GHORBA Bigger Ring Challenge Double Lake Marathon Race Report

Last weekend was my first race of the 2015 season, the GHORBA Bigger Ring Challenge at Double Lake. The was was 3 17 mile laps for 51 miles total that I anticipated would take a little under 4 hours. I went into this race with good confidence after my good results in the TX Cup series last year, but uncertain where my fitness would be as I haven't gotten too many long rides lately and I've just started moving out of working on base fitness. I knew though that this was a good course for me and I wanted to have a good race. I lined up near the front, but got swarmed a little bit on the start. I was rolling somewhere in the top 15-20 on the 1.5 mile road section to the singletrack. As we neared the singletrack entrance, a gap opened right behind the leader. I instinctively jumped in it and made a perfect move to go in 2nd place. The leader was none other than Nathan Winkelmann, one of the best riders in TX, multi-time Pro/cat. 1 race winner and a threat to win any race any day. I felt good and followed him most of the first lap, until he slowed and waved me around. I led for a couple of miles until we hit a long gravel road at the end of the lap, then I fell back into the paceline of the front group.

Leading the race ahead of Winkelmann.

We had made a selection of about 6 riders at that point, and I was surprising myself being there and feeling comfortable! Through the second lap I rode 3rd or 4th wheel as we swapped places a few times, but mostly stayed together while dropping a couple of riders out of our group. At the end of the second lap the lead group was whittled down to myself, Winkelmann, Scott Henry and Scott Minard. The Scotts are also super fast guys who race Pro/1 and can win any race at any time. Henry has multiple Pro race wins to his credit, finished 2nd in the 2014 State Championship series and has won it a few times before as well. He used to race for Trek/VW! Minard has been top 5 several years running in the Pro/1 overall as well.

Lead group coming through to start lap 3.

About halfway through the 3rd and final lap I was riding in 4th, feeling good and trying to think through how this race would end and how I could take a shot for the win. I didn't figure I could outsprint Minard or Henry, as they're both very strong guys. I thought I might could get a gap on them in the singletrack, but getting to the front and staying there on the long gravel road at the end would be tricky. There was a good section of singletrack between there and the finish line; that would be my best bet. About this time I was riding behind Nathan and he started slowing way down. The Scotts were riding away, and eventually he confessed that he was getting a flat tire. He asked if I had any air, I did but it was zipped in my pouch. He kept going but would not let me by, so the Scotts got a good gap on us. Eventually Nathan ran off trail in a corner trying not to roll his tire. I rode past but dropped him my pouch with CO2 in it. After this I struggled to get back up to speed though. I knew the Scotts were gone and there was a threat that Nathan would ride back up to me, but I just couldn't get going again. Sure enough with about 5 miles to go Nathan passed me on a short gravel road section and I couldn't respond. I rolled it in to the finish line to finish a few minutes behind the Scotts and less than a minute behind Nathan.

I finished first in my category of 30-39, and ended up 4th overall! This was a great result and will be a big confidence boost going into the State Championship series. Huge thanks as always to Skratch Labs, I truly could not be racing at this level without their product. I tried for many years but always had stomach issues that held me back. I also have to thank Sugar Cycles. They've been supporting me for many years and it's exciting to (finally) be putting up some good results for them. My BMC was super fast and smooth and I know it is the perfect bike to be competitive in all my races. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year!