Rockhopper Classic/USA Cycling State Champ

[shiloh]

The Rockhopper Classic is held in Vacaville on a dry exposed hillside.  Three laps, about 26 miles and 3800 feet of climbing total.  It's a great course for racing. With fireroad sections for passing, steep climbs for crushing fools, and flowing singletrack decents. But I wouldn't recommend riding there in over 80 degree heat, it was about 95 degrees. 

This race was also a state championship race which seemed to mean very little.  Racers showed up so that they could qualify for nationals.  Top 15 Qualify, there were fewer racers than that for the top classes. That seems kind of sad for USA Cycling. 

After trading some high spirited words on the start line we were  off, it looked like just about everyone got ahead of me. I wasn't worried, I knew people would crack in the heat and on the steep climbs. Why did I think I wouldn't be the one cracking? I don't know. 

The first lap was uneventful.  I passed a few guys, rode clean, and under control. 

At the start of the second lap a battle was forming between me and Andrio Abero.  I didn't know it at the time but we were fighting for first and second place Cat 1.  He charged past me on the first steep climb.  That dude always gets by me on the climbs.  I kept him in sight throughout that lap but was unable to reel  him in.  By the beginning of the third lap I considered him gone for good.  Then while ripping down a big fun bermed left hander I lost traction.  I over corrected, turned it into a two wheel slide, which soon turned into me sliding backwards on my hands and knees down the hillside. 

Ouch! I thought.  My wrist huts, My ankle hurts, and I think I have a thorn in my finger.  Adrenaline is awesome.  I hopped back on my back and bolted forward.  I soon caught Danny Mcnaughton, who often beats me. then I had Andrio in my sights again.  For once I passed him on a climb. 

Rolling down the hillside I thought I was home free.  Then I approach a lapped rider.  I shout out pass please, he says something along the line of ok, well um, let me, how many are you.  I'm desperate to pass I can now hear Andrio right behind me.  Eventually he lets us around (it was probably only about 20 seconds) but I cant shake Andrio and my adrenaline rush is petering off.  I feeling some pain in my ankle and my hamstrings are beginning to cramp up.  he passes me about a quarter mile from the finish and beats me my 5 seconds.  

So I missed being the Cat 1 29-40 state champion by 5 seconds and didn't know it.