Saturday, October 25, 2014

Rocktown Cyclocross Festival 2014

Saturday Jake and I went to Harrisonburg VA for the Rocktown Cyclocross Festival.  It's a great little race that we've done several times (see 2011 and 2012).  It's put on by Ken and Connor Bell and Curtis Winsor.  This year they put up $1000 purse for the elite men's race, with the winner getting $500 and 2nd getting $250.  Well, that attracted all the top guys and a bunch who wanted a shot at the $.

We had a little fun from the week before.  Ken passed me last week at DCCX when I slid out, and his son, Connor (who is 19 and who went to Worlds on the MTB), dropped Jake when Jake crashed a couple times.  So, I said the Thompsons would have their revenge.

Well, I tried my best, and I was with Ken for the first couple laps, but then he dropped me.  So he was 6th and I was 7th.  As usual, saving the family honor on a bike was up to Jake.

The Men's elite field was 14 strong, with big names like Wes Schempf, Greg Wittwer, Nick Waite and Ben Frederick among several strong guys from the Harrisonburg-based Pro Tested Gear team.  Jake got the worst start in the history of cyclocross (a dramatic exaggeration, but it was bad; he says Ben Frederick missed his pedal in front of him).  Whatever the reason, he was at the very end of a fast line going up the starting hill. But he did a good job moving forward as the lap progressed.  Here is some video by Danny Gibney mid-lap as he comes over the barriers in the second group (in the neon yellow jersey). 
[[try this link for the video]]




He was moving well and on the first lap dropped Connor and former Coppi Kimani Nielsen (3rd in 35+ at DCCX, so fast) and then moved forward when Curtis crashed. 
Chasing
 
By the second lap, he had moved up to 8th, about 15 seconds behind the group in 5, 6, 7th.  and pulling away from Curtis and Kimani


A few laps later, the guy from Pro Tested Gear in 7th cracked and Jake caught him (and he ultimately pulled out). Jake was solidly in 7th, a minute up on Curtis and Kimani and 30 seconds behind the elite mtb racer who was in 6th.  He closed that slightly on the last lap

riding in the fall colors

solidly in 7th


So, it was a good ride.  Definite positive development, and the speed he showed on laps 2 and 3 in particular were a key positive sign for upcoming 17-18 UCI races.  Indeed, next weekend we're back to Cincinnati.

Two 7ths for Thompsons.  Thanks to Ken, Connor and Curtis for a great race.  Connor was making some excellent Belgian waffles.

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