First Place Senior Category Candon MTB.

[chris49]

Which came out of the blue after a poor performance last week, albeit on a much harder course.

And I am in total shock. 

Full report with pictures later today.

[Dave Hounddriver]

Congrats.  You worked hard for it.

[chris49]

Candon Festival MTB. 12 March 2016.

 

The event was estimated at 54 km for all categories and around 39 km for Senior Citizens and ladies. After a hard race last week, not sure what to expect today.

Senior Citizens, Candon local residents and ladies off first. And local champion Gezelle B. Butala sets off fast. I was siting about 12th out of 20 riders in this group. Gezelle is a good trail rider and descender, but today has long segments of cemento, so I'm faster there.

I was able to move up early. Moved quickly into 4th place, passing Gezelle and Delfin Altura my good friend. Around 5km and I move to 3rd, and I see the leader. He's sprinting very hard and I thought, nah.....they went off too fast, so let me sit back here and see what happens. Not much problem, I am close up 3rd, then we go to so double tire tracks over gravel and I get a good line through. No need to move up yet.

Back to tarmac and then a few short hills. I'm 2nd now on the leader's back, but he descends fast and gets away a little, then the 3rd placer sits on my wheel. Gone again off road and now the 3rd placer goes to first and I'm back in in 3rd. Then back again to tarmac with hills and at 15km I move easily into the lead. So great, it's around 39 km today so I will sit upfront and I can win. I thought that.

But we go off road onto a harder section and the skinny guy now moves away. No. 17 second, me 3rd, and another rider comes up in 4th and passes me so I'm now 4th. The skinny guy went ahead and we can't see him now. Then some sand and we ride through it and I make up some, 4th place but close up.

Now we move up to 22 km and I'm 3rd, a few hills and I'm straight back into first. But now the chain drops off the last cog and firstly I back pedal and it comes back on, then it jams again and I have to dismount. Spun it back on, now I'm 4th and the other 3 riders get away and I can't see the leader. And we go off road, and the positions don't change.

So back again to the barangay road and I ride down the 2nd and 3rd, but can't see the leader. So I get down in TT position until 31km....then I see him, 300 metres ahead. He's going ok, but I'm catching him, remember he went out too fast and I count on that....we are at 31 km, about 7-8 km to the finish. I need a few hills but so far none appear. We hit a patch of off road sandy, but I run through it while the 2 others walked. The leader cannot be seen again.

Then it comes, 3 short sharp pinchy hills and although I can't see the leader I make up some ground, the we go left under a bridge, then over a bridge and I see him....and he's slowed down, looks wobbly. So no ceremony I go straight to the front. And he cannot respond. Later he told me he's cramping and nothing left in the tank.

The main group now, the major categories have gone off on a separate loop and I don't see Gasmin and the boys anymore. Hot competition for Lapog Cycle tean, Rolando Burgos, Oren, Ian Friala Lagasca, Arnel Gacusan.......they all get nothing today. Race conditions and categories against them. While mine is favorable.

So now a motor cycle comes up beside me. "Yes sir, what's the problem?"...."nothing, you are leading the entire race".....WHAAAAT??..."follow me up to the finish, 5km to go.

So I'm feeling great now. No pressure just like training, I go down to TT position, holding 29 km into a light headwind. Had a Snickers bar just for a boost and finish my coke.....25 years of triathlon and bike racing, I have never been in this position before. And my stamina kicks in, I'm not even breathing heavily.

So all the way up to the line....WINNER. And a small crowd brings me home.

[Jack Peterson]

2 minutes ago, chris49 said:

So all the way up to the line....WINNER. And a small crowd brings me home.

 

[chris49]

I got up there with the young Mayor and the City Counselor.

[OnMyWay]

Congrats Chris!  Now we just have to wait for the results of the drug test and it will be official!  

[chris49]

On ‎3‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 0:59 AM, OnMyWay said:

Congrats Chris!  Now we just have to wait for the results of the drug test and it will be official!  

Last Wednesday I'm about to pull the plug for a one month break. Not because of comments here, but I was lying on the bed still tired from the previous race.

Now 5 days later. I went out on the National Highway spinning effortlessly, 19 km out and 19 km back.

There are no upcoming races. But now as we enter the warmer months, the water down at the beach is perfect, flat and smooth as glass. So a few swims and a bit less biking for the moment.

[earthdome]

Congrats Chris!