Cascade Cycling Classic
Stage 1 Road Race– At the start of the stage I wanted to stay near the front of this short 55mile stage. If I was near the front no threat could go up the road without me in it. On the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] of 3 laps someone attacked on the first short hill. I followed his wheel and saw a gap open up so I went to the front to drive the pace. I ended up driving the small group over the top and through the false flat but no one was pulling through so I just soft pedaled until we were caught as no one was coming around me. A couple of miles Zach attacked and no one followed and a gap opened up. He wasn’t planning on soloing it but was hoping for people to follow his wheel or try and bridge. Again, nothing happened. A break was established on the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] lap on the hill again, but the same thing happened. Then I attacked at the bottom of a super short little hill and broke away getting up to 30 sec on the pack. However I heard a clicking noise and noticed my front skewer was really really loose on the downhill so I had to fix it and I dropped my chain right as I started up and couldn’t pedal it back on. I was caught right as I got back up and going so my breakaway was nonexistent. It ended up going to a group sprint. I was planning on going for a solid placing in the sprint but there was no 200m sign so I had no idea where to sprint and I was at the front. With 150m to go, the left side people started their sprint and I had to respond on the opposite side of the road. Unfortunately it was too late and I took 5[SUP]th[/SUP] place on the stage.
Stage 2 – 19mile time trial
This was a somewhat hilly 19mile time trial. I started 5[SUP]th[/SUP] from last and focused on being comfortable through the first half and keeping my effort consistent on the hills and descents. It started out fine I caught my 30second man in 4minutes and kept rolling the racers up. By the end of the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] climb (20minutes in) I had caught 7 people. By the end I was having some lower extremity pain so I had to sit up a bit towards the end of the TT. I ended up catching 14 people in 45minutes and went out slightly too fast. I won the stage by 76 second and was leading gc. If I had a disk and booties and was more relaxed and remained aero on the uphill sections I am sure I could’ve easily taken off another 45seconds. It was a solid effort though and I was happy to be in a comfortable position for general classification.
Stage 3 – Crit
This was just a short 30 minute crit from the beginning someone attacked but Zach Bowden remained in front of me closing gaps and being awesome. Zach ended up taking a prime. As the race went on people threw down short little efforts but no real threats. The announcer called out a $40 preme and a attack went immediately so I chased the attack and nipped a Starbucks/SCCA racer at the line for a prime. With two laps to go everyone looked at me to chase a guy that went off the front. With one lap to go I decided to go for it and almost caught the kid but he stayed away to the line by the thinnest margin and I was at the front and got passed by one guy on my left and took 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] in the crit.
Stage 4 – The Last Stage
This stage has 3 major climbs and was 71 miles long. We started out ridiculously slow with everyone looking for me to chase or Zach. In the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] mile 2 Starbucks racers went up the road and had a gap that grew up to 90seconds. Meanwhile we are just sitting in. On the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] climb it is pedestrian then juniors started attacking. Unfortunately, I though there were KOMs the entire race. SO with 1k to go from the top of the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] hill I attack and go over the top with 1 kid on my wheel and a bunch of stragglers making up a giant chain. I ease up because 55 miles solo would be incredibly tough, and I wouldn’t be able to make it. At the base of the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] climb there is about 20 people in the pack then the juniors go to the front and start attacking. The group begins thinning quickly. As we get to 8k from the top the group is down to just 8 people. Two juniors begin attacking and each time they attack everyone around me is suffering to respond. With 5k to go to the top of the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] climb it is just 5 of us. Since I thought there was a KOM competition, I decided to attack. Right when I stomped on the pedals I look back and the stringing starts as I go off the front. I knew there was 25 miles to go from the finish and was hoping to get caught after I got the KOM but as I crested the hill I had a 90sec gap so I was going to keep my effort controlled and hopefully ride it out to the finish. However if I saw the chasers I was going to sit up and ride into the last hill with those guys then attack and go away with 2k to go.
That never happened I was holding 24-26mph on the flats at the top. As I was descending I decided to push the decent railing each and every corner. My gap grew up to 3minutes and 30sec at the base of the last climb. Unfortunately I was really really really hurting and was just surviving that last hill. As I climbed I got that feeling of elation and excitement as I knew I had it in the bag. I crossed the line with a 2:36. I crossed the line and it was over. After 25miles solo it was over at last. Unfortunately there was no KOM competition for the 3s.
In the end I was happy with my 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], and 1[SUP]st[/SUP]. I also won general classification by almost 4 minutes, so that was pretty cool. It was awesome racing with Zach Bowden and Tim this weekend and a unforgettable Mt. Hood experience.
Tavish Taylor