Cross Crusade PIR: Mixed Emotions

(photo credit: Kenji Sugahara)

Two days later and I still don't know how I feel about this race.  My top-10 last week earned me another callup this week but I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me.  This course was a pure rider's course with long straight sections where you could just open the throttle and gap people off.  The goal again: stick with a group and earn some points.  

The opening laps were fast.  Really fast.  I spent the first two laps yo-yoing off the back of Group 1 before blowing just a little heading into lap 3.  A huge group came by me of lap three and I just didn't have the legs to hang.  By my count I was riding somewhere around 25th.  Oh well, not my course and I went a little too

 deep in the beginning.  My mistake.

Cross Crusade: Rainier. Surprises.

Well, the Legs of Awesomeness made an appearance for this race, let's see how lung they stick around.  After last week's surprise ride into 18th I earned myself a callup this week.  In the past a callup typically means I just get passed by a bunch of people, rather than vice versa and historically I just wind up mid-pack regardless.  My legs felt tired and heavy, stomach was unsettled and something was just off but whatever, I'm there, I may as well race and just see what happens.

(photo from Ryan Francesconi)

While a few of the fast guys didn't make the trip up to Rainier for this race a couple of fast Seattle dudes (Stephen Fischer and Adam McGrath) made their way down to toe the start line and with Carl Decker there it definitely wasn't going to be a slow race.  With about 200ft of elevation gain per lap (of course, all in the same section) my goal was to simply throw out a tow rope and secure a decent place before blowing all over the course.

Cross Crusade: Alpenrose

To by totally honest, I had no motivation to show up and race my bike after China.  How can you bear that course, the people and the experience?  You can't.  I'm by no means trying to say that Oregon cx doesn't measure up, it's just different.  Especially with my sub-par performance at Ninkrossi (9th) the week before I wasn't too excited about the parade that the Cross Crusade opener at Alpenrose typically turns in to, especially if you start at the back.

Lo and behold I pull the worst start position, second-to-last starting group.  I don't even get beer and I still get to line up last row.  Oh well, expectations off, let's just ride my bike.  My legs apparently had something else in mind.

With 60+ starters my goal was just to finish in the top half, get a workout in and be aggressive in the parts I could.  I did just that.  And finished 18th.  Now that result typically isn't something to write home about but this one is different for a few reasons:
-it's Cross Crusade.  At Alpenrose.  Largest field in the series
-this course typically doesn't lend itself to open passing lanes
-I haven't "trained" in about three weeks
-my best Cross Crusade result to date was 22nd with a small field
-points go 18-deep per race; series payout goes 20-deep
-riders with points start at the front

I'm currently shredding the paper with my season goals on it and going to see where this takes me.  Actually, I take that back.  I have no expectations.  I'm just here to ride my bike.  Everything seems to work out better that way.

China CX Part 4: Beijing

The Qiansen Trophy Series is China's first-ever UCI cyclocross race. Sponsored by the Qiansen Engineering Corporation all riders were provided round-trip airfare and a week's worth of transportation, food and lodging at one of Yanqing's premier spa and resort. This post is the final in a series that attempts to relay just a few of the incredible moments we, as riders, were blessed to experience.

(continuing from China CX Part 3) no, I didn't get any sleep.  I packed my bike and bags at 4am and just laid in bed wide awake.  The day before I'd ridden in the morning, raced and then stayed up all night, I should be able to get at least a few hours sleep, right?  Nope.  6:30 comes and I load my things onto the shuttle for the drive into Beijing.  

Instead of staying at the resort with the other riders we decide to spend our last day in Beijing on our own dime.  The Portland contingent shared this trip with a couple Swiss riders and the Estonian/Latvian national teams.  I had no idea what the plan was so I was hoping someone knew what they were doing.  The Estonian team manager took charge, booked hotels and laid out a rather ambitious plan for the day.  Drop bags at hotel and then see everything we can, transportation is walking and the subway.  On no sleep, this was going to be interesting.

"do not exceed weight limit" sign

China CX Part 3: The Afterparty

The Qiansen Trophy Series is China's first-ever UCI cyclocross race. Sponsored by the Qiansen Engineering Corporation all riders were provided round-trip airfare and a week's worth of transportation, food and lodging at one of Yanqing's premier spa and resort. This post is the third in a series that attempts to relay just a few of the incredible moments we, as riders, were blessed to experience.

Foreword: You've seen The Hangover movies, right?  This night could have easily turned into The Hangover Part IV.  Luckily, we all made it out in one piece, no one went to jail and everyone made it to their plane/shuttle on time, even if just barely.
China CX Part 2

Post closing-ceremony everyone was pretty amped up and with some riders with shuttle rides to the airport at 3:30 am the choice was either go the bed at 9pm and get a few hours of fitful sleep or see what kind of trouble we can get ourselves into.  The Americans obviously chose the latter option.

massage receipt

With the race effort still in our legs we decided to start off at the pyramid of spa/massage awesomeness.  I know the US Dollar is pretty strong against the Chinese Yuan but a 50 minute foot/lower leg massage for $22 and then another 4 hours in the hot spring resort for a grand total of $43?  Pretty tough to complain about that.

China CX Part 2: Race Day

The Qiansen Trophy Series is China's first-ever UCI cyclocross race. Sponsored by the Qiansen Engineering Corporation all riders were provided round-trip airfare and a week's worth of transportation, food and lodging at one of Yanqing's premier spa and resort. This post is the second in a series that attempts to relay just a few of the incredible moments we, as riders, were blessed to experience.
China CX Part 1
So by now you know that we haven't been sold into white slavery and that this race is actually happening.
Over the previous days we had ample opportunity to ride the course and familiarize ourselves with all the little quirks. Good thing too because this definitely isn't one of those courses you show up an hour beforehand, spin two laps and then go race (at least for me anyway). According to others, this was a full-Euro course complete with steep and slick drop offs, a sharp turns onto pavement and then another sharp turn to go right back up. We got our first ride on the course Thursday, after a few days of rain earlier in the week. Seems like half of us hit the ground at least one. Yeah, one of those kind of courses.

Beligian U23 bike after first course preview
those two black lines aren't supposed to be there
"added vertical compliance"

China CX Part 1: Pre-Race

The Qiansen Trophy Series is China's first-ever UCI cyclocross race.  Sponsored by the Qiansen Engineering Corporation all riders were provided round-trip airfare and a week's worth of transportation, food and lodging at one of Yanqing's premier spa and resort.  This post is the first in a series that attempts to relay just a few of the incredible moments we, as riders, were blessed to experience.