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June 30, 2008
Need a little patience, yeah
Cobra broke out in song on Sunday afternoon in my new theme song: Patience - by G 'n R. To give a bit of context, I was co-promoting the GrandStay St. Cloud Crit and was not planning on racing, but I had brought my bike along anyway just in case I got the chance. Not know how the volunteer side of things would unfold, I was not keeping my fingers crossed. However, as it turned out we had enough volunteers to let me sneak away for 40 minutes and race.
From the gun, Jens lit things up with a flyer off the front. It made everyone work and was a great move considering he was just coming off a crash a few weeks ago at the State Fair. I had raced Birchwood the day before and was not sure what my form would be like today. With 5 Loons in the group, I decided I would attack as soon as the group caught Jens. I wanted to keep the pressure on. I stayed out for 4 or 5 laps and at one point had almost a 1/2 a lap on the group. I won a prime (Applebee's) and started to ease up knowing I should go back into the group and see if I could help out one of my team mates for the win. With Frye in the mix, I assumed I could recover and lead him out. The next 15 laps or so were pretty calm. A few attacks, but nothing serious. As we went round and round I figured I could jump early and lead out for a full lap keeping the group strung out. So as we entered into the last lap I heard Andy yell go at any time, so I went from the first corner.
As we entered the second corner, I came in hot and almost went right into the curb. At this point I think Andy started ease off, but I just went harder. I looked back to see if anyone was with me and I had a gap, so I put my head down and went again. Third corner was fine and I was still gaining speed coming into the slight downhill into the 4th corner. As I came through the corner I glanced back to see that I had a great gap and I was a shoe in for the win. I then went to stand up and pedal and the next thing I knew I was skidding out across the pavement watching the whole group whiz by and my win go down the toilet.
I was too impatient. I had come into the 4th corner very fast and laid the back over hard to come around the corner. I had not righted myself enough when I started to pedal so I clipped my pedal and poof... I was down. The carnage is 3 stiches to my right pinky knuckle, 2 to my elbow and road rash from my shoulder to my hand and from my arse to my ankle all on my right side. I look like a mummy!
It is hard to believe how stupid I was. I did not need to come into the corner so fast, and I should have known better than to pedal at that point. I thought I had my second win of the year, but lady luck said not so fast. Now I am out for at least a week or two in racing. I am going to miss Northfield which I was really looking forward too. I have to say a huge thank you to all of those who attended to me on Sunday, to Madonna for driving me to the ER, and to the St. Cloud Hospital for scrubbing my wounds clean.
On Saturday, I raced Birchwood. It was a great race as I loved the course. Nason hill was not too much of a factor as no one pushed the pace too hard. No breaks were successful and we ended up coming in for a bunch sprint. I found myself having to lead out the sprint, so I went at 400M. I died at about 25M to go and ended up 6th. I have to say I am having a hell of a year and it is too bad a stupid crash is going to screw it up a bit.
I have not even gone and looked at my bike yet, I am slightly afraid too.
Posted by kermisch at June 30, 2008 8:36 PM