For some reason, the Cross Crusades and I have not seen eye to eye. My luck has been poor in starting position and it seems like I spend the whole race trying to catch up to everyone who started in front of me. This year was no different. I was in the 2nd to last group on Saturday (starting position is based on a random order of your last digit on your #). The last group gets a coupon for a free 6 pack of beer...the 2nd to last group gets a crappy start position and....no beer...weahhhh
As usual, the course did not disappoint. It was relatively fast, without a ton of obstacles or sandy pits to have to hike through. There were a few bottlenecks. Everything was rideable but unfortunately the bottlenecks forced you off your bike as people were not riding through some of the more technical sections...which meant if they were not riding, you were hosed. Such is the benefit of starting at the tail end of the race where you are at the mercy of those who got better starting spots. C'est la vie. It was still a great course and a good day. I was able to pass a few people but clearly was not able to make up the ground lost before the race even started thanks to the starting position.
I figured the crappy starting order should bode well for next day as theoretically, if they reversed the order for Sunday, I would be in the 2nd group towards the front.
The race itself was good. I never felt like I could really open up though as there were tons of people and it made it challenging to pass. I need to learn how to get more aggressive on some of the passing lanes but it is all part of the management of the race as there is obviously a ton for me to learn!
Some pix thanks to Kurt!
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