Victory at Van Brisbane!
Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007
I just want to say a quick thanks to ALL, especially Big Bad Paul and Sean McFreshy for helping me finish out this weekend with the FIRST win of my racing career!!
The Crit at Brisbane was technical and windy as hell again. Needless to say, the race was reading break all over it and we had some guys to play with. Sergei, Randy, Gio, Logan, Sean McB, Paul and I lined up proper with the rest of the 100 starters. From the gun the plan was to go hard, ride the front and try to create a mid-race break that might have a good chance to stay away.
During the first part of the race, Paul and Sean were basically railing it at the front while I was riding about 15 guys back and letting gaps just open up in front of me. Then I rode guys back across as they were pounded hard by cross-winds. It was apparent that the field was shredding rider after rider each lap and you could see the sidelines begin to fill up. At about 40 minutes in Sean Attacks while with a Capital A, so Paul and I slow the front and ride wheels. When he came back after about 2 laps, I went off looking for some company, but got none, so after half a lap, I drifted back to the field, realizing that there wasn't very many riders actually left in the field anyway. So then Sean, Paul and I took turns Attacking, riding the front and whittling down the remaining field to about 20 guys with 5 to go. With 4 to go, I realized that I was riding a bit too close to the front and needed to rest if I was going to give it a serious go. I drop back to 15th wheel and start recovering quickly while Paul and Sean continued to ride in the top 5 keeping keep it fast at the front.
Sean said that the this race was a sprint to the hairpin on the backside of the course and I was visualizing the front 5 guys just burning in the wind and having only to sprint an unsuspecting 8 guys if I could get the SICK jump before anyone else. 2 laps to go and I'm feeling good. I empty my water bottle and prepared for the throw-down. By the bell lap, I am 15th wheel and fully recovered. Coming around the first right and second right turns, I took a couple opportunities to move up to about 8th. Then on the back straight, Sean and Paul were riding 3rd and 4th wheel. I got a line out on the right side and got my jump out of the pack... SICK! I was clear and sprinting with everything I had for the left-hander before the hairpin. Going into the left before the hairpin, I couldn't tell how big the gap was, but as I came out of the hairpin, it was clear that a team Victory was in sight, so I hit it again for another effort. One left turn, chicane, then one more right turn and still I'm clear, but still have 50 yards of nasty cross to the line. So I just put my head down and buried it. Then the Line came and Victory was ours!
Thanks everyone for the support. It was an awesome day
-Elliot
The Crit at Brisbane was technical and windy as hell again. Needless to say, the race was reading break all over it and we had some guys to play with. Sergei, Randy, Gio, Logan, Sean McB, Paul and I lined up proper with the rest of the 100 starters. From the gun the plan was to go hard, ride the front and try to create a mid-race break that might have a good chance to stay away.
During the first part of the race, Paul and Sean were basically railing it at the front while I was riding about 15 guys back and letting gaps just open up in front of me. Then I rode guys back across as they were pounded hard by cross-winds. It was apparent that the field was shredding rider after rider each lap and you could see the sidelines begin to fill up. At about 40 minutes in Sean Attacks while with a Capital A, so Paul and I slow the front and ride wheels. When he came back after about 2 laps, I went off looking for some company, but got none, so after half a lap, I drifted back to the field, realizing that there wasn't very many riders actually left in the field anyway. So then Sean, Paul and I took turns Attacking, riding the front and whittling down the remaining field to about 20 guys with 5 to go. With 4 to go, I realized that I was riding a bit too close to the front and needed to rest if I was going to give it a serious go. I drop back to 15th wheel and start recovering quickly while Paul and Sean continued to ride in the top 5 keeping keep it fast at the front.
Sean said that the this race was a sprint to the hairpin on the backside of the course and I was visualizing the front 5 guys just burning in the wind and having only to sprint an unsuspecting 8 guys if I could get the SICK jump before anyone else. 2 laps to go and I'm feeling good. I empty my water bottle and prepared for the throw-down. By the bell lap, I am 15th wheel and fully recovered. Coming around the first right and second right turns, I took a couple opportunities to move up to about 8th. Then on the back straight, Sean and Paul were riding 3rd and 4th wheel. I got a line out on the right side and got my jump out of the pack... SICK! I was clear and sprinting with everything I had for the left-hander before the hairpin. Going into the left before the hairpin, I couldn't tell how big the gap was, but as I came out of the hairpin, it was clear that a team Victory was in sight, so I hit it again for another effort. One left turn, chicane, then one more right turn and still I'm clear, but still have 50 yards of nasty cross to the line. So I just put my head down and buried it. Then the Line came and Victory was ours!
Thanks everyone for the support. It was an awesome day
-Elliot
2 Comments:
Congratulations Elliot! Ah...the thrill of victory. What a great feeling. Your hard work and smart brain paid off. I'm so happy for you. Great job!!
Love ya,
Mom
I bet you did the "Family Guy" laugh for a victory salute as you crossed the line. Great job in that race. We were going crazy for you in the Big Red.
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