Clif Bar Blog update

// June 6th, 2009 // Uncategorized

Last weekend was the 3rd US-Cup in Birmingham, AL. I would say 100% of the pro field had no idea what to expect when the schedule came with Bama’ on the calendar. It basically meant that for me, I would check off another state visited on the US map. Just about everyone was pleasantly surprised by Oak Mountain State Park. The park had everything from a golf course to a BMX track.

It was a unique course with 85% rad single track and 15% paved road. With minimal passing in the single track each time, when we hit the road it was balls-to-the-wall. I was lucky enough to make the front group and stick around for half the race. On the 3rd lap on a pavement climb I couldn’t hold on. I was seeing stars and came off the front group. I rode the next two laps solo in 7th until Adam Criag caught me about 1.5 k’s from the line. We rode in playing cat and mouse, attacking one other. Unfortunately, he took me in the sprint, so I ended up 8th for the day. This was my best result I have put together on the MTB bike to date. It was great to finally make the selection in a MTB race.

They run things differently in Bama’. Friday night we had to take our hats off at dinner. The week before Bama’, I was in Mount Tremblante Canada for a race. Talk about a change going from kicking it with a bunch of Pepe le Pews to the dirty south. Next up is the US-Cup in Colorado Springs, then Giro Di Jersey. 5 days in Jersey. You can’t beat that!