Hey folks, This weekend was our second race together as a team, the San Dimas stage race, consisting of a 3.8mi uphill tt, a 100mi hilly road race and a crit. Even before the race began we were living like winners thanks to some prime host housing up in the Malibu hills. Debbie and Rikk have been sensational and thanks to Tiffany for some great massages.The uphill tt greeted us with once again freezing and very wet conditions, with Jeff spot on with the forecasting. As Jeff went off first he set the very early pace which he eventually held for a respectable 2nd to last for the day. We got a bit better with Trent ?the man they call willow? finishing an impressive 5th and a few more of us top 25. Ando nearly froze his attachments off on the cold decent, most of us carried up at least a vest but all he had was some soggy cardboard he found at the top for insulation.

Day 2 was the road race and the plan was pretty simple, keep Trent up on GC or improve and mix it up a bit. The race started fast and didn?t let up much. Phil and myself managed to get ourselves in a break with some Toyota guy and some Health Net guy for about 60k we just rolled through and thanks to some nice lead outs from Phil, I picked up some time bonus? but eventually it all came back together. The pace started to wind up and a crash in the bunch up the main climb brought me down, but I got some nice pacing back to the bunch from Ando and Craig. The decisive move came with about 2 laps to go and our man Trent was there. 5 guys went off the front and held it to the finish. Unlucky for Trent to not get the win after a late solo attack by him was just reeled in metres before the line. It was a great team ride though with everybody contributing.

The crit greeted us with hail and mid 40?s, something we should be getting used to by now. So after the usual winging and moaning the race got underway on a cold and wet track. I started second row but found myself dead last after 2 laps, the pace was on and I was hurting. With some help once again from Ando and Craig I started to slowly move forward. Meanwhile on the second lap a bunch of guys, including some of the Health Net threats to Trents GC got away in a break. They got up to 1min for a while but some super strong work on the front by our man Evan ?the hulk? Elkan and a little help from the Toyota guys brought the break back with 1 lap to go. The bunch had been decimated with only 20 or so guys finishing front group, including Trent, Austin, Evan and myself. A very hard race and again great team effort.

Trent Finished 3rd GC and Austin, Evan and myself in the top 20.

Thanks also to DS extraordinaire Jesse putting in the hard yards for us this week and our second hosts Jill, Harold and Connoly. Great Margaritas.

That?s all, Pete