Dan Point Harbor
(I love beach towns and racing in them is totally awesome!)
Cat's Hill.
This is a must do race for anyone who lives and races in nor-cal. First off, Los Gatos is a very cool and classy place. Second, it's pretty amazing to be racing through a fancy old neighboorhood where homeonwers are BBQ'ing and enjoying the race in their front yard. Third, there's this thing called "Cat's Hill".
Have you ever seen a pissed off cat? Well, that image perfectly describes the course. This race takes you up a 23% short climb levels off and desends quickly into a 90% corner. After that, there are cracks that run parallel to the direction of travel wich threaten to catch a tire and leave one in similar fashion to a cat attack.
I played the role of pack filler the whole race just sitting in and holding back. I don't normally race this way but decided to try something new. I was too far back on the last lap and could not move up on the hill. Unfortunately, someone let a gap open so rather than passing guys I was closing a gap coming to the last corner. I was basically last in the bunch sprint (18th).
Dana Point.
On Sunday morning I left for Dana Point with my friend, Daniel, at 6:30 and drove 7 hours down hwy 5 for a 1.5 hour race. This was not any race though. Dana Point is a big Criterium on the NCC calendar that attracts some of the best riders around with a $15,000 prize purse for the Pro/1 men.
United health care was there with Karl Menzies (tour down under leader's Jersey winner), Hilton Clark and Boy Van Poppel. Jelly Belly was also there with a good team supporting Brad Huff. Mountain Khakis, Optum Pro Energy/Kelly benefits and Cash Call were a few other crit squads taking the line. If you don't know these names just wait for the tour of California and you will.
I felt good the whole race. It didn't feel too fast but that's due to the nature of the course. There are plenty of corners but nothing too technical. I was in great position as the end came near and felt good. All the favorites were near the front and all I needed to do was stay there... but I didn't. At one point the pace really slowed and the front got swarmed. I dropped way back and before I could react UHC was on the front setting pace. It wasn't really fast, so there was a lot of pushing and shoving going on and I simply got nervous. I got my guts back with a few to go and made it back near the front but not close enough. I needed to take more chances and trust myself more. I used brake too much in these closing laps.
So, I finished 24th...Just out of money.
Afterwards, we drove the 7 hours back up and got home really late and tired. We decided we would do it again but not for a long time from now!
This is the weekend of a young bike racer trying to get to the next level. You make sacrifices (like not having a G.F. or not hanging out with friends or not spending money on those cool new nikes) and take big chances to travel and race the bike. Maybe all you get from a race is experience. Maybe you get a couple thousand dollars....But one day you might get noticed and have the opportunity to live your dream.
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