The TBC is the biggest stage race Tucson has to offer. With it's coming this year I was nervous to send out the whole team, as many of our members have never raced in a USCF race, and I did not want to throw them in the fire. So I decided to let three El Grupo riders participate. The only three that have ever been in a race before.
Kramer, Max, Logan and coach Alex Strickland were the lucky participants.
Max and Logan raced in the 13-14 year old category, and Kramer and Alex raced in the senior mens 5 category.
How did it go?
Well first off I was very nervous that Max and Logan were not going to have anyone to race against, as for whatever not great reason, junior bike racing does not pull a big crowd. However much to our surprise there is a youth bike team in Yuma, AZ that came to the race and was able to field quite a few riders. Which was very impressive and exciting for the boys.
So what happened?
We were incredible. Max actually won all three stages and Logan had he not shown up 5 minutes late for his time trial start would have gotten second in all three. They raced great, as sportsman, with pride, all ways congradulating there competition. They even crossed the finish line of the last days race together with arms up and holding hands. They broke away from the competition on the first lap and just kept increasing there lead through out the entire three laps. They worked as a team and friends and really dominated the day. (the picture that you see below) They also won the Road race in break away fashion Max winning by 5 minutes over Logan and Logan the same over the rest of the field.
Kramer and Alex participated in the cat 5 mens category and raced there hearts out. Kramer was way out of his league as he was a good 10 years younger than most of his competitors and much less sessioned as a bike rider. However he never gave up, always pushed hard, and ended up proud with a smile and a lot of lessons learned.
Alex, coach, went for the win and raced with courage. He finished the time trial in 18th place only a minute behind the leader. So on Saturday he rode the road race for the win and lost by less than a wheel and got 4th place. A slight bummer because had he finished third he would have recieved a time bonus and moved up in the standings considerably. Once Sunday came we knew he had to go after the whole shibang. It was a nothing left out there sort of race for the kid and I am thrilled by his effort. During the circuit course there was a time bonus to be had on the third lap and he gunned it, finishing third in the sprint. Again just one place off of the time bonus. After the failed attack though with no teammates around to help him he blew apart and was unable to hold on to the pack. A super gutsy attack!!! Thanks for the courage kid!! Alex finished over all mid pack but as one of the few who "went for it".
What really made this event so thrilling for the whole team was that on the last day I was able to ride them all to the race so we could all watch, scream and yell together. Everyone was there and we ear peircing loud. Every time our team came around we lit the place up. We were really an awesome sight to see. We were all matching, thrilled, and working as a team. Everyone stayed after as well to watch Max and Logan get there winnings and then we all rode home to the club house together where then every other rider told me, " We are ready to race."
So Tucson and the South West here we come!!!
PS we'll ride the dirt too
PPS and fast
As a final note: Daniela the ED of the team and my wife, was a bit upset that there was no pregnancy category as she is sure she was the only 7 month pregnant women there who actually rode her maternity bike.
Kramer, Max, Logan and coach Alex Strickland were the lucky participants.
Max and Logan raced in the 13-14 year old category, and Kramer and Alex raced in the senior mens 5 category.
How did it go?
Well first off I was very nervous that Max and Logan were not going to have anyone to race against, as for whatever not great reason, junior bike racing does not pull a big crowd. However much to our surprise there is a youth bike team in Yuma, AZ that came to the race and was able to field quite a few riders. Which was very impressive and exciting for the boys.
So what happened?
We were incredible. Max actually won all three stages and Logan had he not shown up 5 minutes late for his time trial start would have gotten second in all three. They raced great, as sportsman, with pride, all ways congradulating there competition. They even crossed the finish line of the last days race together with arms up and holding hands. They broke away from the competition on the first lap and just kept increasing there lead through out the entire three laps. They worked as a team and friends and really dominated the day. (the picture that you see below) They also won the Road race in break away fashion Max winning by 5 minutes over Logan and Logan the same over the rest of the field.
Kramer and Alex participated in the cat 5 mens category and raced there hearts out. Kramer was way out of his league as he was a good 10 years younger than most of his competitors and much less sessioned as a bike rider. However he never gave up, always pushed hard, and ended up proud with a smile and a lot of lessons learned.
Alex, coach, went for the win and raced with courage. He finished the time trial in 18th place only a minute behind the leader. So on Saturday he rode the road race for the win and lost by less than a wheel and got 4th place. A slight bummer because had he finished third he would have recieved a time bonus and moved up in the standings considerably. Once Sunday came we knew he had to go after the whole shibang. It was a nothing left out there sort of race for the kid and I am thrilled by his effort. During the circuit course there was a time bonus to be had on the third lap and he gunned it, finishing third in the sprint. Again just one place off of the time bonus. After the failed attack though with no teammates around to help him he blew apart and was unable to hold on to the pack. A super gutsy attack!!! Thanks for the courage kid!! Alex finished over all mid pack but as one of the few who "went for it".
What really made this event so thrilling for the whole team was that on the last day I was able to ride them all to the race so we could all watch, scream and yell together. Everyone was there and we ear peircing loud. Every time our team came around we lit the place up. We were really an awesome sight to see. We were all matching, thrilled, and working as a team. Everyone stayed after as well to watch Max and Logan get there winnings and then we all rode home to the club house together where then every other rider told me, " We are ready to race."
So Tucson and the South West here we come!!!
PS we'll ride the dirt too
PPS and fast
As a final note: Daniela the ED of the team and my wife, was a bit upset that there was no pregnancy category as she is sure she was the only 7 month pregnant women there who actually rode her maternity bike.
2 comments:
Congratulations, Max, Logan, Alex, Kramer and Nelson! You all rode with heart and commitment. El Grupo Team, you a great community of people and a knock-out cycling team. And yes, Daniela, you are the cutest pregnant cycling mama EVER!
cycle racing! sign them boys up for the Whiskey Off Road! dirt style two-wheelers! 50 miles, far out! I'll be there...
Keep your toenails trimmed
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