Hard work really does pay off in the end

race: 128
name: Hard work really does pay off in the end
article: After Snake Alley yesterday, my legs were feeling a bit shaky at the start of the race. As a matter of fact, it took 2 laps to get the jitters out. Within those first 2 laps, I was near the back of the back. At this point, I had to move up. But where?

The course started with an incline within 150 feet from the start/finish line then turns slightly to enter a 90 degree turn. This leads to another uphill and then a fast downhill. At the bottom of the downhill, there was a speed bump, then a climb up a gradual, but hard hill (especially later in the race) to a hairpin turn and then it is downhill to the finish. I found it easier to move up on the downhill as the pedaling slowed.

About 5 laps in, a group of 3 riders went off the front. There was about a 5 bike length gap between the leaders and the field. At this point I decided to jump the gap and see if we could get a break going. Once I got on, I looked back and noticed we had a 3-5 second lead. I yelled out “We have a gap! Let’s work to keep it.” But apparently no one wanted to do any work. I got up to the front and took a long pull, but the other riders didn’t pull through when I waved to them. The field quickly caught us then.

The field pretty much stayed together for the rest of the race with people jockeying for position on the hill. I pulled through the hill with 3 to go and knew I had to get off. I did at the S/F line but remained in the top ten.

Coming up the hill with two to go, I felt gassed, and it showed as about 20 riders passed me. But things would quickly change. Coming through the bell lap and going into the 90 degree turn, one rider went down before the turn and took out 3-4 riders and then going through the turn another rider went down. I quickly took advantage and moved up in the top ten again. At this point going into the downhill, I decided I was going to attack on the hill after the bump.

Going over the bump, my move would be coming soon. I was on the inside 3 riders back about half way up the hill. It was time. I jumped and it felt good. Got ¾ the way up and Chazz Martin from Smart Cycling attacked too. He passed me at the hairpin. We went through the turn 1 and 2. He went on to win the race by a few bike lengths. But at the line, I was edged out by another rider and took 3rd. I slowed up for just a second and it cost me 2nd place. But I won’t complain as it was my first podium and it felt great.

[photo compliments of Matt Smith]