Book of Chad

The Cumberland course was remarkably flat although it 723m of climbing it had neatly double the distance as other recent races. I Lined up for the start in the regular spot with the regular group of guys. When the start went it was really quick on a slightly uphill fire road. Then things slowed way down as we started to hit more of a grade I just had enough time to feel like we were going to slow when the front guys lined it out and we were full tilt again. I tried to slide into line and hit bars with Cody Canning giving me a little wobble. I slotted in behind him and as we hit the single track the gaps really started to open. I had a really fast first time down on scat and brat. I was chasing those in front and dropping riders behind. We entered a really weird false flat up section called outfoxed where you were alternating pedalling hard and flat cornering. On upper 50:1 I caught up to Dave Vunic and he let me by. I asked if he was ok and he said yeah i just haven’t ridden for a while. Then I had Dave on my rear tire for the next two laps. As we caught Brent Whitehead going down lower 50:1 we closed the gap and then climbing back up and going down lower 2 flats i got right on his wheel. I got completely bent out of shape and ended up riding my top tube down behind him.

Through the start finish line I was climbing strong but couldn’t hold onto Brent. Dave stayed on my tail to keep me honest throughout the lap. On upper 50:1 we ended up both getting past by Joe and Graham, usually if they are going to pass me it’s on the last lap so good for them this time. As we entered the fast part of lower 50:1 I asked if Dave wanted to pass and he said for me to continue and we went down 50:1 and up the fire road then down lower 3 flats like that. As we climbed the first climb on the last lap he went by and I never saw him again.

On the last lap I was mostly alone and it is hard to keep up the intensity when you can’t see anyone ahead or behind you. I think I lost a lot of time on the middle section “out foxed” because of the false flat and corners it’s easy to let off the gas and coast a lot more. After I got out the bottom of 50:1 and started up the last short couple minute fire road climb I thought with no one in sight that was where I was going to finish. Then like out of nowhere Travis came shooting by on my left side. I spiked up to try and catch his wheel but there was already a gap. I chased down the final lower 2 flats and then it was just uphill wide open fire road to the finish. The gap to Travis was too far to make but I gave it what I had left and kept him honest. Afterwards he told me as soon as he saw my pink outway socks he went as hard as he could on that climb to catch me.

Time: 1:35:57
Distance: 27.21 km
Avg Heart Rate: 180 bpm
Max Heart Rate: 191 bpm
Normalized Power: 259 W
Place: 19th