Capitol Cross Classic Report
By Dave V.
This Kevin Dillard photo really tells the story of my B-Masters race in Reston:
I’m blurry,
I’m trailing the focused rider,
I look distressed, and
I’m about to get passed by a kid who is ONE-THIRD my age.
Until last Sunday, it’d been a decent CX season. I’d been feeling good on the bike and placed 14th, 16th and 9th in the C category at three MABRA races. I was itchin’ to try the B-Masters at a MAC race.
Before the race began, I knew it wouldn’t be my finest hour. I had a cold that my Gwadzilla Pre-Race Performance Cocktail (Excedrin & Red Bull) couldn’t hide. The B-Masters are definitely a more serious bunch than the C racers, too. Nonetheless, I was ready to make a go of it. The race started almost without warning. UCI/MAC officials are not chatty. With a sudden TWEET, we were off…
The course was made with MTBers in mind. I rode well technically, but didn’t have the inner UMPHFF to “push through the pain barrier.” I still grunted and grimaced the whole time. Unlike Joel and Joe, I only remember two details about the race:
1. Tris was stationed right after the barriers and diligently cheered me on for each of the 5 (I think) laps. I kept meaning to give her a YO! when I passed, but I could barely breathe. Thanks, Tris.
2. There was a one-half of a rear derailleur pulley arm on the ground, four grassy turns after the start. It looked like someone’s derailleur got sucked into the rear wheel and EXPLODED. Crazy. It gave the sense that something terrible had happened there. I sped through that turn each time to escape the bad karma.
In the end, I finished near the end of the B-Masters’ heap. It was still a morning well spent…actually, 44 minutes well spent. Now it’s time to “build my base” and plan for next year.
See y’uns out there soon!
- Posted in : 2006 Race Reports, Cyclocross
- Author : Dave Vannier
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