North Star Grand Prix - Whiff of White

Stage Racing:

This past week would mark my second NRC stage race of the year. It would prove a test of will and mental capacity. I would experience pressures I had never before experienced, failure, more fatigue then I imagined and success.

Starting with the obvious, the race was a 5 day, 6 stage, race starting with a ITT, Crit, Road Race, Crit, Road Race and final Crit (hill circuit). The pain came from the get-go. The ITT was hard but I slipped into 3^rd for U23 GC that stage. That evening we had the first crit. This was a very technical crit, with multiple turns – some being more than 90 degrees. I managed to stay with the lead group and finished. Apparently I had made up some time because I slipped into the white jersey. Wow! That was exciting. I had to jump off the trainer and run to the podium. Zipping it up, the pressure was now on.

The second day, third stage, would unveil the hardest day of my life. Extreme winds would tear the pack a part. It was a necessity to be in the front spilt if I wanted to make the group finish and keep the jersey. Well, when the time came and we hit the second KOM, just as the course was turning into the crosswinds and Peter was not at the front. The pack was shattered leaving about 6 groups in full echelons chasing as hard as they could. I had just slipped off the back of the front group. The front group quickly split into two groups and I was lost in no mans land. Tailing the chase group by about 10 feet for twenty or so minutes was devastating. I was giving everything. I was going 55km/h and not making any ground at all. I eventually lost ground and was picked up by another pack. We chased, and chased and eventually made contact once again with the front group. This was short lived as the group had just crested out of the feed zone and kicked wildly hard. I was clinging to the last wheel as hard as I could. No luck. I was shot out the back. The rest was respectively: chase, chase, lose ground, get caught, roll in. I was shot. I lost the jersey by 10+ minutes. This was bad.

Third day was a nice easy crit. Not much going on here except for a lot of crashes that were miraculously avoided. One cool thing about this stage however was how dark it got, seeing we started around 8pm. Going into one of the turns someone clipped a pedal on the ground sending a shower of sparks. It was wicked to see, and scared the hell out of everyone around him.

The fourth day was miserable. It was raining. It was cold and we were racing for 160+km again. Kevin, Anton and I wanted to get in the early breakaways since we had nothing to lose. After 30 minutes of racing I realized this would be a bad decision, so I sat mid pack for the whole race. Kevin got into a break, and as that one got reeled in Anton got into the next one. Just as Anton’s break was being brought back another one went. This break stuck - unfortunate luck for the boys.

The final day was allegedly a write off. It was hot, the crit was more of a hill circuit than anything and we were all cooked. I made a comparison that this crit was very much like a mountain bike race. It was going to be hard, lots of sprinting, then a good amount of recovery. I was excited to see how I would fair. And I faired well, because I was able to stay with the lead group until 4 to go, when the week of racing caught up to me, and the legs refused to turn. I rolled around until the end of the race. Finishing just a few minutes back but I was satisfied I stayed in the race and clawed some time back on the white jersey.

Cresting in a lot of pain

Overall a very satisfying week with JetFuel – Norco at my second NRC stage race. These races are hard. I look forward for when I am strong enough to be a contender and be up at the front pushing some wind. Thanks to Alex Sanna for all the support!

Euro Trip 2014

Nove Mesto, Czech and Albstadt, Germany:

Some of the local beauty
As my European World Cup chapter comes to a close I would like to share some of my experiences over the past couple of weeks. First off I would like to thank Team Canada for all the support and good times. Not only do we get the best mechanics, physiotherapists and coaches, but also Cycling Canada is more than that. It brings some of the best riders from all over the country together and slams them together on a team. Riders that compete against each other at Canada Cups and Nationals, competitive athletes that strive for the top step of the podium against each other; and then when slammed together we make a team that is a unit – a team that is something special.

Normally a blog post would be about the race, thank the sponsors and post some cool photos. I want to do something a little different. The paragraph above is a good example. I want to take you on an adventure behind the scenes to show you just how our lives work. Don’t worry; I’ll put some words up about the race too!

I guess I’ll start from the beginning. Landing in Prague, CZE was fun! A small connecting flight from Munich brought us there. My bike bag always gets searched in Munich; it drives me nuts because they don’t always repack properly. We were required to chill out in Prague until everyone’s flights arrived. There was a small grocery store that we quickly hit. It is always interesting trying to find food for the first time in an unfamiliar area. It makes it especially interesting when they know no English. I finished my food while waiting and realized I was still hungry. I made a quick dash for the local Subway – yea Subway in Czech Republic. Arriving back it was time to leave!

Once in Saar, the town that we were staying in roughly 30 minute ride to the venue, we checked into the hotel and began to move our things in. Building our bikes in the hallways and stairwells was next on the list. The rooms were quite small. Well, actually the room I had was quite small for Antoine and I to share with all our stuff and two 29ers. We had to get a little creative with the arrangement of the room. Antoine’s bike bag went in the bathroom as well as my bike during the day. It was a good time, especially when we had to do laundry in the sink (there were no facilities) and I made a cloths line and strung everything all around the room. It was a sight to see.

