First 2021 Cyclocross Race

 This past year has been challenging in that I never quite know what I'm training for, other than wanting to get better. Races have been tentatively scheduled only for them to be canceled at the last minute. And so it is also with the 2021 cyclocross season here in Washington State. In past years, we've had at least 3 series running in the Greater Seattle area with MFG, Cross Revolution, and 53Eleven. In 2020, we had no races at all, and in 2021, we're looking at a much reduced calendar from both MFG and 53Eleven, and only Cross Revolution endeavoring to offer a full season of races. That said, even they are unable to commit to the full season, offering only one race at a time due to venues being unable to commit to permitting. 

That being the case, I've needed to be flexible and opportunistic with my race plans this season. I didn't feel like I was really ready to plunge into my first cx race of the season, but also didn't want to miss out, not knowing for 100% when the next one will be. And so, last Sunday, I traveled up to Arlington, WA for the first race of the season where I'd registered for the Cat 1/2 45+ field.

With only one cx season under my belt in 2019, I ended that season as a category 2 racer. For this season opener, I did consider the open Cat 1/2 race, but thought it'd be better to find my feet at the age group level before trying anything more ambitious.

Both the weather and the course conditions were ideal. This was my first time on this course and it was more or less flat with a couple of twisty single track sections where you couldn't lay down much power, a sandy section that was probably 40 meters, or so, a 3 mini barrier section, and your usual yellow tape twisty grassy sections where line choice is of the essence.

The race started and I took a second to clip in and get going. I entered the first corner around 4th place and managed to make my way up into 2nd before almost falling on a right-hand transition from gravel to grass where the gravel was loose. That cost me a couple of spots as did my bike handling where I felt like I was accelerating and braking too much into the twisty corners. The first couple of laps I was running in 4th or 5th and not really settled. When I did get past into 3rd and challenge for 2nd, I fell hard on one left-hander that preceded a steep short sharp hill where I lost the front wheel and everything went sprawling. I lost a lot of time getting back up and then having to run up the hill since I didn't have enough momentum. So now, I was all alone in 3rd spot with 2nd probably 20 secs ahead and 1st yet another 20-30 secs. I spent the next lap or two coming back towards 2nd only for my chain to drop on my chainring as we transitioned from the bumpy tarmac to grass on the back side of the course. Damn! I spent all that time working to get back on terms with 2nd only for another calamity. Oh well, the vagaries of cyclocross.

With the race 6 laps and 1 hour long, I was now in no-man's land in 3rd spot with 2nd spot well ahead and 4th spot well back [full results]. Overall, I was pleased with the effort - I never felt like I was fading and could handle the hour duration well. I need to continue to work on my bike-handling skills, especially cornering but also basic things like bunny-hopping. 

My friend, and team-mate, Ian Tubbs, finished 3rd in the open Cat 1/2, and as best I can tell, was riding 30+ seconds faster per lap than me. That's the gap I need to work on closing to be competitive at the next level and I think much of it is technique and, certainly, power, especially coming out of corners. Can't wait for the next one and see if I can improve on this first one.