2016 Nationals-Mammoth CA

[Greg Alsterlind]

8,300 ft. Elevation at the start. I got up to Mammoth the day before the race and pre-rode the 5.3 mile course with team mate Cathy Chevron (4th place , Cat 1). I noticed right away that my legs felt weak on the climbs. I was careful to not go hard and save it for the race, hoping I could shake it off once I got going? The race start was 31 riders and I was in the back. I was concerned about starting off like an Acme shorty and running out of gas in the first lap. The climbs where not steep but they hurt. The course was very balanced with a super fun downhill 200 yards from the finish. I came through the first lap is just over 29 min. It felt like the right pace and I hoped I could maintain a 30 min. Lap? As I made my way to the start of the first downhill on my second lap I saw Jim Hewett ( father of National Champion Simon!) who asked how I was feeling. I yelled back ok then crashed 2 seconds later in the loose sand on the downhill and knocked off my Garmin. I jumped back on and tried to get back with the riders I was with. By the start of the 3 lap I had caught back up to the rider who finished 16th but as we start past the bottle feed ( Big thanks to Dave Benjamin!) it became clear I needed to focus on just finishing the 4 laps and nothing else. USA cycling never posted my race so I don't know the official results but it was not a good showing. The Top fuel with seat dropper. 2.2 Maxxis tires all did there job so the only way I could see improving my race time at Mammoth would be to train at 8,000 ft.

[Cathy]

Greg, great job coming from the Bay Area to high altitude and racing the next day!  You did really well! I have pictures for you too!

[Jennifer Hibbitts]

Great report Greg! And great job out there. The altitude is a killa! Did you get your Garmin back??