Copper Cup XC

I felt great today, once I got on my bike.  Wasn't so thrilled when I woke up - actually felt like I got run over by a bus from the race the night before.  Not sure why, but I did all the same.  So it was some ibuprofen and Myoflex on the legs, Cheerios and a yogurt, then out the door to go race XC at Copper Mountain.

Got a good warm-up in, ready to go.  The weather was a little iffy, but I decided to forgo the arm warmers and took just a rain jacket, just in case.  There weren't a ton of riders, so ages 15-39 all started at the same time...about 25 of us or so.  Start was much mellower than the night before.  Two laps of nearly 2000 feet of gain each was probably a good reason.

Got a good start, got into a good rhythm.  Focused (not singing to myself) and smooth.  Rode with Brian Baker (Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) all the way up the climb on the first lap.  Brian is a strong rider, so that tactic allowed me to open up a sizable gap on my nearest competitor.  Course was super buff singletrack climbing, a little bit of gravel road traversing, then more super buff singletrack descending, with lots of switchbacks both up and down.  Ripped the descent (or so I thought), but got passed by someone racing in the 30-39 age group.  Rode with him all the way up the second climb.  Didn't know where my nearest competition was when we turned on to the road traverse.  Saw the barricade pushing us back on to singletrack for the descent - I stood up and hammered, paying no mind to the obscene pain in my quads at this point.  Thought to myself, "Hit the singletrack first and you'll win..."  Hit the singletrack first.  Kept it rubber-side down all the way down for what ended up being a 6m30s victory over second place.  Like I said - I felt great today once I got on my bike.  First victory in a Mountain States Cup race...between this and the third-place finish in last night's STXC, I should have the series overall all but locked up.  Brian ended up beating me by 2 1/2 minutes, and taking 2nd in the 30-39 group.  Alan Christie (Pro Peloton), one of my fellow LBS riders, finished 4th in the 40-49 group on a flat.

Stuck around for the Cat 1 and Pro races to cheer on the local Vail Valley talent.  Barry Davis (First Descents) turned in a great 3rd place finish on his singlespeed, with Adam Plummer (Pedal Power) finishing well up in the Cat 1 race.  The near-immortal Jay Henry (Tokyo Joe's) crushed the pro field with his (what had to be) 2 minute victory, Josiah Middaugh (Pedal Power) took 3rd, with Jake Wells (Mafia) coming in 6th.  Damien Fraser (Mafia) also had an outstanding showing, and inches closer to the front of the racers every time I see him.

All in all, it was fun to get out there and make that Team DRV kit prominent, and not f--- it up by crashing.

Gawd, I have to work tomorrow.  Funny how things like that slip your mind when you've been racing all weekend...