The Tour of Possum Creek, 10-12 July, provided for another great weekend of racing. I was flying solo this weekend as teammates where moving, getting married or recovering from each. Saturday started off with a 56 mile, rolling hills road race for the Cat 4’s. None of the hills were worst than the out and back WW course. This was two laps of a 28 mile course. At the pre-race briefing we were told by roads were narrow and to be careful. I started the race on the back to save energy for later. Bike Zoo maintained the pace for the first lap and didn’t allow any breaks to get started. On the second lap the attacks started. Bike Zoo’s sprinter, a Krystal rider, and I got a break started with a few others, but after a few minutes people weren’t pulling through so we fell apart. With no real hill to cause a separation, nothing happened until 5 miles to go. I missed the initial break, but was able to get in the bridge up to it. By the last 3 miles, which were flat to down hill, top riders were fighting for position for the field sprint. We were given the whole road about .5 miles out, but I hadn’t pre-riden the finish line so I wasn’t ready for the all out effort at the end. I finished 10th after gaining back ground I lost for not being ready.

The 12 mile TT was later in the afternoon on a course with similar terrain, rolling hills. Even through it was in the evening, temperatures where still in the upper 80’s with no cloud cover. Coupled with too much of a warm up, this was very tiring combination. This was my first long TT with my new aero bars and helmet. However, due the hills, I didn’t spend as much time in my bars as I wanted to. The first half the of course had 4 hills had got me out the bars and on the hoods. We did have one railroad crossing on the top of a hill at which most riders got air as they crossed. I got passed at mile 4 by a Krystal rider and then again at mile 9 by the Bike Zoo sprinter. The last 3-4 miles were mostly down hill and were fast. The bars and helmet definitely paid off there as I was hammering just for the sake of finishing. In the end, I finished in 35 minutes and took 7th.

The Crits took place Sunday afternoon. After Saturday’s races and heat I decided I was better off skipping the Master’s 30 race and focusing on my Cat 4 crit. Due to a last minute decision by the Gale City, VA mayor, the crit was moved to a highschool parking lot with 2 hills, 4 U-turns and little distance between to work with. By the trip we showed up 3 juniors had wrecked out and the races were behind schedule. The 4 field set off for 30 minutes. I quickly found out that my legs weren’t ready from Saturday’s efforts and my nerves weren’t up for the course. I held on the best I could for 20 minutes. After that it turned into a windy TT for me. In the end, I finished without wrecking and in 12th.

Overall, I took 7th in the Omnium. This weekend also proved Rogues are not unknown. I parked next to one of Matt L’s coworkers who was heading back for the wedding. Sunday, I was asked about John M. and told how he put the hurt on the 4’s last year. I think people are looking forward seeing us out there later this season.

Webb completed in the RR but flatted.  Other notable resutls from Blacksburg, Cora took 1th. Andrew took 1st and last in the Pro’s. Ben won enough primes that he could now open his open sock shop.