California Cold

Filed Under Race Reports | Posted by Jesse |

Just when you think you have the weather figured so that you can make certain generalizations about it, it throws you a curve ball that you never would have imagined. As team camp ?06 came to a close, I was eager to start racing. Not as a rider of course, but my first race as director. Many people have asked if it?s strange for me to not be training with the guys. My answer has been ?no?, I?m too busy doing my new job. But, I can honestly say that working my first big race as director has delivered some pangs in the gut caused by minor nostalgia.

Fresh from an intense team camp, Jon Erwin, one of our mechanics, and I departed on our 35-hour drive from Athens, GA to Fresno, CA. We left Sunday evening with the plan to drive straight through the night, 24 hours straight to Albuquerque, NM. We did 2 hours more and arrived in Gallup, NM on Monday night. We were pretty proud of ourselves thinking we shortened Tuesday?s drive a little. Much to our displeasure this didn?t happen due to a block headwind for four states pushing back on the trailer. No problem, we rolled into Fresno on Tuesday night and stayed with some wonderful hosts by the name of Lori and Willy Cherry. They were extremely hospitable in every way, and they were the ones that hooked us up with our host for the whole team, Bob Boro.

After a day of prep the boys flew in on Wednesday evening straight from Athens to find everything ready to go, except the spring weather. Thursday looked promising until a cold rain started to come down on our training ride. It was downhill from there. The uphill TT was called off due to snow covering the course, and a new TT was established in another location. For some unknown reason, the race organizers decided to replace a 6.5-mile uphill TT with a 16-mile flat TT. Well, we never expected such a drastic change and we didn?t even bring our TT equipment at all on this trip. We were at a huge disadvantage which made for a tough start to our season. The boys rode hard, but hated every km. Not to mention the temp dropped to somewhere near 40F. Oh well, drop it and move on.

On Saturday the weather got worse and with temps around 40 and a real threat of rain for our 8am start. It was an uneventful, board-flat, 120-mile affair through the orange groves of central California. It started to rain with 2 laps remaining making a bad day worse. After a mechanical and a few guys feeling the effects of the weather we had just three guys finish in a driving rain.

We regrouped on Saturday night with a great steak dinner hosted by the Cherry?s, and the boys were rejuvenated. Sunday proved to be better with sunny skies and dry roads for the criterium. Trent ?Willo? Wilson was riding at the front or off the front all day. Phil and Peter were also covering moves from the start. Willo made the only significant break of the day, but that was chased down as soon as Gord Fraser bridged across. Not much of importance happened until the teams started massing at the front to organize their leadouts. The whipped up very high with many of the riders reaping the benefits of doing the Tour of California only 3 weeks ago. After a ton of work and a few miscues Willo was able to drag Evan up to about 10th wheel where he held on for a top 15 placing. It was satisfying to see the guys ride as a team for the first time this year.

As a side note, I received a call from Neil this morning informing me that he had broken his collarbone yesterday in a local race. I was shocked and a little devastated since he has had great form lately, and I was looking forward to his presence at San Dimas and Redlands. That?s just racing and I know he?ll be back as soon as his body allows. Now for some training and rest in Malibu?

Thanks for reading. JL

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California Cold

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