DCMTB had a great showing out there with
Kent 1st 35+
Joel 1st Clydesdale
Mike 1st Single Speed
Chris 4th 45+
Darren 5th SS
Alex, Cargo Mike, Jonathan, Kent, Darren, Joel, Mike, Kevin, Chris
- The Single Speed race:There were 4 DCMTBers in the race, and all put in good performances. Cargo Mike was in a good position on the opening climb and he fended off Calvin to take a 1st place in the races. Jonathan rocketed up the opening climb and then had a bobble on the rock bridge section and lost like 10 spots and was playing catchup the rest of the race. Kevin was holding his own until a little spill knocked his sigulator out of order and he had to do the best he could after that. Alex, and Darren had an ok start and were sitting at the tail end of 6 riders for the first lap. On the 2nd lap Alex took off and Darren bridged back up to him, ad the two increased their lead on the chasers. At the start of the 3rd lap Alex broke a chain, and gave Darren encouragement and a push. Darren was able to hold the pace to place a respectable 5th.
- Kent rocked the 35+ field and took a easier win then the week before when he battled DCMTB teammate Brain.
- Joel ran a solid race and was once again king of the big boys in the Clydesdale class.
From the Vet 4 5+ race -Chris Clarke
I made it to the third Wednesday at Wakefield race yesterday for the 45+ race. We had a large field of about 40 riders which amply demonstrates the aging demographics of the mtb racing world. I wasn’t feeling too hot and, in general, I am not in very good form but it was a beautiful evening for a bike race so I was happy to give it a whirl.
They actually had call ups and I slotted into the front row based on my 2nd place in the first race. Last week, I thought it was going to rain and went for an afternoon ride instead of the race but the clouds miraculously parted around Wakefield and any hope of a good series finish vanished for me. Oh well . . .
The much dreaded sprint up the hill left me in third slot which was perfectly fine. I was gasping but managed to recover ok while staying close to Tony from PVC who was the second rider. I heard wheels directly behind me but I sensed the first four of us had gapped the rest of the field pretty well by the end of the creek trail. I was still in my comfort zone until the gas line when Barry from Bike Lane turned on the afterburners and passed me. It was all I could do to draft him back to the singletrack. We were flying but Dave from PVC had disappeared up the trail by midway through the first lap and we never saw him again. Tony, Barry and I were glued together until the last creek crossing where a rider we were passing botched the line and, momentarily distracted when Barry slowed to avoid him, I crashed off the right side. I thought it was race over for me but I caught them again when they had slow to pass a gaggle of 35+ riders after the power station.
I knew Barry was going to kick it again on the gas line and planned to draft him around Tony when he made the pass. A cunning plan for sure but I failed to execute and was left behind when the time came. I was riding pretty comfortably but the race was coming to an end with me just off the podium. I made three attempts to get around Tony but he fended me off with some strong riding. My initial attempt had us drag racing side by side to a corner and I couldn’t quite get my shoulders ahead of him so I dropped back instead of forcing it. Next, I tried to get by on the last steep hill but he closed the door on the left as I made my move and I had nowhere to go. Finally, I gave a big surge right to the line but came up just inches short. Barry was a second or two ahead of us. Both races I have done at Wakefield this year had me, Barry and Tony within three seconds of each other at the end so it doesn’t get much closer than that. Great racing for sure even if we aren’t the fastest class.