Deer Trail

While I didn't get stuck in the mud myself on the bike, there was a slight feedzone mishap . . . Keely very kindly followed the instruction of the race marshal to pull off the road to make some space. Uh, thanks buddy.



Every year I have done this race it seems like the weather was absolutely miserable. Last year we heard tornado sirens prior to the race, standing in the sleet and freezing rain. It turned out ok that go round. I wasn't sure what would happen with perfect weather, sunshine, and no wind. Kevin and I discussed strategy a bit before the race, but we comfortable knowing who to keep an eye out for and who to follow.

After a delayed start, an early break got up the rosd on the first out and back. It was actually a solid move with almost all the bigger teams represented. The only team putting in a concerted effort to chase was HART, even though Carlos (HART) was in the break. He did just have a kid (congrats) and has had a rough time at Deer Trail the past couple years. The break its gap through the second out and back, but things picked up as the race headed through town towards the rollers. Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly), Tarkington (VC), and others started animating the race just beyond the feed zone. Just after the turn around on the third out and back Kevin and the Baj got off the front of the main group alone. After a bit, Tarkington made a move with a few to try to bridge and I jumped on for the ride, having no obligation to pull through with Kevin up the road. Our group got close to making the catch with the main group coming up behind. Instead of letting everything come back together, I countered Kevin's move and hung on for dear life when a small group came up past me. We got a good gap on the field, everybody working smoothly and caught the original break by the last turn around. Some of the original break stuck with us, some got spit out the back after a long effort off the front. With about 5 rollers to go the attacks started coming. Tarkington got clear with nobody really willing to chase. His Vitamin Cottage teammate, Christian McCarthy bridged to him solo leaving the rest of us looking around at eachother. Nate Buyon (HART), Jon Mullen (Einstein's) and I were the only ones working to try to bring them back. They stayed away, the group started the sprint, I went to the get up and go well and came up dry, finishing 10th out of a 10 up break.

Lessons learned . . . skip some of the early efforts, they don't do much. With two Vitamin Cottage teammates in the break, sit on for the ride and stick it to them at the end. I think 10th is a good result, I learned some things and Kevin and I did what we could. Hats off to Los for a great finish, obviously none of us thought he had it in him especially given his new responsibilities.

The car got pulled out of the mud and we made it home for a cookout and a much needed shower.