Annadel XC 16'

[Greg Alsterlind]

Last XC of the year for me. I had Done this race last year with Mark Inwersen and was disappointed with my effort. This is a tricky course with plenty of embedded rocks and dusty single track and day hikers to work your way through. The pro-race started with Levi running into some poor guy out for his morning ride climbing the first hill just ahead of the start. That worked out well for teammate Steven Flynn who went on to win. Mark Buell, Mark Ingwersen and drove up early together to warm up with Dave Benjamin at 7 am. It was Foggy and cold at the start but the heat was on its way. Buell and Ingerwersen started in the expert 40 + about 4 min. Ahead of Dave and I. I set my top fuel up with Maxxis 2.35 Ardents front and rear. The start up hill was probably the only place in the race I would want a lighter tire. The short rocky climb emptys out on a short exposed single track that leads to the only real tricky descent. I got off with the top 6 or 7 riders when we made it to "Cobble Stone" DH. I was staying with Mike Urbina down the hill when some guy decided to pass on my right. Bad idea. His crash almost took me and Mike out. At the bottom Mike and I where quickly back in line with the lead group. At the start of the first fire road climb George Hope, Eric Risley, Mike Warren, Brian Neary and Javier Sanchez pulled away and I never saw most of them again. I got passed by Marc Kirberg and Matt Muldoon but managed to pass Mike Urbina and catch Muldoon before Lawndale road. At Lawndale I was passed by Urbina and he and Muldoon vanished from my sight. I pushed as hard as I could and started to recover just before the down hill. The down hill was longer and rockier than I remember but I was mostly alone and had no one behind me. I passed Brian Neary pushing his bike near the bottom to finish 8th. My 2 hrs. Five minutes was all I cared about. I was happy with my effort and the way my bike handled this course. Dave pulled in shorty after me on his hard tail and broken fork. The Acme team on hand grab a few beers and ate lunch under the shade of a big oak as we waited to cheer Steven for his medal. Great day with a bunch of great people! Big thanks for a fun season to Mark I, Mark B, Dave, Jim, Cathy, Steven and the rest of the team. Special thanks to Scott , Shiloh and Jim of Acme bikes for all the help and support.