Monday, June 4, 2012

Hardwood Canada Cup Report

4 races, 4 weekends, 4 countries traveled, 10 thousand miles flown, lots of driving and this road trip is only half way done! The past weeks have been exciting with racing and traveling.  Once again I've seen some amazing places, hung out with great people and made some awesome food. Currently landed at the Mcneely household last night. I was even lucky enough to see the Kingston penitentiary on my first night!

Race report from www.CanadianCyclist.com here. Check out Rob Jones photos here.

Here's for the amateur Evan Guthrie race report. Sunday morning started off with an earlier than usual wake up for caffeine consumption and race breakfast. After Cycling BC crushed the Georgian College dorms all week with tasty food, early bed and getting sooo hydrated we were in for a our last meal. Bags were packed, bikes were somewhat dialed after a hallway clean and tune. Courtesy of the skills I have learnt while wrenching at The Bike Barn. It was unlike other years at Hardwood where the usual is sun, dust and fast trails. Race was was cold, raining and just awesome out! After getting a 8th position call up on the front line I was ready to put on the gloves and go. It was a pretty mellow start, I grabbed second wheel and held that until just before the singletrack when a couple big guns like Kabush, Zandstra and Jette jumped ahead. No Problem though as I was able to stay with the front group the first 1.5 laps and then little gaps opened to the front guys and I was in a U23 chase with Mcneely and the flying Bouchard. After loosing track of laps again, thinking lap 4/6 was 5/6. Same issue I dealt with last week. After the legs started to say No to going really hard on lap 5 it was damage control time and I did accomplish more than last weekend by only loosing 3 spots on the last lap and not 4! Nationals are in two weeks and race times should be 1:20-1:30 which should help a bit as Hardwoods almost 1:50 time felt like a marathon. But old guys like Watson live for that and were able to make some last lap attacks. Four minutes back from the engineer himself, Kabush, isn't too shabby. Didn't seem like he dropped the hammer until mid way..but still decent. Finished off with other Evan just ahead. He didn't even slow down for a two up sprint..just floated up ahead at 4 sec..we could have gotten some good crowd cheers!

No cool down as it was cold and wet. Bike got sprayed down and shower were taken from cold hose water. Picked up my prize money, which at least covered the race entry..Packed the Mcneely E van. With two Evans who both bike race that meant an easy van pack with a hockey bag, two luggage bags, two backpacks, personal bags, foam rollers, 5 wheels, two MTB's, a road bike and other random bike racer belongings. Stopped somewhere in, around or near Toronto for some extreme pita and chocolate chip cookies. Arrived in Kingston and slept.

Doing a little Kingston exploration recovery ride today before I sit back down on the couch.



Pictures borrowed from the Mitch Bailey..
Over and out.

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