Big Winners in Wendover

It was a Revolution 1-2 at the Wendover Intermountain Cup race yesterday. I would have reversed the 1-2 order if possible, but I was excited for the result anyhow.

The race isn't actually in Wendover, but about 20 miles further west. We drove over in the morning, and I made a rookie mistake -- not enough food before the race. As I finished my warmup, I realized I already had the hungries, but no extra gel in the car. I slurped my warm-up bottle, which had Poweraide in it, and then off to the line.

Sam Moore sprinted off the start, as usual, but about 100 yards in he got his rear wheel fouled with weeds. I'm not sure how it happened since we were still on the huge lawn the race starts on, but he had to stop and unwrap. StupidBike moved into the front and we followed him into the singletrack with T Hodnett in 2nd, me in 3rd. Hodnett pushed it through the single-track with his front-wheel sliding around quite a bit, but Bob was able to open a decent gap of probably 30 seconds. We hit a stretch of rolling gravel road, passed the pro-women, and I was after Bob. I closed a little at first, but I didn't want to push too hard. Bob was going pretty fast and I was expecting a long, hard race. I was getting quite hungry, and trying to eat but conserve my gel.

The first climb took about 15 minutes, and Chad Harris passed me on that climb. He went by pretty fast, but then slowed a bit and tailed a pro for a while. I would see then now and then.

A two-minute descent, and then 40 minutes more climbing with two 1 minute descents in the last third of the climb. I caught Chad and friend at about the 50 minute mark and asked if they had any food. Chad gave me a gel with a deal that I wouldn't cut him off on the descent. I gladly agreed :) We dropped the pro, and Chad gapped me a few times, but I generally would catch back up. The last section of the climb was quite steep, and he gapped me again there. The feed at the top was unmanned, and Chad grabbed the bucket and dumped water over his back.

So at the the 1:10 point we had gone flat for 15, up for about 55, and down for about 3 (I know, doesn't quite add up). The downhill was almost 8 minutes long, and lots of fun. Another 6 minutes of climbing and then 5 more of down.

Then the real climb came. After climbing for 6 minutes we crested the climb, and I figured for some down, only to look up and see Bob crawling up a steep, long climb. It was actually 2 climbs, each about 3 minutes long, with the speed at sub-4 MPH. Chad opened it up on me on the first of these, but I caught him on the second.

At this point I was dying for food, and can't really remember the course as well, but we went up and down for for 10 more minutes and I finally passed and dropped Chad on the last climb before a long down-hill. The descent was deeply rutted and I nearly crashed, but by the bottom Chad was out of sight and I was catched glimpses of Bob from time to time.

I hoped to catch him, but he was too far up there. At mile 24 I figured a short descent and we're done, but that last mile had a fair amount of climbing and I was cramping in several places. It was tough, but I think it was tough on everyone. Chad seemed to fall further behind, and I think Bob opened his lead a little more. I didn't see the times at the finish, but Bob first, me Second, and Chad third.

The Turner was perfect for this race, light and efficient for the climbs and plenty of opportunity for the suspension to do its job.

I don't know how much difference food would have made. Bob rode a great race. His form has come on great this year.

Sadly, no pictures. The kids race was great with Scott, Heidi, and Ian all racing. Scott's race (6-9 years) was neck and neck the whole time, with him leading 3 of their four laps, but then he dabbed in the last turn and got passed by the other 3. Ian and Heidi's race was fun too, just to watch them ride.

Oh. Here is a profile map I swiped for Bob's StupidBike sight.

It is too bad more people didn't show for this race. The course is on of the best, the venue is great with the ranch, the big lawn, and the hambugers, and the drive is...unique. Seriously, though, only 2.5 hrs from my house in Draper. We stopped at the Bonneville Speedway on the way home, just to see it.