Fort ord- NorCal #3 4/9/16

[Otis Lyons]

I didn't pre ride on Friday, because we left after school (I guess I got the worst of both worlds), so the day of we got there early so I could ride the end. This wound up being very helpful, because I hadn't realized it was such a big difference than last race. It was more of a mix between the first race of the season and races in years past. 

The race started and I didn't start with the usual hole shot mentality that I race with. Instead, going up the first fire road climb I felt Kyle to my left and Kaveh to my right, all together. I made sure I lead into the first descent, but we didn't push too hard. 

Thought the first mile, I lead a group of as much as 12 through the undulating beginning of the course, until we slowly whittled it down to 8. Those riders were logan, Kyle and I for Drake; Kaveh and James baker from Tam, a Redwood kid, the two Woodcreek guys who usually find themselves on the podium (justin and Jonah), along with a Nevada Union rider. 

I didn't want to waste myself too early, as I usually do, so I kept the pace pretty easy. It was a conscious decision of mine to try to get logan and Kyle and I all onto the podium, so our positioning of me leading, then Logan and Kyle 3-4 was great. I realized that it was unlikely for the other four to actually want to contribute, and so I decided that if anyone would help, it would be Kaveh. 

Asking him to pull through at mile 3 or so, he declined, saying we were going "way to fast." I was a bit shocked, but this could of course have been a mind game. This opened up perhaps the best tactical move though- my next option was to ask Logan pull through, and doing this he passed Kaveh as well. So, as soon as the inevitable splits started  occurring, without doing an extra effort we had positioned our riders in the first two places. 

Logan went by and increased the pace. So much so that it took me about 10 or 20 seconds to get back to him. I saw a video on my dads phone later of Logan leading the pack, and things were splintering behind. James and the redwood guy seemed to be going backwards, and soon after just Kaveh and I remained behind the beast. 

I passed on the fire road climb on the second portion of the first lap, the same part were my winning move took place five weeks prior. With Logan softening the pack up perfectly, I thought this would be a great time to get some distance. I knew Logan was strong enough to hang, and with any luck off we would go. 

But, one problem remained: Kaveh. For the next mile, the elastic would not snap; Kaveh wouldn't go away. As we got on to the lower part, and the long flat straights, I said to Logan, "let's hit it brother," and we hammered. 

I am pretty sure the reason Kaveh was dropped wasn't the speed, but the fact that two teammates had outsmarted him. Although it was a four second gap with a lap to go, it was a unique one were if he didn't close it down right away, Drake was looking at 1-2. 

And that is just what happened. Logan and I took the last lap hard, perhaps it was a bonus that the first few miles were not at maximum effort. I never knew that we had completely distanced him, but after a while I realized that it was looking more and more likely that Kaveh wasn't coming back. It was nice having a teammate to ride with, the constant dialogue and checking in kept me sane. The last two races I was a nervous wreck on the last lap, constantly checking over my shoulder to see if Kaveh or Logan were coming. While this race was the same, at least I had someone for company. 

I knew Logan was looking great, and based on the pull he took in the first lap he was more than capable of laying on the hurt. So on the final fire road climb, I gave it all I had, hoping it would be enough to distance him. Unfortunately for me, it was not. He found my wheel once more, and it wasn't until the new added on section for this race that I found a few bike lengths. It was a fast run in, and it helped having two drake sophomores on the home stretch with us :). As I came across the pit zone, I finally realized I had it, and nine seconds later another wave of joy went through me as Logan crossed the line, completing my hope- 1,2. 

That was probably my favorite race that I have done so far for this team, and seeing the Pirates kill it was awesome. With the multiple podiums we had, along with the team taking the 'ship (no pun intended), it was a great outing for Drake. And, not to mention a top ten for river in our race, what a great ride!