Ultimate Dirt Challenge clif notes
Second the first year, third the next, Banned and snipered by a dog in 07...
Finally, I won the Ultimate Dirt Challenge.
It was a real treat as this is as close as I'm able to come to racing at home in front of friends and family.
Wells had a bit of a mechanical problem on the 2nd of 6 laps and unfortunately wasn't able to feel the unadulterated defeat that was looming, but I'm sure he knows well enough the pocket placement on our MonaVie/Cannondale skinsuits from the time he was on my wheel. I tried waiting up, bro...but the Chilean guys brought their game up a notch this year and made the race a strategic one of calculated efforts, timing, and skill. I'd say fitness, but the first mtb race of the year, not to mention racing in twice the temperatures that I'm used to riding in, made fitness secondary to survival at moments.
The coolest part of the day was when they did the awards, on the rock band stage, in front of a crowd that would make the combined crowds of the US series' races look sparse, Doel gave me the title of, loosely translated, "his brother, the Almost Puerto Rican".
If I were to win a bigger race in Spain, or California, for example, it wouldn't mean as much to me. These little moments go by quickly and don't return very often, so when you get them, savor them.
Its interesting looking back on it, because I rarely evaluate performances based on who was there, or how fast we went, but more so on not failing, exceeding challenges and expectations, and maybe in this case, when battling with what strategy to execute regarding race tactics, the choice was made to make the race, rather than be whipped around by it.
After all, I did plan on winning, didn't I?
Finally, I won the Ultimate Dirt Challenge.
It was a real treat as this is as close as I'm able to come to racing at home in front of friends and family.
Wells had a bit of a mechanical problem on the 2nd of 6 laps and unfortunately wasn't able to feel the unadulterated defeat that was looming, but I'm sure he knows well enough the pocket placement on our MonaVie/Cannondale skinsuits from the time he was on my wheel. I tried waiting up, bro...but the Chilean guys brought their game up a notch this year and made the race a strategic one of calculated efforts, timing, and skill. I'd say fitness, but the first mtb race of the year, not to mention racing in twice the temperatures that I'm used to riding in, made fitness secondary to survival at moments.
The coolest part of the day was when they did the awards, on the rock band stage, in front of a crowd that would make the combined crowds of the US series' races look sparse, Doel gave me the title of, loosely translated, "his brother, the Almost Puerto Rican".
If I were to win a bigger race in Spain, or California, for example, it wouldn't mean as much to me. These little moments go by quickly and don't return very often, so when you get them, savor them.
Its interesting looking back on it, because I rarely evaluate performances based on who was there, or how fast we went, but more so on not failing, exceeding challenges and expectations, and maybe in this case, when battling with what strategy to execute regarding race tactics, the choice was made to make the race, rather than be whipped around by it.
After all, I did plan on winning, didn't I?
posted by jsager at 7:44 PM
5 Comments:
Congrats on the win! Even sweeter to win one you've wanted for a while.
Awesome. I wish your good fortune could rub off on me.
jR
Oh, snap! Way to beat'em down ... must be the Juice!
(not the clear, not the cream, but the purple, baby!)
Congrats!
Are those your first wins over Broderick and Wells?
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