Lookout Hill Climb, Sandstone Crit

After a long spell of poor weather we actually got in both races this weekend, although the crit on Sunday was questionable. The Lookout Hill Climb in Golden got things off to a fast start early on Saturday morning. This race has been around for well over 20 years and is a front range classic. The Mix1 45 Plus team has constantly been the best climbing team in their category and took 4 of the top 6 spots at this race in 2009. They were out to repeat. The race went hard from the gun and perennial Mix1 strong man Jimi Gibson took over the duty of drilling it at the front. As is often the case this tactic worked well for Jimi and he established a small group off the front for the remainder. Jimi was well on his way to a podium when disaster stuck and he flatted within the last mile of the race. He rode the flat in for 6th place, but it was bad luck. Chris Leggere can through after the flat and took 3rd place for the 45 Plus team. Less than a minute back were Kevin and Matt V. for 10th and 11th. The 35 Plus team lined a group of 5 riders, that included the team's top 3 climbers in Matt S., Matt G., and Marc. Obviously you need a name that starts with "M" to climb fast. Matt S. went from the guy and flatland specialist Jim Thies went with him to take a huge pull and set Matt free. Matt S. rode solo off the front until Nico T. (a top cat. 1 who was doing the HC as his second race of the day), gave chase. Matt G. covered Nico and Marc patrolled the field. Nico started attacking and ended up with the win, Matt S. got second, Marc attacked his group to take 4th, and Matt G. holding on for 10th after the effort. Above photo is the 35 Plus Podium with Matt S. taking a fine second place.

Sunday provided a new crit in Longmont on a rectangular course that looked unselected at first. However the temps started to fall, the sky got dark, it even rained a bit, but most importantly the wind started to howl. The 45 Plus team was short of riders with only Jimi and Henrik starting. For those of you who do not know Jimi he is really an iron man. The day before he was nearly winning the crit, the next day he is taking large pulls in the crit. Jimi is the oldest rider on the Mix1 team, but usually rides as if he was the youngest. Meanwhile back in the race Henrik did some early attacking to softening up the field. Eventually a strong 3 man break got away that the boys missed. Not one to panic Jimi drilled it and got across with several other riders. The composition of the break was such they were not coming back. Unfortunately a few too many guys sat on the break and wanted a free ride. Jimi was having none of that and took some monster pulls, but in the end he is not going to out sprint the bunch of sprinter. Jimi held on for 8th place.

The 35 Plus race at Sandstone was held under worsening weather, with the winds picking up, constant rain, and temps in the 40's. Josh, CJ, Marcel, and Pete started the race knowing it was going to blow apart. Marcel got things going with an early attack and the counter from that attack lead to the winning break, with the field absolutely shatter behind (no group of riders was larger than 7 in the winds). Pete rode in the break as a great team mate, taking some pulls when the tempo needed to be upped and working to bring some attacks back. Josh benefited from this and went all in on the sprint, coming out of the last corner in 3rd, and just missing the win with a fine second place. It was the team's second day in a row with a 2nd place, where the winner each day way from the pro/1/2 race. All in all a really solid race for the 35 Plus team.

(photo borrowed from the Feedback sports road team, check them out at http://feedbacksportsracing.blogspot.com/)