2008 Gloucester Cross Masters Team Race Report
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Conditions:
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Sunny and mostly calm both days with temps in the low 60’s. Overall, excellent weather with dry but tacky conditions.
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The Course:
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The Saturday course layout was the same as last year’s Gloucester races. Uphill pavement start onto a slightly downhill dirt section with some tight turns, onto the seawall where we picked up speed, up a rocky incline to a grassy section leading into the first small uphill of the course. From there, we continued in the grass into the barrier chicanes, and into a wicked fast downhill grass section, past the pit, and onto the second (and windy) seawall. A hard push sent us into some tight, twisty turns on the grass before dumping racers into the playground sand section, complete with a hairpin turn! Sprinting out of the sand brought everyone to the up/down twists of the final chicanes, before heading back onto the road.
While the start of the race was the same, the Sunday course brought a huge, loose run-up off of the seawall from a 90 degree right hand turn! That run up hurt every time. From here, we rode past the upper playground, around a very loose (sandy, rocky) right hand turn, back onto the grass and into an off camber approach to the barriers. This new approach was rutted and bumpy, and required some good cornering skills. The seond half of the course, with a few changes to the grass chicane section and a different approach to the sand, remained pretty much the same as Saturday.
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Results:
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NEBC had a solid masters presence at the race and excellent coverage within the field both days.
Saturday:
- Mike Rowell – 16th
- Wayne Cunningham – 49th
- Don Seib – 55th
- Chris Smith – 62nd
http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/11-Erdinger-Gran-Prix-of-Gloucester-1.asp
Sunday:
- Mike Rowell – 16th
- Wayne Cunningham – 49th
http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/12-Erdinger-Gran-Prix-of-Gloucester-2.asp
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Reports:
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[Mike Rowell]
This is the big show. The event is crazy as is the competition. Both races both days I started in about the 5th row but was able to make up maybe 20 spots before the corner. From there it was 100% heads down suffer-fest both days. I did manage to actually race and use some tactics, which was fun and new. I planned and executed actual attacks and used some other strategy, which I know sounds pretty run of the mill, but for me, cross racing has been mostly just go-go-go and less think and plan. Maybe I’m starting to get it.
The Verge series points go 15 deep. I managed to be the first loser in the points race both days. I hate consistency :)
[Wayne Cunningham]
Saturday: It was a very nice weekend for racing; the weather was one of the nicest for Gloucester that I could remember. I do prefer a wet course over a dusty one, but I take it any way. Saturday started early with a good preride of the course to check things out. There were no major changes from previous years’ races. I got in a good warm up and went to the line. Off we go and this year there were no crashes and everyone made it to the dirt and started to string out. I just tried to move up as much as I could as early as possible before the line got too long. We got to the sand and I shouldered my bike and ran as it was all backed up with riders and runners. I hooked my bike on stake that was holding up the fencing. I fell backwards through the fencing to the ground, my bike still hanging in the fencing. I held on to it to keep it from falling into the racers going by. I collected myself and remounted after all but one rider went by. From then on it was just chase down and pass who ever you could. With 2 to go I was in between groups. I changed my focus from chasing to don’t get caught. I knew I had to sprint to not lose a place but I can’t remember if it was that I was catching the two in front or holding off chasers. I felt good about my ride and finished 49th.
Sunday: Same beginning preride etc… A quick but steep run up and a short course change were added so I spent my time practicing the new sections. There was no need to do the old stuff from yesterday after a quick once through. My start was again poor… I just can’t get my self off the line and up to speed fast enough. I did not push through right away like the day before; I stayed calm and waited till the group spread out. I then moved up as I could. I joined up with a Caadian guy and Paul Nyberg (Benidorm) on 3 laps to go. I thought it was a good time to sit in and recover from my chasing. Paul had a different plan and went out hard. He gapped me in the sand and I had to close it down. On the final lap after the run up Paul faded and I put on the pressure. At the top of the run up I had a good gap and caught another rider. I tried to pass him right at the top; he surged and yelled “no way” at me. This was just what I hoped he would do. He pulled me all the way though the field and the head wind. I almost felt bad charging by him at the end to open a gap going in to the sand. I was a little slow in the sand and the gap started to close. On the last bumpy tight corner I skipped out my rear wheel, I had to dismount and got passed and gapped. We hit the pavement and Paul was also right there. I lost to him by half a wheel and did not get the Canadian guy either. Again I finished 49th. It should have been 2 better but that’s racing and that’s what keeps me coming back.