Cross Nationals Mens U-35 Category B - Gary Douville - 12-17
Good day friends,
Thanks to the many of you who came out and supported us during the races this past weekend. Special thanks to Justin Howe for running up beside me and screaming like a madman every time I suffered up the long climb/dismount section.
Mens U-35 Category B Race-
Well, I was definitely where I wanted to be fitness wise coming into this race. I had a rough tranition into the ‘cross season months ago but found my ‘cross intensity over the past month. Unfortunatlely, cold symptoms started hitting when I traveling back home on Friday and the flu hit pretty hard Saturday and Saturday night. I was in the car at 5:30AM on Sunday and was so close to turning around to go back to bed. At the time, I told Rebekah that I was going to spectate and support the team and not race. She said ‘yeah right’ as she knows me so well. Anyway, I felt decent on the pre-ride and decided to go for it.
The course was long and fast with a few slippery corners and an off camber section which was ‘Slippery as Snot’ on the first few laps. I started in the second row and sprinted hard off the start. I was about 5th wheel going into the slippery left hander. Scott Brooks was third wheel or so and went down. I avoided him and hit the slippery off camber section. Sean O’Rourke went down directly in front of me taking me down in the process. I have seen the pictures and it looks like many others went down behind us as well. I got up quickly and there were 2 guys ahead of me. I went pretty hard to catch them about 1/2 way into the race. Behind me I would guess 10 bike lengths back was Boone, O’Rourke and a few others. I caught the 2 lead guys on the back pavement section and they sat up. I chased to get up to them and then they expected me to pull on the flat. I obliged and lead across the start/finish and for another 1/2 lap until roughly the upper pavement section. At that point Boone attacked hard and I tried to go but lost his wheel. I felt like I had good consistent speed but no ‘kick’. Shortly thereafter a group of 4 chasers formed including Damien Colfer (Verge Series winner) and I feel off their pace. I stayed between 6th and 8th place for much of the remainder of the race and couldn’t do anything more than my consistent pace as I failed everytime I attempted to go hard and put in some sort of attack. I stayed in 6th through the last 2 laps after Boone flatted and then got passed on the finishing straight and ended up 7th. Never felt great out there, but so glad I decided to race for the last time this season.
Again, thanks to all who came out to spectate and cheer and kudos to the other racers who came out and gave it their all. Have a great holiday, great winter training and a successful 2007 race season!
Gary