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Shell Lake RR (WiSport) Shell Lake, WI, Saturday, September 2nd. Ah, Labor Day weekend and it’s been a recent tradition that I go put in some good work at two fun road races with some serious relaxing between events. That means going all out for 28 miles on the rolling terrain of the Shell Lake back roads. Typically I try to use these events as tune ups for one of my main objectives, Chequamegon. I really have no plan other than going as hard as I can wherever I can for as long as I can. Shelli, Haili and my old racing partner Mike Suntken drove up and met two other teammates, Trent and Ryan Ping. After a brief warm up and some strategy we found ourselves at the starting line once again. Soon the gun sounded and we were off. It was a hectic pace from the start with a lot of people showing strong and fast at the front. I tried bridging to groups, making a solo break or going off the front in hopes that others would bridge wherever I could. Nothing really stuck. That was until the steep and rather long climb before the longer climb to the hill prime. Young and upcoming Bjorn Selander (US Jr. National Cyclocross Champion) went hard and I jumped on his wheel but was followed closely by a Baraboo Sharks rider who was also a youngster. The three of us worked a little on the descent and I wasn’t interested in the prime but rather going for the line in a small group so I wanted us to work together to try and get to the line without the pack. I told Bjorn he could have the prime but the Baraboo rider wanted it too so he jumped him at the top and they ended up gapping me. I chased back on and we still had a good gap but Bjorn and I were taking the biggest pulls and when (later learned the riders name was Matt Brandt) he pulled through it was way too fast and he’d gap us and throw off our rhythm and then he’d pull off too wide and too soon so it was kind of annoying. It didn’t help really keep us away and soon the group was breathing down our necks with about 3-4 miles to go. We settled in once again and I stayed near the front and Bjorn offered to lead me out and for some reason I told him that would be great. (What was I thinking and saying as I hate group sprints!) As it turns out there is a 90 degree right hander about a mile from the finish and then another 90 degree left hander that puts you about 500 meters from the line on the finishing straight. The group is strung out going through the right hander and as we approach the left hander this rider comes flying up on the inside and about takes the entire bunch down. We all had to brake, except the lead 3 riders and by that time it was too late to recover the momentum. The rider who was all over the place was Matt Brandt and afterwards he got a good chewing out from Bjorn’s father Dag. It was well deserved. I don’t think anyone was going to beat Pete Hanna (Grand Performance) who won by a few bike lengths so as long as no one did go down I was fine with how it went in hindsight. Tomorrow is Chris Kerr Memorial and another fun day of racing! |
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This site was last updated on: August 23, 2008 03:19:21 PM -0500 |