Echo, Echo, Echo–February Hat Trick!!!

After another short night playing bikes, it was a long drive and early morning to get to Echo Red to Red the first race of the Oregon MTB Series. The conditions were ridiculous–32 degrees and raining when we arrived, but improved as the precipitation stopped and the temperatures moderated slightly. The course was very difficult–never up or down for long, and never straight or smooth. It was so demanding that many of us were struggling just to stay on the single track and keep the locals in sight! I was able to reconcile a sizeable gap and re-join the leaders–Matt Russell (Capitol Subaru Cycling), Cody Peterson (Dedicated Athlete), and James Williams (cannondale) just as we exited the last loop of singletrack for a short gravel/paved road ride back to town. James opened a gap and Matt couldn’t follow as I closed it down. We each took a pull, but I was able to drop Cody and James with about 1km to go and managed a close but decisive victory!

Three different races, three emphatic wins, a February to remember–for sure.

Capitol Subaru Cycling brought a strong contingent of riders and placed four in the top ten of the PRO category. David Hill placed second in the 45+ Cat 1 and our newest rider, Kurt Haas, held on for 3rd place in the SINGLESPEED to round up three podiums for our team!

It was a great way to kick of the season and I am so excited that our team will continue this year. Thanks to our sponsors we have another shot at being the number one team in Oregon. Working with my teammates is a great motivation for me and their ambition and hard work inspires me to ride on. In any case, we are going to break a lot of legs this year and have fun doing it!

Thanks for reading…