Photo courtesy Pat Malach, Oregon Cycling Action
Mens CAT 3 Race: by Sage Freeman
Sunday was tough! After the neutral roll out the field ramped up to a blistering speed. The crosswinds were punishing, the tailwinds forced the group to a suffering pace, the headwinds seemed to be the only relief tucked back in the pack. I spent most of my energy early in the race laps 1 and 2 trying to get in breaks. I was successful 3 or 4 times but the breaks kept getting pulled back. Half way thru lap 3, the final break went off. Kurt Haas jumped a few moments later attempting to bridge up with a couple others. Ironclad began to slow things down on the front since they had a man in the break. Mike Stockton also went to the front trying to slow things down in hope that Kurt could stay away. By the end I had very tired legs, bordering on cramping with no snap left for the field sprint. Like I said, this was a tough race.
Mens CAT 4 Race: By Eric Vickers
My legs have been feeling really good lately, so I talked myself into racing today! My day didn’t start so well, so hence the reason I was talking myself into racing! I awoke at about 3am in the morning with a pretty heavy intestinal disorder! A couple hours later I was able to get to sleep again! I awoke again at 10am, surprised I was able to fall back asleep. Feeling better and a bit of breakfast, then off to the races. At the race, that I knew would be hard! (wind and rain) It was confirmed by Sage, Mike, Kurt, and Jim….. It’s gonna hurt!
As Mark Z. and I are waiting for the race to start, it’s starts to sprinkle! No worries! I tell myself as I am cooling off quickly! Finally we are off on a so called ‘Neutral Start’ for the first 2.5mi….. This is funny cuz we are now doing 28-29mph in a torrential downpour and had already dropped a number of racers…. Hmmmmm! All good tho, I knew the legs were feeling really good! Over the tracks and the race begins for real this time! Four guy’s are off the front as soon as we turn right, and their team mates imediately started blocking! They had 45 seconds in no time. After a couple of miles and a turn into the headwind 3 Portland Velo guy’s and myself take it upon ourselves to try to bring the break back. Swapping positions at the front, I think we were starting to make headway, legs still feeling awesome….. Until my first cramp, right calf! Ouch, backed off a bit and was able to keep my position, fighting thru it, it was my turn up front again. I was digg’n deep and made it thru my pull, but standing to make it up the next roller Cramp #2…. left calf, d*%n!. I lost a bunch of spots quickly.I was able to stay on but now both calves were cramping and I couldn’t push the pedals anymore, I slipped off the back. I was able to catch back on again but the cramps came right back… 13.5 miles in and my race is done. Pretty bummed, I turn off the course and rode back to the finish. Z-man made it another lap!
Since I DNF’d I was able to watch the finish of the other afternoon races. We were well represented in the Cat4 race with Earl Hazekamp, Tyler Rupe, Mike Emerson, Christian Francis. Earl, Tyler and Mike all had good races. I think Earl was in the top 10. Thanks for listening
Mens CAT 5 Race: By Zachary Jabin
In the 5s the pace was really slow due to the wind and no one but Warren was spending much time at the front. I sat back for the first lap and then most of the 2nd lap but I felt to boxed so i decided to move up. I moved up and took a pull on the front in hope that people would start cycling through but no such luck. With Warren and i doing all the work and the pace still pretty slow I jumped of the front a quickly developed a gap that lasted for almost half of the 3rd lap. When the group caught me a lot of people had been dropped and the attacks were starting. I was able to hang with the attacks, but my legs were feeling a little worn from my break. After being neutralized the attacks the group the attacks resumed and going into the finish there were only 15 or so of us with the front group. My sprint wasn’t great but came in 12th. Warren came in 9th.
