descend very quickly. There were 8 or so of us once we got to the last little crest before the finishing straight.

Somebody attacked. It was a smart attack and he got a good gap very quickly. There went first place. Then I wasn't paying attention, and two more guys went in the final straight. 2nd and 3rd. I chased, nobody responded. 4th for Tink, 7th for the Norwegian who pulled the entire race.

DPalms won the 4s for the U of M. Steve Tillford won the pro/1/2.

Not a bad day. I want an upgrade. If we go to a crit later this week (Billy said we might drive to Oklahoma) I'll ask the official.



After the road race we showered up and went for a 2-hour MTB ride behind Wal-Mart with Nate, our favorite local. Caleb broke his chain on the long climb up and took a nap in the van while the rest of us went on ahead. Duncan and Mitch pulled off after the intro loop, and Paul ditched just before the advanced section. Scurvy, Nate and I went on ahead to
rip up some of the best and most constantly challenging trails I've ever ridden. You can't lose focus for one second or you'll plant your front wheel into a rock and go overboard.

Good time. I'm exhausted.