Last Saturday I raced in the Men's Cat 5 Division at Kingswood Park for the Cincycross Day 1 races. Later that night my wife and I went back to watch the pro men race. It was an absolute blast watching the pros negotiate a tough course in tough conditions. I think they were rocking <20psi in their tires trying to get traction in the muck and slippery grass. Lots of off camber stuff made life particularly difficult.
Eventual winner Gage Hecht going for the hole shot. National champ Stephen Hyde is right behind him, in his first race back after breaking his sternum (that sounds really, really painful). Hyde got third in the Sunday race.
National champ Stephen Hyde negotiates the infamous "camel," a particularly nasty bit of the course with tight turns and steep grades, which was almost impossible to walk on, much less ride. Toe spikes required!
Jamey Driscoll on the top of the camel.
Gage Hecht at the camel.
Mitch Hoke displaying good dismount technique before tackling one of the more nutty bits of terrain...
This was nuts. Negotiating this earlier in the day in my 20+ year old mountain bike shoes was interesting to say the least. Nobody that we saw was able to ride up it, although one pro came very close.
The pits were busy getting bikes washed in time to swap them out, as everyone's bike was completely covered in muck by the end of each lap.
Gage Hecht just about to take the win.
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Taco cat spelled backwards is....taco cat.
Eventual winner Gage Hecht going for the hole shot. National champ Stephen Hyde is right behind him, in his first race back after breaking his sternum (that sounds really, really painful). Hyde got third in the Sunday race.
National champ Stephen Hyde negotiates the infamous "camel," a particularly nasty bit of the course with tight turns and steep grades, which was almost impossible to walk on, much less ride. Toe spikes required!
Jamey Driscoll on the top of the camel.
Gage Hecht at the camel.
Mitch Hoke displaying good dismount technique before tackling one of the more nutty bits of terrain...
This was nuts. Negotiating this earlier in the day in my 20+ year old mountain bike shoes was interesting to say the least. Nobody that we saw was able to ride up it, although one pro came very close.
The pits were busy getting bikes washed in time to swap them out, as everyone's bike was completely covered in muck by the end of each lap.
Gage Hecht just about to take the win. ___________________________________________________
Taco cat spelled backwards is....taco cat.