Giro de Coppi

Well it's official, I've done my first masters race. This is the first year where they changed the age limit from 30 plus to 35 plus, luckily (only in this circumstance) I'm 35. As it has been in the past I would have been able to race 30 plus for the past four years, but it never made sense.

Last year at Green Mt the promoter told me to register in the 30 plus, as the pro race was closed, and he would switch it when I got there. Well....when I arrived to pick up my number I was informed that I was doing the 30 plus. Trying not to sound arrogant I told him that most of the guys probably wouldn't want me in their race - with a smirk he said he would see what he could do. As it turned out I got into the pro race and had good legs. I had a flat in the circuit race and lost my GC hopes so I throttled it in the road race and the crit. Even the top pros commented on how well I rode. At the crit the promoter approached me and commented on how several masters racers were grateful I wasn't in their race. Well that made me feel a little better as like I said I wasn't trying to come off as arrogant.

Sorry getting off the subject, somewhat. The reason I did the 35 plus at Giro de Coppi is they did not have a 1/2. I also thought it might be a light lead into the Cascades Classic of which I'm leaving for tomorrow.

The race went as such. Up the first hill I spun up as a flurry of attacks were going. Waiting...waiting...ok now attack. I was working for Chuck on the day so if Chuck wasn't there I would just sit on and wait. Fortunately he came blazing across, and as he caught on I pushed the gap until we had enough distance to where the group could get organized. Me and Chuck talked before the race and had planned on waiting a lap or two, but when you see an opportunity you take it.

With two to go I was taking a long, strong, not hard, pull. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone I was just taking the brunt of the work. An Artemis fellow (it wasn't really an attack) surged. To my dismay I yelled "what the hell ya doing" and rode back up to the split. A bit angered at the time I attacked through the top section and R Muio managed to bridge across. Chuck not being there I wasn't sure what to do so I hesitated, luckily Chuck came blazing across and once again I put down the pace. Chuck won, R was second, and myself third.

The shot above was taken by one of the best local photographers: Kevin Dillard. Thanks for coming out, and thanks for the shots. The slide show from Iron Hill is on point. You can definitely say - it tells a story.