I'm feeling rather happy after my 8th in the USA ITT NC.
Time to do even better in the RR, going for glory!
June 26, 2017 :
USA National RR Championships
If history repeats it's self than Taylor Phinney is already your winner.
But, Phinney might not even get the opportunity with Talansky and Dombrowski
wanted to take their chance to be America's best from team Nike-Oracle.
Our team has the same problem. Lawson, Berry, Warbasse, and me...
No one is certain who is going to lead. It's all up in the air.
--- *** --- *** --- *** ---
At least the profile suits me. Better than the only other time
I got to race in the
USA RR National Championships in 2013.
20kms in and no action. Let's create some action then. I attack!
I'm joined by 7 other fellow Americans, many refuse to help set the pace.
A few kilometers later a huge shift of power in the race,
Tejay Van Garderen has a flat. ExxonMobil - Geberit drops back.
Nike starts pushing the tempo in the peloton.
I'm starting to get some help in the breakaway.
Amazing how one event can change an entire race.
60kms left, TvG and his team have been chasing for over 120kms!
There are now 30 seconds off the main peloton of 26 riders.
The rest of our Fox boys have fell off the pace.
Gavin Mannion is on the attack. The gap is 4 minutes up to the breakaway.
With that news, I'm off! My partners had stopped helping me again because
I'm the best puncheur in the group, many of them are sprinters.
But they weren't going to let me go. It takes them just 5kms to drag me back.
Behind in the peloton more attacks after Mannion is brought back.
First are Alex Howes and Matthew Busche.
Then, Mannion again. This time with Tejay Van Garderen!
He fought all the way back and is now on the offensive. Amazing!
After the breakaway brought me back they stop working looking
at me to bring them to the finish. What a bunch of idiots.
This allows Alex Howes and Matthew Busche to get across the 3 minute gap rapidly and with 10kms to go they attack right by us, I try to at least counter.
A kilometer later TvG goes flying past me and a Bissell breakaway rider.
He is a man on a mission, joining Howes and Busche. What a race from Tejay.
One of these 3 are going to win. The crowd is cheering on Van Garderen
after one of the most inspiring performances in all of sports this year.
(It's been a slow year in other sports...
)
But, it's Alex Howes that steals his moment. Busche 2nd, Van Garderen 3rd.
1km to go and I'm picked up by the 2nd group on the road.
I fought and fought but I'm totally out of energy. There is nothing left.
No energy to even sprint to the line and it costs me a top 10. I finish 12th.
