Luray Caverns CX & Capital Cross Classic -- We're nearing the end

December, it's when real cyclocross racing happens. But in the Mid Atlantic, where we start cross season at the beginning of September, some of us are running on fumes after 16 races in 12 straight weekends of racing.  Some days you've got good legs, but others not.

Capital Cross Classic
Last weekend was the Capital Cross Classic at Lake Fairfax. This is a monument of Mid-Atlantic cyclocross.


Me and the boys went out to Lake Fairfax on Saturday and pre-rode a bunch of laps.  The upper section was very very dry with hard ground covered by a loose layer of little pebbles and stuff.   And the gravel road was thick.  It was like riding deep sand.  It was in many respects a very technical course.  Little things would make big time differences.  We spent some time trying to ride the stairs.  I could do 2 but not get the last one, so I wouldn’t try in the race.    But it was also a course with hard efforts followed by slow technical stuff where you could recover.  This was not a big ring pedaling course (opposite of Taneytown last week).
The moisture from the fog on race day actually helped the course be a bit more grippy.  Lined up on the second row next to pete.  I Got a good start and maintained it ok all the way up past the run up  then I lost some places when I got shoved off the solid line into the deeper gravel on the climb up the back ridge.  Then I was behind Karl Kensinger of NCVC who was way too slow through the technical descent and “chute”.    On the second lap I somehow ended up on Pete’s wheel.  He could run those stairs well.  He’s a strong runner.  So I used him for draft on the road up through the start finish.
But I was stronger on the climbs.  I don’t remember when but I rid myself of Pete on the upper climb mid race. Same with Bill O’Keefe.  Then I was coming around  a group with Knight Elsberry of NCVC, Ken Morris of Winchester, Al Green, and Bill Wheeler.  Now many of these guys have beaten me a bunch this season.  Again I could tell I could climb faster.  Ken had powered ahead on the bridge (I had been on his wheel and should have followed, but he’s damn strong on a flat road) but was only about 50 meters ahead of us. With 2 to go I was sitting 2^nd wheel going into the little uphill back by the start finish.  I tried to cut inside Knight but instead he stalled and I ended up hitting his back wheel and having to jump off and run.  That let the other guys catch back up and pass me.  I was shuffled to the back of the group as we got the bell (I think we lapped James coming onto the road that lap).  But my legs were still good.  So I moved up to second wheel on the little climb up to the bridge.  I followed Al across the bridge and up the run.  It was full gas.  I knew that I would make my move on the gravel road climb up the back then recover in the turns.  So as soon as we hit the gravel road after the run up, I drilled it, full gas seated.  Only Bill could get to my wheel, but I knew I could be faster through the turns and descent.  I had a little gap when we came out of the chute and I punched it hard again on the gravel road through the camp grounds opening the gap more.  I  punched it full again up the little climb off the road.  At that point I was closing on Ken.  I put it in the big ring to sprint and try to catch Ken (maybe this is when I passed James, not sure, but thanks james for sliding out of the way).  I sprinted at the start of the road but couldn’t close to Ken.  But Bill was far enough behind that I didn’t have to worry about him, so I cruised across.

I was 14^th, but that was ok.  Cross results had me predicted to be 20^th, and I beat the guys that I want to beat and the guys who beat me are, with only 1 or 2 exceptions guys that I’m not going to beat (about 8 of them are career Cat 1-2s that I’ll never beat).  It was fun to be able to open it up and attack when I wanted.  I’m so much happier when there is a climb or two, per lap ;-)

Photo by Jay Westcott

 Jake lined up in the Men's Elite race.  With no series points he was on the back row, and in front of him a bunch of Cat 1s.  He had a bad day.  A learning experience.

Luray Caverns CX

So today Jake and I drove out to the mountains to do the Luray Caverns cross race.  You'll remember it as the scene of our big father/son showdown last year.  I beat Jake last year, but in the words of Apollo Creed "no rematches."  Since Jake's race was at 2:30, I decided to do the Cat 3/4 race at 1:30 instead of the 45+, which was earlier in the day.  This year, Luke and Dan Klaussen would face off in the 3/4. And there was some talk of me helping Dan with some old man tricks.  At the starting line, Doug Graham had the official mention their battle and warned me "no bullying."  It was fun.

Doug Graham was loving this

There had been rain over night and drizzle and fog today, so the course was very slippery with greasy mud.

mountain shrouded in mist

Luke and I got a good start up the steep road.  But boy are those boys more willing to risk crashing than me.  So I was a little more "risk averse" in the slick turns.  I was in the top ten for the first 1/3 lap.  Coming out of the gravel road U turn Andy came by me, but at the top I passed him back on the other side of some guy.

The 180 gravel turn (photo thanks to Jay Westcott)

Photo by Doug Graham

But I didn't have good legs.  I felt bad after the first lap and lost Andy, who went on to a strong 4th.  At some point, 13 year old G Schultz caught up to me.  He was turning really well and my glasses were fogging up so I could barely see.  G is going to Nationals and is looking for a good result in a 3/4 race to help his national ranking, which will dictating his starting position at nationals.  I lead G for a bit, figuring I'd help him get forward.  At some point G came around me so I figured I'd follow him and make sure no one came by.  I still wasn't feeling great, but G was riding well.  Kudos to him.

Doug catches me laughing?

I still wasn't thrilled with my handling.  I finished 12th.  That was a tough course and my legs never seemed to open up.  But it was fun.

Jake lined up in the Elite Men's race immediately after.  Not a big field, only 9 guys.  He got a good start, right with the group.  He lost some places in the opening turns, but after the climb back out of the gravel 180 turn, he had moved past some guys and was not far off the lead group.

He was doing well.  but he said the first lap effort hurt him.  The guy in the Trek MTB kit caught him going up the road.  Jake stayed with him for a while, which was good.

 
But then that guy's giant quads created a gap.  Plus HIS glasses fogged up and he gave them to me (of course his were prescription so he couldn't see)

Jake was then being chased from behind.  Here are a couple of videos from following laps.  I told him to put in a big effort with 2 laps to go.

photo by me

Jake did a good job.  The guy behind him was trying hard to catch, but Jake ultimately put a big gap to him.

Jake finished 7th.  He wasn't thrilled with it but it wasn't bad.  He's had a long season, a strong season.  It's a big jump up to the Elite race.  Not just the extra 15 minutes, but the brute strength of the men involved.  And with small fields it can be hard to ride alone

photo by doug

It was a fun day on the whole, but long.