I went into this one surprisingly calm. As the CX season progressed, I became progressively more wound up about preserving and improving my place in the standings. Today, it was either go big and try to get that 2nd or 3rd overall, or die trying. My usual seventh place finish wouldn't qualify me for anything. My goal was simple, go as hard as a I could.
I actually took a spot in the first row of the start this time, got myself a good start, and managed to hang onto the lead pack through the first lap. Shortly into lap #2 though, the gap started to open. Mike fell off the back shortly after I did and I moved back into fourth. Looks like it was Colby, Steve, and Nevin out in front.
I was hoping Mike and I might be able to work together to bridge back up to the lead pack, but it looked like we were just too far back. So, I sat where I was and decided to see what developed.
Mike and I made a couple attempts at dropping eachother, but neither of us were strong enough to open a significant gap on the other by ourselves. In the process of beating the crap out of eachother, we picked up a a guy on a single speed mountain bike. He did a remarkable job of hanging with us, but just didn't have the gearing to pull our group for long.
Into the final lap we went- I managed to stay in front, and did everything I could to try and open up a gap. I held onto the lead, into the final sand pit, and had just maybe 50 yards to go to the finish. Mike can really run, and I was worried he might overtake me here, but I held on. Once I was back on the bike I could hear what sounded like somebody having trouble clipping in- sweet, they'll never catch me in the final sprint! I've made it, I took fourth in the race!
Except, well- the race wasn't over yet.
Either it was the mountain biker having trouble or Mike finally got clipped in, because he just goes screaming past me with not much road left. I crank it up for all I'm worth, and it's just an epic battle to the end. We're trading paint trying to knock eachother off the line, girls we don't even know are screaming out names, dogs are barking, and I have a small conversation with god about getting through the pearly gates when my body decided to reroute all available oxygen to my legs.
Mike beats me out by a wheel in the photo finish, getting fourth in the race. Interestingly enough, this ties us dead even in the overall points standings for fourth in the season championship. Mike's win at this event is the tie breaker, and he went home with fourth in both. Despite losing out in the final stretch, it turns out 5th place is the cutoff for podium standings and I go home with all kinds of cool trophies anyway.
I'm ecstatic, what a great way to end this season. It's been some awesome racing with some awesome people all year. I'm happy that everybody that's been duking it out this year at the front of Bee will be making the jump to Eh next year. I've even got next year's bike picked out already.
I gotta say- Nevin really cleans up nice.
BRAVO!!! Clap, Clap, Clap.