This year's nationals road race was a very enjoyable, and extremely challenging race. With a large climb every lap, coupled with a screaming descent, the race was guaranteed to split.
With such a strong team, we knew that it was possible to have multiple riders in the front group. The first lap was uneventful, with the group rolling around very relaxed. The fireworks went off the second time up the Blue Mounds climb.
The eventual winner of the race, Logan Owen (California Giant Berry Farms), attacked at the base of the climb. This caused a small split with myself, Justin Oien (MRI Endurance), Curtis White (Hot Tubes), and Geoffery Curran (Get Crackin') to get a small gap into the descent. It all came together into a small group at the bottom of the descent. I was extremely lucky to have two strong teammates in the group (Michael Dessau and Zeke Mostov).
The group worked well together for the following lap, but coming into the climb, every one was watching a single rider, and this allowed a group of 5 to slip of the front, and stay away for the remainder of the race.
The final lap was just a relaxed ride, for what remained of our group, before the final time up the climb. Going into the climb the final time, I knew riders would go early, blow up on the finishing section, and fade back hard. So I played the waiting game, and sat at the back of our group until 500 to go, I jumped, and was able to come in 10th place.
I am extremely happy with not only my performance, but the excellent rides from everyone on Slipstream-Craddock! Huge congratulations to Logan Owen on riding a near perfect race and coming away with the win, it was well deserved!
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