Racers,

Myself, Jim H, Mark M, and Eric C, made the trip up to Spring Prairie WI for a little Sunday evening racing. The plan for the race was to attack and try to get at least one of us in a break, and have the other ride on the front and protect. The conditions for the race were ideal with a temp in the low 60′s and a wind out of the SE. We lined up with about 40 guy, XXX had the most followed by Spider Monkey and then us.

The course is a 6.5 mile rectangle with a few rollers and one short but steep climb leading into the S/F line.

The first lap was fairly mundane, heading into the climb Jim says lets go , so after we crest we try to get a gap but to no avail, the group catches us. We try this again on the next lap and get a small gap but nobody wants to work so it’s a no go again.

Jim managed to get up the road with 4 guys but only two of them would pull so that was pulled back together again. I attacked and was able to get away with a few guys, but……people want to sit and not work so group together again. Unfortunately we could not get the right combo of Teams/guys  in a break so after 4 of 6 laps it looked like it was going to come down to a sprint up the hill. The next lap was spent at the front making sure nothing slipped away.

Into the 6 and final lap XXX get on the front to keep the pace high and prevent attacks, I sit about 4th wheel keeping vigilant.

into the downhill Eric come to the front and hammers down the hill into the turn then keeps drilling it, with the speed 30+ nobody would stick their nose into the wind. His pull was a HUGE effort that helped set me up for the final. Eric pulls off with the hill in sight.

I opt for the inside turn on the hill and go in about 3rd wheel. From here I drilled it as hard as I could all the way up, at the crest of the hill one guy passes me with a huge burst of speed and goes ahead, I look behind and the next guy is 20 yards back. I try to catch the guy but the tank is empty so its 2nd place for the day, and another podium for Tower!

A few notes on the race. Thanks to Jim, Mark, and Eric. Your constant efforts wore down the field and kept the speed high.

To Eric again, the huge pull at the end was a thing of beauty!! I was behind a big freight train. Finally, I think my efforts on the first few laps cost me some much needed energy at the end, but that’s bike racing and I would rather attack than sit in all race… and watch everyone else having fun.

Doug

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