| BIKE
STOCK ROCKS Race Report: by Jeremiah Bishop - Trek/VW |
Tygart family campground was the stage for West Virginia's own version of Woodstock on wheels last weekend. When your at a West Virginia Point Series race you never know what to expect and this race was no exception. In addition to having an awesome band line up, the weekends festivities where highlighted by a 70 mile road race with 3 huge climbs totaling to nearly 6,000 ft of climbing, a twilight dirt crit underneath a hot air balloon, free food and water, kids races, sunday's mountainbike race and did I mention the fire breathing clown act?
Regardless of all the fun activities racing was still the key focus for team balance bar-Devo/ WV tourism rider Nick Wait. Half way through the winding forested course was the col de Snowshoe, the courses decisive climb. Nick felt it was time to putt the race on and steadily accelerated sending riders scattering into small groups on the road below. I worked hard to maintain contact with my one hundred and twenty five pound pace setter. I played the cards in my favor attacking on the winding decent toward the valley preceding the final climb. My tactic took him by surprise giving me the twenty second gap that I held onto (time trial style) to the last big climb. Nick closed in a few seconds but my strategy of maintaining a sustainable effort paid off, I soloed in for the next twelve miles to take the win.
The most exiting point of the weekend had to be the close showdown Nick wait and I had in the 15 minute grass criterium. We both attacked each other mercilessly but nothing would stick. With two laps to go we slowed momentarily to decide who would lead it out. On the bell lap Nick exploded with a furious effort, I suffered to get on terms with him but managed to block pass him into the last turn. The final 100 ft was a drag race of a sprint. Nick had more momentum but we slammed into each other and threw my front wheel over the line first.
The rains came overnight further wetting the saturated 6 mile steep course that was Sundays cross country. I took an early lead on the first climb in hopes of gaining a clear run a the courses treacherous water bar filled first decent. Once again the six packs paid off. No not beer, the downhill series that is a fall tradition in Harrisonburg. Anyway I took advantage of my small gap and ran with it. Nick succumbed to misfortune on the last lap in the form of a broken seat post. He still maintained a 12 minute lead on the third place rider and only two minutes behind me.
With the racing over I enjoyed some food and music and soaked in the laid back atmosphere racing in West Virginia is well known for.