The Last two weeks of racing have been amazing with plenty of podium time in the family! I been a bit busy getting ready for school starting this week, so I am a week behind on posts, will have this past Sundays race report up soon!
2 weekends ago was the Border Battle in River Falls, Wisconsin. Awesome event which brings together both the Minnesota and Wisconsin State series to see who’s who in a friendly State Rivalry.
My daughter Asa did her first race at the Border Battle. Those Monday night rides we run must be paying off because she made the podium and rode almost everything on course.
Check out “The Look” right away in this video of the Junior start climb. These little ones put on number plates and all the sudden they start making all-star moves and gestures!
My race went pretty well. Thanks to Claire Cannon @ WORS I got a nice little write up in cyclingnews.
Here is a video from Pro/Cat 1 start climb.
Here is how the climb sorted out. Mike Phillips demolished the start climb and obviously from the picture below I was just focused on staying with that back wheel. Brian Eppen and I were able to follow and we made a 3 man lead group for 1/2 a lap.
After 1/2 a lap there was a steep rocky service road and the pace slowed a bit going up, so either someone is hurting or just checking to see who made the break. I took the lead to see which it was and kept the pace high.
This course is single-track heavy, with sharp turns, short punchy inclines, and blind corners all over. I saw small gaps forming behind me as I ramped up out of each corner. I just kept it pinned wherever possible to not let anyone settle into a comfortable rhythm/pace.
To win the way I did was somewhat new to me and I learned a lot from this experience. Coming up the ranks I used to win a few cat 3, 2, and 1 races, but many times the moves were very decisive, even the Pro Wins I have were 1 and done type moves. Those wins took less gauging of my competition as to whether they were hurting or simply just wearing me out at the front only to be spit out the back. With the competition so close this year in our State Series I am realizing it takes a well trained and perceptive eye to know when and how to apply pressure that counts.
After 1 lap it was down to just Mike and I, but I figured he was just hanging on as the 1-3 second gaps kept happening, so when we hit the start climb I punched it full gas.
This was the story every lap but the gaps were slowly growing from 1-3 seconds to 3-5 then 10 seconds etc. Each time up the 2 big climbs I would hit it as hard as I could and the gap would widen just a bit. Mike is an amazing technical rider though, especially descending and he kept the pressure on high every time we came down this new section of off camber undulating single track, just when I thought I was alone I would hear “click'” “CLICK” of shifters, and knew I had to keep it on the rivet! He was always within sight for 3 full laps. Going up the climb on lap four I finally looked back with no adventure 212 colors in sight. I rode hard but assured the W was mine without any mishaps.
Check out that wooden berm, high speeds and flowing single track is what this course is all about, one of the best on the circuit!
After a couple of missed opportunities these last few races I finally was able to pull it off!
As always thank you so much to all my sponsors linked over there on the right, none of this would be possible without your support!
Stay tuned for Reforestation Ramble write up very soon!
Thanks for reading,
Nathan
Photo Credit: Amy Dykema, Gary Frost, Niki Frazier, XTRPhoto
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