With several disappointing results in a row, I was ready for this race! Last year Erik Tonkin (Kona), Omer Kem (Priority Health) and I battled for most of this 50 mile marathon before Erik won by a couple minutes. Unfortunately, the rains came again the night before the race and made it much harder this year. Rob English (Bike Friday) set the early pace and my teammate Zach Winter kept him in check. By the midpoint of the first 25 mile lap it was again just three of us at the front and we were on pace for a new course record. The second lap proved more difficult, though. With all the traffic behind us, the trails became nearly unrideable. Luckily, I was again riding my Scale which handles these conditions superbly. Zach went to the front many times during the first part of the second lap but Rob answered every time. Too bad, because eventually the repeated accelerations tired Winter out and he blew with about 15 miles to go. This left English and I to battle for the victory. I led into the most technical singletrack of the course and noticed that Rob couldn’t hold my wheel. I attacked and ended up winning by 8 minutes or so. A brutal day, but another well deserved win for me and another season goal accomplished.

My token road stage race for the year. Still racing CAT 3 and looking for an upgrade, so I was super motivated to do well. Day one was a circuit race up/down the northeast side of Mt Hood. A fair amount of climbing, but not very steep so it stayed together until 1k to go. I countered and finished 2nd. The next stage was a ITT along the Columbia river from The Dalles to Hood River. Super tough with a lot of wind, climbing and technical corners. I didn’t feel great, but managed to place 3rd. The queen stage was on Saturday with many miles and a long finishing grind to Mt Hood Meadows ski resort. My legs felt great all day, but I was having trouble digesting anything I ate. So with about 4k to go, the pace went up and I finally blew. Blood sugar so low I could barely stay upright, I lost several minutes in the last couple miles. Too bad for the GC, but it was my first long race in hot weather so the body just didn’t seem ready. The event concluded with a downtown crit in Hood River. It was a fun course and I took a flier several laps in. Unfortunately, my breakaway companion only seemed to care about primes and attacked me after sucking my wheel for several laps. Uninspired, I drifted back to finish in the field and 14th on GC. I did get my CAT 2 upgrade, though!

This would have to be the designated home course for us. Located at the Black Rock Mountain Bike Park 25 miles west of Salem, the Firecracker has been lighting up the Oregon XC Series for several years. It usually takes place around 4th of July (hence the name), but was scheduled earlier in 2007. Unfortunately, the rains came rendering the course a slick mess. Erik Tonkin (Kona) and Ross Schnell (Trek VW) set the early pace, but I was able to close each time down the hill. Fortunately for me there was a steep uphill singletrack which I was able to ride every lap thanks to my Spark and Kenda tires. Even though I was still a little weary, I held on and passed Schnell with about a mile to go. After winning here the last two seasons, I had to settle for second place. Tonkin is so tough in these conditions it was almost like a win, though!

I needed to take a business trip to Wisconsin in May, so I scheduled it around attending this event in Minnesota. What a great venue and super cool folks! Maplelag is an XC ski resort several hours northwest of the twin cities. Jay Richards and his family took it upon themselves to provide key UCI points for local racers–super expensive but so generous! The trails are super tight, technical singletrack that definitely left no time for rest. Unfortunately, I was a little tired from all my racing and travels, so even the first ride on my Scott Spark didn’t help me go much faster. I had to settle for 5th on the day, but it was some of the best times I have had racing for awhile. Nothing like a sunny spring day and a cool bike ride!

Part of the Oregon Series and also the OBRA State Championship. This race has been going on for many years (as long as I have been racing) and always basically the same course. This year, the promoters changed things up and we raced the opposite direction. This allowed a much longer singletrack finish which did not disappoint. With many miles of climbing to start, I chose my full rigid 69er Scale. This bike is superfly, sports a 1×9 drivetrain and weighs just 17lbs. Inspired by the spoils and my poor performance last week, I attacked after a few miles and opened a 4 minute lead by the finish regaining the State title!

Second race of the Oregon Series near Mt Hood. Great course and super tech so I rode the Ransom here. Ben Thompson (Bend Elite) and Erik Tonkin (Kona) put the smack down at the start and I struggled to hold their wheels. Got dropped so just rode it it to finish 3rd on the day. Figured out the next day that my cleats were not in my shoes properly which could have been the cause for slow riding. Guess thats what I get for changing shoes/pedals the day before a race…