2008 MRC Cross Masters Team Race Report
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Conditions:
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Cool, and and clear with temps in the high low 50’s.
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The Course:
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The course was basically the same as the past couple of years. Its a mix of lots of switchback turns, a slightly bumpy high speed gradual up on hard packed double-track and a bunch of flowing, fast, mostly smooth hayfield. All in all a good solid cross course with the nicest club theme paintjob on the barriers that I’ve seen to date.
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Results:
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NEBC had a solid Master’s 35+ presence and good coverage throughout the field.
- Mike Rowell – 2nd
- Wayne Cunningham – 23rd
- Chris Smith – 26th
- Eric Wemhoff – 36th
http://www.crossresults.com/?n=results&sn=r&raceID=454
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Reports:
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[Mike Rowell]
I’d ended up getting in a harder than expected training week on top of laying it all out the prior weekend racing so the legs were heavy but the crossresults.com ranking order start helped to lighten them a bit. For one of the 1st times ever I had a front row start and I didn’t want to mess it up. The expected victor based on the outcome predictor was Sammy M. from Corner Cycles, a man who I’ve spent the whole darn season chasing around in each and every discipline. At the guy he took the lead and I filed in tightly behind him. My plan was NOT to attack until the time was right and just follow his lead. Through 3/4 of lap one I stuck like glue and we opened a little gap. In the short barriers Sam had a chain issue so I launched on the run-up after and sprinted to try an get a gap. I managed a small space which I held for most of the lap but Sam came back by me and put a small gap into me.
I neglected to mention that a number of folks didn’t pre-register and were not ranked for start order. Those included Fuji’s Frank M., Corner Cycles John M. and Gearworks/Spin Arts Chris B. (one of my arch rivals) among others. Combine that with all of the other people chasing us and there was plenty of incentive to not start a pack slide. The rest of the race was a mad attempt to catch Sam and to gain time on the wolf-pack coming for me while racing solo in no man’s land. With a few to go I could see that the big guns who lined up in the back were making their way to the front. John had clawed up to 4th position, just behind me. I knew that I couldn’t let him get any closer so couldn’t hold anything back. With 2 laps to go I was gaining on Sam but was never able to re-attach. Fortunately, I did manage to keep the gang at bay.
A couple notable things. This was my first race (and ride for that matter) with my cool new to me carbon wheels and tubular tires. They ride well but certainly handle a little different than my Mud II clinchers. I had a couple minor issues with cornering and washout until I got the feel of them. Next step is dialing in the correct pressure. Also, I chose to re-mount and ride the small rise after the small barriers while Sam ran it. Unless you could really run/sprint the hill, it seemed faster to ride it and so I gained time on each lap. I also decided to ride the log in a few laps during the middle of the race. I don’t think that I lost much time, but it definitely wasn’t faster for me because I didn’t dare to fully commit and sprint in and completely hop it; I chose to ratchet up and over it which requires that you slow down on the approach. It did, however, garner lots of cheers from the Cambridge Bikes crew, which made it all worth while :)
[Wayne Cunningham]
Jean and I were not feeling well all week so we did not pre-register. We were leaving it open to sleep in if we were still feeling down. As of Saturday morning I was ready to race but Jean was not.
I line up near the back by way of the call up. This did not bother me because I often have a poor start off the line and end up at the back anyway. It was funny to hear John Mosher (also did not pre-register) talking to Frank McCormick about how bad it was back there and how it was not even like racing because the pace was so slow. There was no were to go and things just string along until the course opens up enough to pass. I said welcome to my world with a laugh. I waited till we hit the gravel road in the woods to start passing. I knew most rider would stay in the main grove on the right and I would be able to go up the left. I found that there were three long areas that made passing easy as well as in the barriers. There were many other places but it took more energy to get by (deep grass) or what some would call over aggressive moves (tight corners). I am trying to be more patient in my passing and save any energy or dicey move for when it really counts. The race went well I moved up well and raced clean with no falls or bobbles. In the final lap our group over took a rider and he split me off the others as we entered the single track. I asked him to not let them get away but he did. When it open back up I had to chase down the gap, but they were moving to fast to close it all down. I was happy with the race and I’m looking forward to the next.
Hope to see you out there!
[Chris Smith]
With call ups for pre-reg by ranking and day of’s lining up in the back I found myself on the third row. The start up there is a bit faster than I’m used to starting from the back. The first twisty section was like good ole short track, going three wide through the corners with skidding tires right next to you. The packed thinned a bit but I knew with the likes of John Mosher, Frank McCormack etc… lined up in the back for signing up day of, there were some fast guys that were going to be coming by. I kept the pace as high as I could. The course left no place to rest. Frank went by me with three to go, he must have been going easy. My lungs where burning and with a lap and a half to go I started to take on water and the bilge pump was busted. I think I finished 27th.
[Eric Wemhoff]
I like the lining up according to rankings at crossresults. Much more meaningful order than Verge points or reg time. They also gave out race numbers by your ranking. I didn’t really realize that until after, but also super cool .. I can see who I’m really racing against back there. I’d love to see this more often. My number was 122, and I finished up just after rider 121 (I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to get out of order). The course was mostly lots-of-turns-in-a-grass-field. Somehow it was much more fun than it looked like it should be. Maybe I like it when there are plenty of spots on the course to see who’s ahead of and behind me. I started out feeling like I had a pretty good handle on most of those corners, and then I kinda got consistently sloppier as I got tired, which was frustrating—it seems like usually it goes the other way as I “learn” the corners. I started mid-field, and I guess there were quite a few faster guys lined up behind because they kept coming by, for 3 laps or so. Mostly while I was resting behind someone in the woods. I feel like I could’ve hopped on a few wheels there as they went by. But then it always feels like that after the race. It’s not too too far, so I think I’ll try and do some of the training races down there next year.