Gateway X cup

Man, there have been a ton of races already. Gateway is a new race this year on a Wednesday night at Heman park in U-City. When I first looked at the course map and heard rumors of the place being super flat I was optimistic at best. But, the course was great and I really don't think it could have been any better. Didn't suit me by any means as I am not a diesel engine, but it was still a lot of fun to ride and good practice.


Depending on which report you read, there were somewhere between 60 and 65 riders in the mens open race. I am going to take a step further and say there were 84. Ok, there were really only riders in the low 60's.

I signed up kind of late and got a call up for 4th row. Not bad but not great. Lucky me the guy who was supposed to be in front of me missed his call up meaning I had a open slot in front of me for an easy start. Nice.

The race gets going. We survive the first sketchy gravel turn and start the long process of sprinting down a lot of long straight aways. I was running around 10th place for a couple laps. I soon started having some breathing issues. The same issue I have had for so many seasons now. Not sure if it was my lack of preparation, dust, or the fact that it truly was a fit mans course. Lots of hard breathing during the race and not much rest. I struggle on courses like this.


Photo by Mike Dawson

So, I started to gag a little and had to slow up to get my breathing under control. Soon Richard Breininger(Todd Wells mechanic) comes by me and tell me to hold his wheel and recover. Try as I might I could only hold his wheel for about a half lap. Breathing was not back to normal yet so it was a little too soon for that. After I fell off his wheel I eased up a bit to calm down. Soon I was able to get going again but not before a couple more slipped passed me.


Photo by Rob Ballou

After a couple laps riding by myself Bob Arnold caught up to me and we started working together. There was a group of 4 in front of us with a smaller group of 2 just up from them. As the laps ticked down we slowly reeled in the group of 4 but ran out of laps. We finished about 5 seconds down from them.

Me drafting Bob on the run up.

Photo by Rob Ballou

I ended up 16th out of about 64 riders total on a course that doesn't suit me, when I wasn't my best. Paid top 15. Having said that, I'm glad the course was the way it was because that's what I need the most practice on. Drag race, turn. Drag race, turn. Drag race, turn.

Super fun race and am once again very pleased with my result. After our race I got cleaned up to watch the PRO UCI race. Great racing but kind of small turn out. It was fun yelling at the local racers in there. I then killed He-Man. It was caught on video...



The video isnt that good, but the stills are...





Gordon Moore this weekend. Be there!!