The course was a lot harder than I remember and a good solid 50% trail, double track and brush-wacked trail. In fact the first section was serious backcountry style with sticks rocks and very steep barely rideable sections.
Props to Garth Proser and Ryan Odell for hosting one awesome race this weekend in the heart of Mohican Country. Great course!
After Jeff Schalk blasted up the first hill to win the 200 clams up for the Loudonville prime, I knew it was going to be a fast race. Early I took to the front and set a fast pace through most of the first 25 miles of the Mohican Trail single track, turns berms and ferns!!! Sweet!
After the dust settled a solid selection formed of Jeff Schalk Tinker, Michael Simonson, Christian Tagnauay and Brandon Drugalis . After 2 ½ hours though, I paid for my efforts. First Simonson put in an attack on a hike a bike but Jeff reeled him in. I was on the rivet and almost got dropped before the halfway point.
We hit some nice trail again after aid station 3 and I felt a lot better in the tight single track.
Sensing my fatigue and that of the others, Jeff used the punchy dirt road climbs like a topographic anvil to hammer us with. The amazing thing was that it wasn’t just a couple of guys off the front but a lead group up until the last 5-mile trail and everyone was riding really strong, this allowed things to just come back together.
The finally was crazy our group was 6 strong and I was hurting but I downed a MonaVie Energy drink with 30 minuets to go and my legs seemed to have one short burst left in them.
As we approached the final trail, I sprinted for the hole shot. The final 4-mile single track was twisty with a few rocky stretches and just 5 miles from the finish I thought it could be the deciding factor. Jeff saw the move coming and we locked elbows and almost went down! I jumped again 2 minutes later in a last ditch effort to put a few seconds on the chasers and it worked.
I won by just 45 seconds or so and Christian came around Jeff as he cramped on the last climb to take second! What and exciting end to a 100-mile race through the woods!
It was a lot of fun riding with Tinker in the front group and we were able share water and cover the attacks.
Time to unload and clean up after the fun weekend. The dishwasher is churning, the washing machine loaded the hose blasting. I’ve got to drop off the camping stuff I borrowed for the team to Chris Scott.
Next is the Kenda Cup Massanutten Hoo-Ha! I just wish the week was two days longer.
Thanks for reading.
JB
Full results are up here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2009/may09/mohican100_09
Labels: Endurance Racing, Racing
posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 2:16 PM 
