Purdue Regionals Cyclocross Race Report -Brian

Post date: Nov 02, 2010 8:40:23 PM

This past weekend was the regional’s cyclocross race at Purdue, so as usual we set out from the city somewhere around half an hour later than intended. After a relatively uneventful drive we arrived to find the course in shambles. Overnight the wind had done some damage to the courses marking tape and the event hosts were hard at work making repairs. We began riding the course to get some practice runs in while more participants showed up. After registration and checking clocks we realized that there was an hour time difference and the men’s B race started in ten minutes, and we moseyed on over to the starting line. Once were all lined up at the start line, near the front with the goal of getting the hole shot, it was announced that there was to be a Le Mans start. As you can see from the following picture this was not at all anticipated-http://gallery.compsnet.com/index.php/Cycling/Racing/2010/Cyclocross/Collegiate-Cross-Regionals 2010/IMG_5918. So we all set our bikes down and walked back to the spot we were told to, followed by everybody tightening their shoes and wondering if this was a joke. Once it was determined that this was not a joke and that we would actually be running to our bikes I was relieved as the reason for my bright red bar tape finally dawned upon me. After not getting anywhere near the front of the pack on the start there were a couple of pile-ups within the first lap that allowed me to make up a little bit of ground. Not really knowing where I stood I just kept pushing after this point and felt pretty good as nobody was passing me, but then again I wasn’t passing anybody either. Being my first ‘cross race I had anticipated trying for the hole shot and slowly being passed by all the riders faster than myself, but as time passed on I was passed by only one person. I am in no way ashamed to admit that this person who passed me was indeed female as she also happened to be a member of the Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld team. The end of the race came somewhat abruptly and I sat on the ground panting. Shortly we learned that two of our riders had placed in the top five and one in the top ten. The men’s A race followed with Waylon placing in the top ten, and Peter placing third in the men’s open, his second podium of the day. Following awards we packed up the trailer, got some lunch, and made it back to Chicago before the sun even set. All in all a good days work.