HOLD YOUR HORSES!!
Photo evidence of the spin move was captured in another (but close) dimension.
Paul may or may not have been doing trials facing the wrong way.
CRASH
Taking one half step back after reading Misure Pearl's entry he mentions a possible technical for me. The whole crash: I was pushing the corners following Spiller and Bruno coming into a left hand sweeper I dug a little harder then the bike had to grip and slid out on the non drive side. When I looked back to my bike the guy behind me came in and hit my downed bike and also ended up on the ground. I picked up blue bike and swiftly mounted. My first crank was futile as my chain was dropped but I was quickly able to shift it back into place. This was my first dropped chain in 21.5 races this year. What awesome technology can I attribute this run to? Sram 2X10!! Equipped with rubber down technology (usually, hah.......)
10 Second gap.
Victor - Superfly100guy - was by the pits the whole race giving me time splits and pushing me to catch the leaders. Places I was bleeding time was both downhills, the one after the S/F climb and the one after the barriers. I couldn't recover fast enough to pedal as hard down as the other two.
3 or 4 times I used the gravel road to close the gap. It seemed that Matt and Stephen didn't push hard there, neither wanted to spend energy pulling the other. I would stand out of the corner and pedal as hard as I could as long as I could. It worked a few times, but I would then struggle to hold on around the lake.
On and off and on and off the train. It was brutal, I was at their mercy. Pain cave Heckler:
Coming around to the line for the bell lap I was again off the train. But wait! They slowed up! A lot? What.. Someone mentioned it seemed like neither one of them wanted to take the lead for that last lap. Either way I sprinted and connected just as they went up the grass. Pace was cool at this point. Bruno was setting the tempo and I could tell he was recovering. Probably for something big. I'm lucky to be back with these guys at this point. Let's see if I have anything left..
Up the pavement I attacked! I get by Spiller then my legs lock just before I get ahead of Bruno. Not much left.... I'm now second wheel over the barriers. On the next downhill Bruno goes down!!!!! I'M IN THE FRONT! We hit the gravel and I pedal hard but not crazy, I think Bruno was already back on the train. Up the stairs, off camber around the lake, stuck pushing wind but I have a chance. I put the power on after the pit. Around the 180 and its full bore. We caught a lapper just before the pavement and the sprint was on!
As I gave every thing left to give Spiller blew by me like I was bolted to the ground. Matt came by on the left, he was more taxed then Stephen but easily edged me out.
3rd.
I'm happy with third. The goal was the Jersey and I definitely wanted it but from the trombone start I was not the fastest guy in the race. I chased my heart out but the guy who won was the guy who deserved it. He was the guy that raced the cleanest race. From the start to the finish Stephen stayed on two wheels, didn't do more work then he had to and had one in the chamber for the sprint. I think a lot on racing "smart" and "clean," rubber side down, getting the good sprint position. Fitness alone can only get you so far. He had it all yesterday. I also want to commend Matt Bruno for his race. I was actually bummed when he went down and I passed. It didn't feel right, I had actually thought "I hope he gets back on quick."
I took the lowest step the podium with two very fast and all around nice guys on the steps above me. I'm happy the race was as exciting as it was. Thank you everyone who cheered for me along the way. Racing and especially chasing hurts like hell but the support cuts through and helps so so much.
Beard Report:
Tired, beat up, full, warm, happy.