We pick things up with the last 3 stages of the Sea Otter Classic.

--- *** --- *** --- *** ---



Same circuit as stage 1 but just over 10kms longer with KoM points.



Yellow looks pretty good on me. But can I keep it for another day?



The team is working hard for me. We can't let a breakaway slip away.



Eventually it's just me and Berry, the peloton is down to 50 riders.



Third to last circuit, Berry and I have broken free from the peloton!



We quickly catch the one-man breakaway and are also joined by Francesco Reda.



Fabio Aru quickly jumps across the gap to join us... just great.
Berry and the breakaway guy are dropped. 3-way battle for the finish.



Reda and Aru start sprinting for the finish at the same time.
I can't match their speed. I'm burnt out; nothing is left in the tank.



Aru takes the win over Reda. The clock starts ticking... ... ...
20 seconds later I cross the line for 3rd. Aru is your new leader by 12 seconds.
I couldn't hold onto it but 12 seconds can still be made up in the time trial.

Aru and I have about the same talent against the clock.
Which will have bigger impact: the home crowd or the yellow jersey?



We jump right into the battle between the two of us.
Be honest, that's really the only thing you care about anyways.
My time is 17'57". It's average at best but the wind did pick up during my ride.



Aru stops the clock with a time of... 17'38".
His GC lead grows out to 31 seconds over me.

Same circuit, even longer with sprint points added.



We fast forward to 5 circuits to go.
It's me and 3 Desigual teammates with Aru and Reda.



I'm trying to use the sprint points to my advantage.
It's clear now that this was the group to be in.
The peloton has blown up behind us.



Going for the sprint bonuses cost me. As I'm recovering, Aru and Reda attack.
And with lapped riders everywhere, the race is getting out of control.



Aru uses the confusion to ditch Reda and win the Sea Otter Classic.



I come home almost 6 minutes behind Aru for 5th place.
Both Reda and Machado jump over me in the GC so I finish 4th overall.

+1 EXP for a successful tour in front of my family.

The next race update will be Joe Martin Stage Race:

EXP - Prologue / Form - Downhill, Fighter, Sprint, Stamina

After saying our goodbyes to Kyle it was back on the plane.
Zooey cried the entire flight. I felt sorry for everyone onboard.
But what was bothering me the most was where the plane was heading.

As much as I didn't want too and truly wanted to avoid it,
Chloe talked me into staying in Kansas for a few days
before driving into Arkansas for the Joe Martin Stage Race.

"Travis, we have too. We need to hand out the wedding invitations."

"I thought that's why smart people created social media...
that way we could send messages without having to meet people face to face."

"It's for our wedding Travis. My parents already know.

Nothing is going to happen."



I wish I could believe her, but I'm not that naive anymore.

Something always seems to happen.

Turns out my soon to be wife was right. Nothing happened.
We stayed with my parents during those few days and went around
the town dropping off our wedding invitations into mailboxes.

I should really learn to trust more. But it's just so hard,
especially after everything I have been through.

With business in Kansas taken care of, it was time for my next race.
April 25-28, 2014 : Joe Martin Stage Race



Stetina from the new PCT team Pepsi is the top overall favourite,
but Reda, Bagdonas, and Sinkewitz all have a great chance to win as well.



The team brings the same squad from the Sea Otter Classic,
except Higinio Fernandez is send back to Spain because of a sore back.

Again I have full leadership with a strong helper in Berry.

--- *** --- *** --- *** ---



A rare mountain prologue kicks off this 4-day tour.



I'm the first Desigual rider out the start house, by preference.



Weather experts are predicting rain later in the day.
I stop the clock with a respectable time of 9'21".



Rain is pouring as the rest of the favourites hit the road later in the day.
But apparently it isn't ruining Patrik Sinkewitz's ride
as he sets the new best time with 9'01".



Three riders later, and last rider to go,
Peter Stetina smashes Sinkewitz's time by 14 seconds.

Two flat stages ahead before the crucial hilly circuit.



Just 1 breakaway rider so I pick up 4 bonus seconds at the sprint point.



Breakaway is caught and we head into a wet, fast finish.



Matthias Friedemann takes it over Jasper Stuyven.



I'm the only Desigual rider to finish in the lead group of 81 riders.

Another short flat stage, with a single sprint point dead in the middle.



5 man breakaway wipes all the bonus seconds
(and our first Bissell sighting of the race)
so it looks like I will just hang on for the finish.



10kms to go and the breakaway is swept up. Another fast finish ahead,
and this time instead of rain it's wind causing problems.



Jasper Stuyven with the hulk celebration after finishing 2nd yesterday.
Again, I'm the only Desigual rider to finish on the same time as the winner.

It doesn't look hilly but the slopes ramp up to 9% and we are on it every 6kms.



We jump to 3 circuits to go. The breakaway was been caught and
a few favourites have already gone away on the attack
(Gediminas Bagdonas, Martin Elmiger, Kai Reus).
Berry and I are next to make a move.



Peter Stetina (in yellow) isn't a fan of our attack and joins us.



Lapped traffic is getting in the way it's getting hard to find the leaders.
Just 1 circuit go! If I can stay in front of the peloton I would jump up the GC.



Well, we couldn't catch them.
Gediminas Bagdonas and Martin Elmiger sprint it out for the stage win.



Bagdonas takes the stage win but Elmiger wins the Joe Martin Stage Race.
A minute later Stetina is across to finish 3rd overall just over Reus.
Reus who finished 3rd on the stage gets 4th overall, leaving...
5th in GC to me! As I finish 6th on the stage behind Berry.