Dillon:
Another exciting weekend of racing down in Lago Vista this past weekend. Saturday started with a chilly 42 degree temp for Dillon's morning race, not to be outdone by the ensuing rain and hail making the 40+mph downhill that much more "exciting". Why not attack on lap 1? So he does, and he and two others immediately open a gap on the climb and that was the race. A few more laps and the three man break is down to two. The elements of the day were treacherous and Dillon was able to hold on for a much deserved 2nd place result.
Not wanting to ride around solo on Sunday, Dillon entered the 3/4 race and looked incredibly comfortable in the group. He was able to pick his way through the field of 75 guys, learned how to take a feed, was at the front when he needed to be, and draft when he needed that also. Unfortunately while in the lead group with one to go, he flatted out of the race and had to settle for an early finish. Incredible first taste of Cat3 racing.
Todd:
Saturday afternoon weather turned sunny, windy, and warm for our race. An early break with Wooly Mammoth, 787, and Garmin goes up the road. They shut down the field and the group quickly puts 1:30 on us. I tried numerous times to get away, all unsuccessful. A handful of us start working the front of the group and keeping a much higher tempo than the first 8 laps. We hear the break is getting weaker and we pounce on the opportunity to bring them back. Coming across the S/F line for the last lap, we pick them up and nothing else gets away up the climb. At the top, Michael Pincus rolls off the front. I thought for sure we would bring him back... we didn't. We drilled it down the hill and into the sprint and I just had nothing left at that point and rolled in 15th.
Sunday was a much better day. That downhill was now an uphill. With no warm-up, I decided to play it safe and sit in for a few laps. Errr. lap 2 the climb starts and off goes a Garmin guy and a 787 guy. Then a Wooly guy goes. So, I go. Then a Tulsa Wheelmen, 918x, and Park Place guys come after us. Wooly and I bridge up to 787 and Garmin, and shortly after the other three attach to the back of us. With all the big teams represented, this may be the move...except there are 50+ more miles of racing. :( Next lap, off goes Park Place. Next lap, off goes Garmin. Now there is just 5. A few more laps, and off goes 787. With our lead at over 2:00 now, it will be hard to catch except for Garmin and 787 are now chasing. Our 2+ min lead is down to 1:10 in one lap, but we only have one lap (5.5 mi) to go. Up the hill one more time, hit the u-turn at the top, and we now can see the pack as we're looking over at them coming into the same u-turn. We drill it down the hill, the P1/2 break drills it harder and catch us... they neutralize us. We are literally coasting downhill with 2 miles to go. About 1 mile left, we are given the green and we go again. 918x jumps in the last corner which is downhill and about 600m out. I tag along and we shed the other two guys. We hit the uphill and I jump, he goes left of the motorcycle, I go right and fortunately had enough in the tank to take the win for Williams Cycling!
