2017 Annadel

[Greg Alsterlind]

My third time racing this challenging course. This year I had Jim at ACME rework my Trek top fuel and get it down to 22lbs. Two big changes to the bike where changing the front fork to the new Fox factory SC and removing the KS seat dropper. This year I left the Maxxis Ardents in the garage and went with Maxxis 2.2 Ikons for tires. The bike felt great and after a week with only one ride in the mountains , my legs felt good too.

The race has the hardest start of any I have been in- up hill and quickly through a loose rock garden. My 50plus masters group was 30 plus deep and once again loaded with some of the fastest guys I know of at that age. I got out of the gate with about 7 guys ahead of me but was happy to see a clear line through the rocky first climb. Midway up I passed Mike Urbina, who I finished one space behind last year. I got behind Mark Kirberg as the lead group (led by Roger Bartels) made its way down Cobblestone DH. The pace they were keeping felt too fast for me and I decided to back off and save my legs from early fatigue. I rode alone for the next 30-40 minutes. I was hoping I could fight off my teammate Mark Ingwersen who started 2 minutes behind me till the Lawndale Rd climb, but he caught me about a mile before the Kenwood DH. I did my best to catch him downhill, but without my seat dropper, I seemed to be struggling to find a comfort zone.

I Caught up to Javier Sanchez on the climb to Shultz Rd. As I passed him I noticed there was no direction sign. I wasn't sure if Javier was cracking so I picked up the pace for a few minutes to see if he would fall off. Every time I passed a rider I would wait for him to call out his passing side. After about 20 minutes of him staying right with me, I decided to save what I could for one hard push 200 yards before the start of the down hill. I managed to put about 6 seconds as we started. I thought I had control of 5th place until I took the last hairpin turn wrong. Out of nowhere, Mike Urbina passed me with Javier right behind him. I fought to stay on Javier's wheel as we finished the downhill and started the long flat section to the finish.

I was now set to finish in a sprint with 2 strong experienced riders and I had no game plan. I was not tired and felt my legs could sprint as well or better them, so I decided to pull away about 400 yards from the finish. I jumped out about 10 feet when I realized 400 yards was to soon. Mike was gaining but I felt I could stay ahead of him for a few more seconds. With less that 50 yards Javier pulled around Mike and passed us both by a few feet as we went through the finish. What a rush.

I was disappointed by my finish and my almost 2 minute slower time this year but it was still a great experience. As a team I thought we did great. Carson Benjamin finished 2nd in a well attended Pro class that included Jim Hewett and Phil Mooney. Cathy Chevron got burned by the lack of a simple sign at the Schultz Rd. turn but, still took 6th. Mark Ingwersen had a personal best 2:02:52 and Dave Benjamin and I finished just ahead of team mate Mike Koppe in top half of the masters 50+. I am sure we all wanted to do better but, as always, it was a good time spent with good people.