Coal Miner's Classic Crit

The Coal Miner Classic has become a popular race with the team and in 2009 the 35 Plus guys pulled off a win with a well executed race plan, and some solid sprinting from Kevin Anderberg. Kevin is not racing this year, but the boys wanted a win again. For 2010 Jim, CJ, Josh, Marcel, and Matt S raced this event, with both Jim and Matt S. racing the day before at Mt Evans.

In 2009 this race was single file for most of the event, with the power house Excel Sports team keeping the pressure on. The race was not as hard this year and mix1 had one of the larger teams. Jim Thies showed no signs of being tired and got up the road early. Unfortunately he was solo and this course was not going to favor a solo break. Other moves went with a solo rider from Vic's and combinations that did not worry the boys. CJ & Josh did not feel great so they sat in and hoped for a field sprint. Jim rode the front a lot, Marcel was also up there and Matt Segur really took over the last 5 laps.

With 3 to go a 2 man break was up the road, but only by a few second and it was not gaining time. So the field played cat and mouse and caught them right at the bell. Vic's attacked again, but it was a suicide mission, so everyone lined up for a field sprint. Marcel lead it out for Josh and Josh went toe to toe with Bob Dahl from Excel. In the end Bob got the best of Josh and it was a reversal of 2009, when Kevin beat Bob by an inch. CJ came in 8th and Jim Thies in 11th. All in all a solid day, but still not the victory the team had hopped for.

In the photos below: Matt Segur riding on the front, Josh taking a free lap after blowing out a tire on a massive hole in the last corner (CJ blew out a tire on the same hole the lap before), and CJ & Marcel riding at the front.