Not only do we wear matching spandex, we write interwoven race reports. Here it is from Mikey Green and Brendan McGrath who took 1st and 2nd in the Men's B at the Super Cross Cup Day 2.
After an unsuccessful marriage of cleat and pedal, the riders to my left and right dashed forward. I churned the hefty gear as hard as my right leg would allow while I determined when and where my pedal would be; a process of trial and error.
Clipped-in, I sprinted to catch up to the head of the race which Brendy was leading. Brendy: I actually made a good decision this day as compared to day 1 — I started in the big ring and actually got the hole shot instead of spinning out. After a few aggressive passings just ahead of the first turn, a 180º, I managed to squeeze into fifth wheel. The beginning section was of normal width, but due to the tricky, twisty, technical nature of the tree punctuated lane, the only place to safely ride was a thin tract no more than a few tire widths wide—passing was impossible and doing so would likely result in a high speed collision of man and wood. Patience was required until the course opened up…or else.
Brendy, still at the head of affairs, was causing the rider in 4th wheel ahead of me to lose ground on the uphill, off-camber traverse, taking with him Bremer and another. I knew I had to pass in order to maintain good position. I accelerated hard, bridging the small gap given to me with someone in tow.
The five-man group, now led by Bremer, started to pull away.
A super-fast, sweeping downhill transitioned abruptly into a technical, rooty, off-camber section taking us down towards the man-made lake. A hard downhill 180º and we hit the low & long stepped concrete staircase. We cut back and traversed down the same hill on the opposite side of the stairs we had just ascended. This is where misfortune caused Bremer a front flat after he rolled over the business end of a broken stake. To his credit, I’ve never seen a man scurry through a serpentine, technical hill section like that before. He was hard to pass. It was impressive.
We were down to four.
On cue, Brendy resumed the race lead and attacked with a hard effort. I was sitting in third position keeping my eyes on our lead foursome. We were well-away and had a two man tactical advantage. It was an ideal situation.
Through a soft-ground, pine straw covered tree slalom I managed to slip ahead of the rider in second wheel. To test the resolve of our group, I slowed the pace to let Brendy get some ground ahead and to force a reaction. Through the paved Start/Finish the isolated duo gave chase to close down the momentary separation as I sat right on them.
Brendy continued to push the pace for the remainder of the lap.
As if cursed, the same spot which cast its misfortune upon Bremer also gripped ahold of Brendy while he tangled in the high-side tape of the tricky, loose off-camber. We all stalled. In a moment of panic, I jumped off my bike and ran through the tape like a marathon finisher. I was in front at the perfect place to attack; a fast false flat power section just after a tricky bit. I attacked and got daylight almost immediately.
Brendy: After I boggle the off-camber root section Mikey got in 1st and I was in 3rd position. The kid in 2nd couldn't keep pace with Mikey through the next twisty section on the farthest side of the lake from the start-finish. As soon as Mikey had daylight I thought to myself "perfect" and literally sat up. We went through the start finish again as I was making faces at spectators. They encouraged me to get around the rider in front me as I just smiled and sat behind. At one point the rider in 3rd position encouraged the three of us to "not sit up" and I just replied "I have a teammate up there". My biggest fear at this point was that Bremer would catch us again...
Unfortunately, Brendy was delayed in a team tactic that involved him unable to contribute to the chase and rely on the strength of two strangers to reel me back.
Somehow Bremer got to the pit, changed his wheel, and continued to chase. At one point, I noticed through a section that doubled-back upon itself that he had clawed himself back into the chase group. Truly an impressive feat. I later learned that a second issue forced him out of that group and into no man’s land.
Brendy: Bremer caught our group at basically the same place he had fallen of the group in the first place. He took the lead and I knew I'd have to put in some effort at this point. The plan was 1-2, not 1-3. We went through a couple turns and he hit a nice root sending him over the bars and giving him a second puncture. He slowed the rider in front of me and I quickly got around. I put in a dig to get some distance. At this point I knew the 1-2 was going to become a reality. I stayed steady for the rest of the race to cross the line 2nd for the 2nd day in a row.
The course was such that the opportunities to gain time were far fewer than the chances to lose time. An error could easily consume chunks of time. Thankfully, I flowed through the course without mistake. I had found that place we all seek. To say “the zone” seems corny and lame, but that’s where I was: the zone.
With a lap and a half to go I noticed Brendy freed himself from the obligation of the group and had established himself a substantial lead over the fractured chase. I knew in that instant this race was ours and that we would soon occupy the top two steps of the podium.
photo by Marco Quezada
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