Race Report for NRC TriPeaks Challenge from JarretK (May 25)

Gang-
I have little to add to the reports besides congrats to RC for his great finish and Casals for staying out there and doing so well on Nebo. I will now attempt to fill in the gaps to the stories:

After Greg put in his move and got off the front the rest of the group came to the hill as one and got to the top as a front group of about 6 and a chasing group (mine) of about 4. We were only a few seconds behind the first chase group on the great downhill so we managed to bridge by the bottom. Hunter (the CAT 1) was stalling the group to wait on his teammate who dropped his chain on the climb so some of the other guys went to the front in an attempt to keep our group small and avoid the rest of the field catching us. That did not happen as they caught us several miles later. We soon caught Greg`s former breakaway partner and most of the group eased up because they thought he was the only guy up the room. After much shouting he convinced the group that Greg was still up the road and we had to work. I of course refused to work so I sat in the group not being a block but not pulling and not taking any turns. Hunter attacked the group a half dozen times until we finally managed to get Greg in sight. By then RC and his group came back together so we were now something like 20 strong, a wild mix of styles and abilities.

We cruised slowly for a while after the feed zone and then I eased to the front to keep the tempo above 15. There is no reason to race at 15!!! 30 seconds after I get to the front I hear the tell-tell(?) sound of someone giving it heck and Hunter comes flying around on an attack, two guys on him and then I decide to go for it. I bridge and we are off. A good group working hard but Hunter wants to kill us so he attacks and attacks. After what must have been several miles of his attacks only two guys can stick with him and the rest of us fade back to the group. They are about 30-45 seconds up the road and nobody thought it would stay away. Attacks keep going for a while and then I ease up to get my nose in the wind and roll off the front, one guy comes with me and we tag team it for a while. We managed 30 seconds on the group but still at least 30 to the lead. We spend a while out there and decide (BIG MISTAKE) to go back to the group and see if we can recruit some guys to help. Hindsight: I should have killed myself to close the gap and then prayed to stick with them. By then the gap was large enough that maybe Hunter would have stopped attacking. The end, begin RC`s finish line story, NOW.

TT- It was windy, I forgot my aero bars, I am tall, I beat a few guys. My wattage was too low to comment on.

Nebo- Slow rolling. As Greg mentioned, my nature visit was rather long and after an extending chase at a big ole 24 (legs were a bit blocked) we catch the group. Attacks go for a while and finally the Tyson guy gets away. He is not far up the road. CSB does his turn on the front and I ease myself up to relieve him. I wanted him to save his legs and do a good turn on Nebo. Casals gives it a go and gets away for a while with a small group. I follow moves to annoy people (racing is more fun that way) and finally get the whole group back together. As Casals said, it was a bit windy at the front so with a HR at 175 and 19 mph, I drag the group to the bottom (Greg thought I would be able to climb with the 15 year old, 104 pounder?HA)so Casals can have a good go and I see him with the front group as I quickly drift to the back and begin my 34 cadence spin at 6-7.5 mph. I got to the top after what must have been 30 minutes. The climb is brutal, maybe second to Brasstown on my list of climbs. Unlike B`town, Nebo did not require a push!! I love 27 teeth. It was another great race in Arkansas. I had a blast working to help Greg stay away and then after that did not happen I loved it trying to get a move to stick up the road. It is always more fun to work and try to make the race instead of sitting around following wheels. Too bad they decided to put us Cat 4s with the Masters. Cats 1-4 in the same race? Advantage anyone?

Off for fun with Edgar this weekend.
-jk