Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
Rubicon went down three riders today, we lost Kirk to a DNS from yesterday’s crash and both Matt and Dan where suffering from dehydration and couldn’t hold the pace and end up losing contact from the bunch. Jarred also lost contact but he collected riders as he went rode alone, which kept him moving forward.
A break went, it was hard to make out just who was in the break, as the race radios didn’t transmit that well in all the trees. Once we received word, it was three Toyota-United, one Health-net and Barry Wick from Kona . . .now that was fire power.
The next two laps up cooper spur were devastating, as Priority Health and the Navigators set tempo to hold the break at 1 minute 30. Again riders where being blown off the back, then we heard over the radio a solo rider was bridging up to the break – Heath Blackgrove. . . .He made it. Dang. Now that’s four Toyota-United, one Healthnet and one Kona rider. The break grew, but not by much, it was now sitting at 1 minute 55 seconds. It looked like game over for a while, but Rubicon riders Aaron, Logan and Brad rode strong and patiently waited for the final lap to make a Rubicon run and then luck smiled on us –well sort of. The Navigators started working harder bring back the break; Barry Wicks lost contact . . . could this be true? Could the break be breaking up? Next Heath net was gone, the time came down to 45 seconds, 40 seconds, more riders blowing off the pace, but Aaron, Logan and Brad still waiting, waiting for an opportunity.
Before the race Rubicon made the decision that Aaron would go on the last lap, all or nothing make something happen. That was our plan and Aaron was sticking to it. . . good thing he was calm and cool because the rest of us where starting to worry.
We hit the last lap, made it through the feed zone, without hitting anyone as feeders and team cars in the caravan dart in and out; next thing I hear over the radio is our riders need a feed. It was now or never to get them bottles, however Navigators was driving a fast pace, Brad knew Aaron and Logan need bottles so he came back. But to feed a rider here at Mt. Hood, the rider has to drop off the field and come back to the caravan behind the chief official’s car, this means Brad was off the back by 100 feet. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but when you have Navigators at the front of the peloton trying to bring back Toyota-United, a 100 feet off the back is PAINFUL. Brad quickly grab bottles and gave it his all, he made it back into the field, found Logan and Aaron gave them the much need drinks and then blew.
We made sure Brad had a couple of drink bottles full as he had one more lap to do by himself.
The field hit the base of the climb, by now only two riders remain from the break, Chris Baldwin of Toyota-United and Jeff Louder of Healthnet – Aaron Tuckerman shot out of the field, a kiwi on a mission, a mission to bridge. By the top of the climb we heard over the radio, rider 81 has joined the break – WAHOO! Aaron made the break . . .but the field was hot on the heels of the three escapees.
Meanwhile back in what was left of the field, Logan “Danger” Hunn had just lost contact with the field at they crested the climb, but he was in some very good company as he had with him a Priority Health rider, a Toyota-United, Healthnet and a few more guys to help catch. Together they drove down the twist decent diving into corner and sure enough by the end of the decent dodging in and out of the caravan, Logan was back in the game, back on the back of the field. What an awesome job for a guy who is due to turn 20 years old in five weeks!
Last time through the feed zone, Aaron gab some water to pour on his chest and back – Aaron knows the secret to riding well at Hood, keep your core body tempature cool and you will decrease the chance of over heating and blowing up. 10 miles to go, Glen Chadwick of the Navigator attacks taking Bobby Lea of Toyota-United with him, they start gaining time on the field. Glen is a sure bet for the win, he has been riding strong and looks to be another Kiwi on a mission. Aaron waits his time, he is waiting for the final run up the Cooper Spur climb, again, Aaron rockets out of the field, taking a Healthnet rider with him, he’s gaining time on the field, 10 seconds, 20 seconds . . . then it happens, the field starts pulling him back and by the time Aaron hit the 300 meter mark, 9 guys catch Aaron –dang! It would have been nice to see Aaron take second today, but it wasn’t to be. Aaron took 8th moving him up to 6th overall only 41 seconds off the pace of Ben Jacques-Maynes of Priority Health.
Logan finished up in 31st place, placing him 32 overall 4 minutes and five seconds back. Jarred finished in 101 today, placing him in 100th – but he finished that’s the important part. And Brad, the “Payne from Downunder” has been one of the best team players we have ever found, Brad finished 68th today, placing him 68th overall, he has been there every step of the way making sure Tuckie and the other guys have what they need when they need it. Brad rode like a rock star today, big shout out to Brad! I think I'm going to have to keep this kid!
Day 2 -
The Embarq Columbia Hills Road Race as a hot, hot and hard day for the boys in Orange. The race started out slow, as a three-man break rode up the road, gaining up to 13 minutes at one point.
Things start out on the right foot this morning, 50 bottles made, guys ready to go on time . . .. What could go wrong? Adam and I ready the guys and their equipment, now that's one rider and bike times eight, next thing we hear was a bang as Kirk's tire blew off the rim, Adam quickly replaced the tube and had Kirk's bike up and going.
The field heads out. Adam and I count cows along the countryside as the field takes a while to get going. Three riders roll off the front, gaining time as the field doesn't want to chase, it's 90 plus degrees out so nothing really starts until lap two. Three riders touch wheels and go down, Adam does a quick check all the Rubicon guys are up right and racing. Halfway into lap two Richard has to pull out do to an ongoing pinch nerve, which we are trying to get under control. This takes Rubicon down to seven riders now; losing Richard is a big blow as we run dual leadership with Aaron and Richard calling the shots on the road.
As it stands, Dan is sitting in 6th on GC and Aaron in 9th. The game plan for today was to always protect our top GC guys first, but set our sprinters up for the stage win. Today was to be Kirk's day . . . but a crash in the feed zone on lap three sent Kirk to the pavement hard. It took a while to get Kirk up and going again, Andy switched out his front wheel and gave him a push. I called to the guys, I need two riders to come back and help motor Kirk back to the field as he was falling far behind. Matt and Jarred dropped out the field and started pacing Kirk. Adam and I knew something was wrong with Kirk, as his white SRAM hoods weren't white anymore, but in fact red, blood red.
Matt, Jarred and Kirk worked hard to get back into the caravan, while Healthnet sat on the front of the field bring back the break. Speeds where a little quicker than before and this huge effort by Jarred blew him off the pace and he had to finish the next lap and half by himself. Matt, for a guy who just turned 19 three months ago has an engine on him like know other. He dug in and brought Kirk up to 300 feet of the field whereas we told Matt to rejoin the field as Adam had to work on Kirk's hand on the fly. As we hit a semi flat spot, Adam covered the big hole in Kirk's hand with some gaze and taped it pretty tight all at about 25 - 30 MPH. Then Kirk rejoined the bunch.
With one lap to go; now the field was really moving. The break was coming back fast, the downside, riders where getting tired and with the heat there where many hard crashes, thankfully there was no more crashing for Rubicon.
Riders where being blow right out the back as the field hit the KOM and a series of attacks came off the front. Rubicon lost Kirk, then Matt, then Dan. Brad was in, and then out, then in, he found himself riding with a group of 15 or so just behind the field. With 10K to go, we only had Aaron and Logan left.
Aaron and Logan crossed the line at 4 hours, 38 minutes and 22 seconds same time as Ben Jacques-Maynes of Priority Health the stage winner and now tour leader. Aaron is still in 9th place over all GC, 25 seconds back, tomorrow is a new day and hopefully one that will smile on the boys in Orange.
If anything today was a total team effort both on and off the bike by all the guys . . .I wish the day would have played out differently, but you can't have everything. I'm very proud of this little team and for everything they have accomplished; maybe good luck will smile on us tomorrow.
