And so it ends...

The last cross race of the year in Colorado was yesterday out at the Boulder Reservoir. The Without Limits Productions Cyclo-X presented by Breeze Bars was the final race on the ACA calendar and the final chance for ACA Cup points for 2010.

I arrived at RallySport at 5:45 to coach RACE to find the wind howling and deck chairs strewn about. Although it was in the 40's it didn't feel like it and as I left a nice snow shower blew through. Not the nicest conditions for a race at the very exposed Rez. Oh well, if it was 2009 we would have thought it was beautiful. However, spoiled by 2010 and the Colorado Cross, I was not pumped to go out and race.

The course was a great one. Peter and Lance reversed directions and brought the sand back into play. Furthermore, all the sand was rideable, most of the time, which makes for fun. I hung out at the Breeze Bars table with Arielle and finally donned my gear to go for some warmup laps. It became obvious that although some of the other fields were of good size, the open field was going to be small. 5 to be exact. We made jokes, Will and Boups and I, on who would be last, but I had a bad feeling. It proved prophetic. We started a bit slow, but when Kevin Kase decided to push it, we all went along. Well, at least most of us.

There is a reason we train so specifically for cross. The handling, the smoothness and the type of effort required is essential. That's why Wednesday Worlds is key. Well, I haven't been there, not on dirt much since the Lyons race and it showed. I was iffy in handling (thank god for the Carroll Louie and the G:38's or I would have been REALLY bad) and very iffy in power. I had one speed and it wasn't fast enough. Then I had some sand in the cleat issues and re-entering the pedals proved nearly impossible. I was gone.

As I said to my Dad later, I was 5th! Out of 5. oh well. ACA points for next year's call ups and a finish to the year. It was a fun year. Now all the energy goes to the road, managing the U-25 team, planning the 2011 season and RACE. That oughta keep me busy.

As a side note, congrats to Dubba, the Wizard, Ward and Brian for a great show over there in Europe. Yannick too. You guys are inspiring.