Lake Sonoma MTB Race, 3rd Place Masters 50+

[Dave Benjamin]

   So after getting worked at a fast paced CCCX mtb race at Fort Ord in February and crashing hard (but finishing) at the Bonelli Kenda Cup two weeks ago, I decided to tackle the only Lake Sonoma race of the year.  After a short pre-ride before the race, I realized the course had some muddy and slippery descents and a not so fun hike-a-bike mud hill to deal with.

   My son Carson (Bear Development), along with Acme teammates, Stephen Flynn and Danny McNaughten were part of the first wave of Pro/Expert racers.  Soon after, the rest of Team Acme (Greg Alterlind 50+, Mark Ingwersen Sport 35+, Otis Lyons Junior U18 and myself rolled to the line. Somehow, I managed to get a front row position next to Mike Warren, who I have been racing against the past three or four years.  I noticed Mark and Greg right behind me and realized the long paved climb start was not going to be easy.  Sure enough, off the start I was swallowed up by Greg, Mark and Otis, with Mike also pulling away.  As I'm not the best descender, I was kind of relieved not to have the pressure of these fast downhillers on my wheel.  Once on the single track, I lost track of Mark, Otis and Mike, none of them to be seen again.  At this point, my main mission was trying to stay in contact with Greg, but with most of the first half of the lap being downhill, I quickly lost sight of him.  Working my way through some of the slower expert women and single speeders from the first wave I finally caught sight of Greg on a climb about 2/3 of a lap in.  I was just figuring out I may have been in third place when a Roaring Mouse rider pulled past me on an uphill single track.  I chatted him up as he passed and found that he was in my category.  Now I'm in 4th and kinda of annoyed.  My new mission was to stay on his wheel and figure out what I was up against.  He didn't seem to be tracking very well on the fast single track sections, but seemed strong on the last climb of the lap.  He slowed a bit at the beginning of the second lap and and I took the opportunity to beat him to the next single track section where I almost caught Greg.  Again, Greg lost me on the descent, opening up a 200 foot gap.  Once the trail turned up I was finally able to make contact and then yo-yoed off Greg's wheel for the rest of laps 2 and 3.  The final fire road climb to the finish came with me just behind Greg.  I'm thinking "time to kick it in gear and go for the pass", but Greg suddenly jumps out of the saddle, opening up a 4-5 bike length gap which I had no answer for.  Well done!  Looking back, I'm not sure what I would have done differently, other than bring my stronger legs and bigger lungs.    Overall, the course was fun, technical and muddy.  I managed to stay upright this race, which is always a bonus.  Mike Warren won the 50+ going away.  Congrats to Team Acme: Stephen Flynn 1st Pro, Mark Ingwersen 1st 35+, Greg Alsterlind 2nd 50+, Otis Lyons 2nd U18, Danny McNaughten 4th (?) Pro.  I also have to play the proud parent and give a big Congrats to Carson for his 2nd place finish in the Pro division.