2017 Old Caz Grasshopper: 9th Place

[Carson Benjamin]

I chose the Grasshopper Adventure Series’ Old Cazadero gravel/road race as my first event of 2017 to gain some high intensity speed and fitness as well as to fatigue my body beyond what I can accomplish in training. Although most of the field rides either a cyclocross bike with wide tires or a rigid mountain bike at Old Caz, I don't own either of those, so I settled on my new Trek Top Fuel 9.8 with a pair of semi-slick Bontrager Tires. It was a similar set up to what I used last year, but a taller gear afforded by a 34 tooth chain ring and 10-42 cassette would ensure I wouldn’t spin out on the flat, paved sections of course along the Russian River. 

The pace of the group up the initial climb out of Occidental was much more relaxed than last year, so I positioned myself at the front to avoid being stuck behind any slower riders on the Willow Creek descent. Unfortunately, I followed the wrong wheel just before the road tipped downwards, and I was overtaken by about 20 racers before the gravel began. I managed to get held up behind the exact same rider as last year, who I would pass a few minutes later when he crossed up his bars in a corner and crashed. 

The front of the race was not too far ahead as the descent leveled off, but myself and a few other riders kept our pace high until we made contact. A group of about 25 came together on HW 1, and Phil Mooney and a few other former and current road racers took turns driving at the head of the field. Although the group slowed down slightly along the Russian River, it was far from relaxed as everyone traded pulls. 

I jumped past a dozen riders by cutting the inside of  corner at the start of the 20% grade Duncan Road climb, then inadvertently created a bottleneck when I got my bike stuck in the gate across the road. My bike was blocking about half the road, and somehow pinning Phil’s bike to the ground. (Sorry, Phil.) After I untangled myself and my bike, I launched a solo attack on the next steep section of climb to break up the group and accomplish a little extra training. I timed my attack so that I would go into the gradual descent alone and ride it without being slowed by anyone ahead of me. Spencer Paxson, Ted King, and Geoff Kabush seemed to make an effort to follow me, but I kept my advantage once the gap was established.

I was completely alone, off the front, for about 10 minutes before a select group caught me. In the group was Phil, Spencer Paxson, Ted King, Geoff Kabush, Barry Wicks, and Max Judelson. I held their wheels as long as I could up the next climb, but I was expending much more effort to go the same speed as everyone else, and I allowed myself to drop out the back of the group. I connected with a chasing group that I worked with from after the creek crossing to the bottom of the Willow Creek climb to the finish. Our group worked extremely smoothly together, and we even picked up a few riders who were between groups in no man’s land along the way. At the bottom of Willow Creek, Barry Wicks put in a massive attack that only Ryan Rinn was able to follow. Both of my legs cramped so badly due to insufficient hydration that I briefly got off my bike and stretched before continuing, because it was the only way I would make it to the finish. 

What remained of my group was up the road, so I mentally settled on doing my best to not lose any more positions before the finish. I spun my easiest gear up the climb, and was on the lookout for bottles that riders may have dropped while descending the road at the start, but I never found one. To my surprise, I passed one of the riders from my group, than caught up to another, who told me that he was in 10th place. I dropped him, and saw Max Judelson up the road, who looked completely cracked. Near the finish of the climb, I saw Sam Bassetti quickly closing on me, and I dug as deeply as I could to hold my position to the finish. 

I’m very content with a 9th place finish at Old Caz on a bike unsuited to the course and against one of the strongest fields in recent years. Even if I had raced a little smarter, I probably would have finished around the same place as I did, regardless of my decisions. I was also pleased to see the past months of training pay off in a measurable way. A top-10 finish is much more than I expected before the race, and I am excited to battle with NorCal’s best for the rest of the season. 

Set Up:

Bike: Top Fuel

Tires: Bontrager XR0 29”x2.1”, 24psi front/26psi rear

Gearing: 34t oval chainring

[Cathy]

Great job Carson! You should be really proud.  It's not easy doing that race on that bike, and you still finished in the top ten.  :)