It's been about 5 years since I traveled to Ruston, LA for the Piney Hills race. The event is set in B-E-A-utiful Lincoln Parrish Park. If you've been you know, if you haven't, go. Fred Phillips with DLT Events puts on first class event and it being part of the TMBRA series, it gets all the great officiating and organization that comes with it.
Piney Hills was a stage race again this year with the STXC and TT on Saturday and the XC on Sunday. It was my second "A" race of the year and my season ender. Woo Hoo!
I'm not a fan of the Short Track. Last one I did I limped away with a separated shoulder. Plus, I'm more of diesel than a rice rocket. So...I was kinda dreading it. It was a blast! We were turning 2:40 laps on a wicked fast, fun track. Arkansas native and wiley old veteran Richard Machyek, Arkansas Cycling and Fitness, put a sweet move on me in the last 100m to take the win. I came in a second or two behind. Machyek and I have been racing each other for quite some time and I wasn't surprised by his victory.
Sweet jumps on the descent in the stxc
The TT was a few hours after the short track and I was actually looking forward to it. I had never done one, but had a plan...pin it, but stay smooth. They used part of the XC course for the effort. It was a 3 mile loop with a little bit of everything. A HUGE "G" out and an uphill switchback finish. Tough. Short story long...I took the win with a time of 9:53, Richard 2 seconds behind...2 seconds.
The G out...much bigger than it appears...
So, it all boiled down to Sunday and the XC. Richard and I were tied for GC. I was actually fairly confident going into it due to coach having me pretty prepared for 2 hard days back to back. But, during warm-up I felt pretty flat and my hr was slow to respond. I hoped everyone felt a little tired. I went to the front at the start, but didn't go balls out and only one guy came around who I let go...I wasn't concerned about winning the race, I just had to keep a couple guys behind me. We quickly caught the guy who jumped and I was actually feeling good so I stood on the gas. I was able to push a big gear and had a lot of snap so I kept the hammer down to keep the pace high. Richard and Texan John Larson, Park Place Lexus, were the only ones to follow. 30 minutes in and the elastic was stretching, but I finally got it to break after going up Tomac's climb.
Me, Richard and John making a break in the XC and more sweet jumps...
I held on to win with Larson coming in a minute behind and Richard 3rd. With that I took the GC, Richard 2nd, and Larson 3rd.
It was one of the most fun race weekends I've had this year. Sammy took GC in SS and Ginger won her woman's race so it made the long trip home well worth it. The competition was top notch, the weather perfect, and I got to ride my Tallboy fast all weekend...doesn't get any better than that.
Time to break out the Selma for SS Saturdays!!!
Ginger leading the girls out.
Podium shot.
Motley Crew.
1 comment:
great report, cool videos and pix!
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