NVDC 2013

[shiloh]

We got some of the best conditions I've seen for this race in the last couple of years and a lot of strong riders showed up to race.  

I got my usual bad start and was winded after riding the first hundred yards.  This is a race where it is important to get a good start, but you also have to be able to finish strong.  Going past the airport I could see that there were at least 20 riders ahead of me.  I convinced myself that they would all crack on the final climb.  

I slowly picked off a few guys through the windy single track, but there were about 10 racers in a slinky like train trading places and slowing each other down.  

When we popped out onto the next fire road section I knew it was time to make some moves.  A lot of dudes slow down to rest, eat, or drink, but I knew that this race is too short for that. I got around another two guys, then it was on to the descent.  I got passed by one dude who was ripping on what looked like a Cannondale Jekyll. That didn't worry me, as I knew I would outclimb him to the finish.  Then he crashed and that sealed the deal.  Slow and steady wins the race.  

At the bottom of the final climb, I saw Ryan.  Ryan, earlier, had blown by me at the start and was completely out of my field of view up by the air port.  I had no clue where I was in the standings and seeing Ryan made me think, maybe somewhere top ten. I gave it everything I had and passed another three dudes on the climb.  At the top of the climb I was afraid to look over my shoulder.  Getting passed after putting out that effort would have really blown goats.  I kept as hard a pace as I could and didn't relax until I got about a hundred yards form the finish and noticed no one in sight.  

After the race I got lazy and didn't look at the results before they took them down.  Someone told me my time was 1:30:17 which would mean I put down my fastest time at NVDC ever.  I probably ended up in 4th or 5th place and I'm stoked on that.