35 Plus North Boulder Park Classic Race Report

 After getting beat the day before by Westside the guys were ready to take revenge, and unlike the day before, showed up at the North Boulder Park Classic Crit with a full team of 7 riders.  The NBP Crit is a classic race, that has been around for close to 30 years and was often the last stage of the famous Coors Classic.  The race went away for a while, but it is great to have it back with Keith Harper as the boss.  Our field was not huge, about 40 guys, but filled with the top riders in our category.  Our plan was to be in every major move, take a look at the move to make sure it worked for us, and if things staid together, then we would line it up for the sprint. 

Jim & Dan got the race off to a quick start as they made a front group of 7 when the field split, with the group eventually getting to 11.  The guys in the back did not think it was a good move for us, but said let the other guys chase, and chase they did. Once things came back Matt Gates and Matt Segur were all over the front covering moves, as was Jim.  CJ eventually got off the front solo (see photo above), but was smart enough to not work too much.  With about 35 minutes to go CJ attacked again and got up to Rio strong man Bob Dahl, who has won the race a few times in the past.  They worked well together taking some cash primes, but 2 guys was just not enough on the course and a few teams worked to bring them back after 5 laps.

Soon after that there was a bad crash on the start finish line and Rio rider Todd Schuster was down with what would eventually be diagnosed as a broken femur (ouch).  It changed the race as the finish straight was now only one lane wide.  About this time LT got away with a BRC rider and staid out there for a while, but with 5 laps to go Westside brought them back.  Then Mike Sutter from Vic's took a solo dig, but Matt Gates literally rode from 5 to go, to 1 to go solo on the front, and it was all together.  At one to go Matt and Jim rode at the front and keep it single file, while CJ, Dan & Josh moved up as a group.  In the alley way on the back side Dan and Josh hit out, and got into turn #3 first and second.  They took it from there, exiting the last turn first and second.  Dan staid in his position for the win and Josh got nipped on the line, but held on for 4th, with CJ in 10th.  All in all a good day for the guys, with our riders in every move, 3 guys in the top 10, and the win. 

We talked as a team afterwards and felt bad about what happened to Todd.  So we took a good portion of our prize money and headed over to our shop sponsor, Excel Sports, to buy Todd a little get well gift certificate.  Any bike geek knows there is so much bike porn at Excel, a gift card there is golden.  We then got him a card,  a case of mix1, and then stopped by the hospital to say hi and wish him good luck.  We look forward to seeing Todd at Nationals in Bend and back on the bike in 2012!

 Matt Gates, following Matt Segur, and railing the only right hand corner.

 Dan getting low through the multiple turns at the end of the park.

 Matt G, leading Matt S. and Dan out of the last corner.  The guys did a great job of using their team size to their advantage and riding together.

 Dan getting low in the ally with Jim on his wheel.  A couple of last looking FOCUS bikes with Mavic wheels.

 Matt Gates taking Dan thought turn number one at the top of the hill.

Pete Lucke in the 45 Plus race.  We only started 2 guys in that race, but Pete was in the top 10 as usual.