[Uwracing] San Fran UCI race weekend

[Morgan Schmitt]

I know this took a while to get out but I was busy last week.  Anyway it will give you a break from flapping your jaw with your relatives.

 

Surf(s up) City Cross - USGP #5

 

This race was two hours south of San Fran located in a smaller town of Watsonville that reminded me of Zillah, WA.  It was about frigin' 80 degrees, a noticeable contrast to NW cross weather.  As a result there was a lot of dry hard pack, ehh!!  I managed to get a 4th row position on the start which is the best I could get since I hadn't poached points at any smaller east coast UCI races (they call up the first 3 rows based on UCI points, even Chris Horner wasn't called up).  The start was incredibly fast but I lucked out and fought my way into the top 25 before the first corner.  All was going well until the first bottle neck in the course that consisted of a drop off the pavement (picture the omak stampede) into fairy dust which leads you into a loose, off camber section.  Of course we blow into this section of two lines, 4 abreast and my wheelman goes over the bars; I proceed to so also and end up losing at least 10 places in the mean time.  I tried to regain my composure while attempting to see and breathe through the dust.  After a few laps we formed a group with the cref kid brady and my teammate adam mcgrath and some other cali riders.  Things with the group were going somewhat decent up until I slid out on the loose off camber section.  The fall took a lot out of me, ripping open my Portland scab on my knee and bruising my back not to mention my ego.  After this point I began to go backwards.  I lost the group of people I normally session and was wondering when Barry was going to lap me.  This was one of my worst races this season.  I did finish the race though but no one would know since they mixed up the results and put Adam Mcgrath as me in 37th place.  Still I was not proud of that.  

Sunday, Clark Natwick GP/Crank Bros USGP #6 - C1
Thankfully a new day.  I couldn't believe we were racing in the beautiful Golden Gate park in front of all these beautiful women (I hoped they were women).  I figured I should enjoy the venue since cross races usually are banished in the future after we rip it up such places.  The weather was a little cooler, 75 haha, because there was a lot more shade on the course.  The course was layed out really well offering a little bit of everything.  The only problems were the massive piles and lines of fairy dust.  It definitely favored the mountain bikers.  

 

Both Dan Neyens and I started in the 5th of like 8 rows, yeah superb, but again I kick right into my pedal and joined the kamikaze crew down the 300 meter almost straight into the first 150 degree turn.  I lucked out again and missed the big pile up on my 9 oclock.  Through the first pit I was 20th which is great considering my start position.  Later that lap when people were still jockeying for positions someone bumped me from the left as we were both fighting for the single line in the upcoming section.  Since in this race you always tried to lead because the fairy dust in the air was so darn thick, normally I said tuff shhh.. buddy and taken the line but as I looked to my left I noticed the banana suit of Chris Horner (yeah Chris Horner) so I threw my hands up and I let him have the line.  While ridding his wheel I witnessed his hideous technical skills.  I didn't have to worry about him much longer once we got onto the 600 meters of pavement.  After the first couple of laps I started to ease off the gas a bit and worked my way back into about 25th place.  I raced for awhile with a rock lobster guy but then he faded.  A couple of lap I rode lonely about 40 seconds ahead of the u23 chase group consisting of A Mcgrath, Brady, and Dan.  I'd say the crowds lining the course rivaled the fans at last years Nationals.  It was especially crazy on a section that smelled more pungent of beer than any frat party I've ever been at.  The fans were throwing money and passing beers off to riders.  It was really crazy but kept me pumped.  

 

In the closing laps I started to pick off a few people fading and managed to bridge up to Chris Mcgovern and managed to keep Matt Kelly in our sights.  The last lap consisted of us two roadies, Chris and I, making too many technical mistakes in our temporary mental retardation.  None of my attacks panned out and because I ended up pulling him into finishing straight.   I missed my shift into my big ring and he took the sprint for 23rd.  Luckily I ended up 3rd U23 and made the podium and didn't lose any skin.  Dan Neyens was just off my pace coming in 28th.  Horner managed 11th and I guess announced he was racing nationals.  Hopefully my form will hold for Natz and my possible Christmas trip to Belgium.  

 

Morgan
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