Ok, business time! The course in Nove Mesto was a great one in my opinion. Fellow Norco Factory Team rider Evan McNeely claims that this is his favourite world cup course. It is definitely a fun one! The start was flat with a long, 2.8km, start-loop. There was a lot of running once the single-track was met. The amount of running I encountered is to be expected starting number 109. Then you carried on through the technical feature, out through the stadium and out for the first lap. My favourite part of the course was the jumps. There were two sections that had gap jumps you had to hit. One set was featured in the Cross Country Eliminator (which I didn't qualify for). The other set was in a steep downhill called the BMX section. You got some good air and a good rush. Other technical features included rock gardens, a drop (otherwise known as a steep pitch) and rough, rooty trail throughout. The climbs on course were not too long - they were steep nevertheless. However, the coolest part was coming by the grandstand. The seating wasn't packed when I raced, but for the elite men crowds of the 10s of thousands came. The forest was packed. The beer trucks run dry by the end of the day. It was wild. I heard an estimate of 20,000 people were there. It’ll be neat to race as an elite and experience that!

Touching on the race a bit, if I must; it was hard. What else is new? Starting near the back was fun. The start was fast. I got caught behind a crash momentarily. It was quite difficult to move up because the speed was so high. There was lots of running. Anywhere the speed would drop because of a climb or tight turns it was more efficient to run around people then it was to ride and get knocked off. I fought hard. Starting 109, after the start-loop I was 92^nd, after the first lap I was in the 60s. I got by half a dozen people per lap after that. I finished 48^th in my first European World Cup as a U23. I was pleased with this result. I worked hard, I was smart, I rode well – a job well done in my books, and a recipe for results later. 52 people were passed that day; Andrew Watson’s record of 70 something is safe…for now.

Up next was the haul to Albstadt, Germany.

Driving along the autobahn was awesome. Average speed around 130km/h. We tried to drive as a convoy of the big rig, soccer mom and the van – as we had cleverly nicknamed the vehicles. The scenery throughout Germany is beautiful. It was kind of neat when Dan, the national coach, noted that half of us were either asleep or bored. Most people would kill to drive across Europe and see what we saw in those 8 hours. Yet for some of us, it was another drive to a race. Been there done that. It was kind of funny – I was still plastered to the window for the most of it.

A little joke that was played on our vehicle, soccer mom, sparked from Dan and fellow Norco rider Evan McNeely. There were many signs pointing off the highway saying Ausfaurt. I was told that Ausfaurt was a region that spanned from Northeast France through Germany. They had been fighting for independence for years, but because the region spanned so many different countries it would never happen. Ausfaurt is a wealth region so economic sanctions don't work against them – kind of the opposite to the Quebec independence debate. Anyways, throughout the entire drive these signs to Ausfaurt continued. I figured it was an East-West corridor and I began to ask a couple questions. The game continued to play as the whole van went along willingly believing what we were hearing. In the end…Ausfaurt means exit in German.

Contrary to belief, not all European hotel rooms are small. In Germany at Hotel Café we had a big room. Big. Compared to the room Antoine and I shared in Czech this room was 6 times bigger. It was fantastic being able to build your bike in your room and not in the hall or outside. It also had a kitchen, which was good so we could make food, save some money and eat what we wanted to.

Hilly. The course was ridiculously hilly. 30% steep climbs and never ending switchbacks. It was wild. It would be a test of endurance and power. I knew I was in trouble. The race was fun. A very large bottleneck occurred in the first single track. We marched up to the top, remounted only to get off at the next single track. Wild times, high tension and aggressive people make these running sections fun. Filtering through the first lap I found myself in a group of 8ish with Evan McNeely. On the second lap, first steep single track I got in an altercation with another rider. He put his hand on my hip to move me so he could pass. Unfortunately I don't just let people pass on the steepest part of the course, or in general, so I resisted him. Well, he slipped off the trail with his front wheel going down a bank slightly. Keep in mind that we are riding in a group and it isn’t open road in front of me. So, this ride jumps up and sprints in front of me, throws his bike down blocking the trail for me causing me to get off. At this point we were at each others throats. McNeely, who was two riders up, thought there was going to be a scrap. I stayed with this rider for another 2.5 laps until I attacked him. It was fun. I enjoyed it. Second last lap of the race, I blew up. It couldn't turn my legs. The climbs had got to me. I missed heading out on the last lap by a few seconds – I got pulled.
Overall, not too disappointed, it was bloody hard. 68^th is what I finished out of 150ish riders.

Euro Trip 2014 was a great time. Racing with the big boys was interesting and eye opening. I’ve got work to do. It was another fantastic experience seeing new places from behind my Norco Revolver handlebars. I wouldn't really have it any other way. Great experience with great people and great support - thanks Team Canada, Norco Factory Team, and all the staff! You guys rock!