Tough night. Wicked hot. No lunch…but was doing well. 1st, 2nd & 3rd lap slotted in 3rd. 4th lap got pinched inside on the long out when 3 attacked (and about 5 more followed) for the prime. Wound up about mid-pack into the backside turn. Made my way back up to 5th then lost ground again on the long out downhill (usually a rest leg, but tonite a hammer run). With 2 to go and heading up the S, I moved outside and stood on it (27 mph) to gain some spots on the riser. The pack compacted and blistered out. I touched a wheel that moved out in front of me just before the riser after breaking w/ all I had. I stayed up, but about three behind me did not. I did however end up stopped in the road. I reclipped, made sure everyone got up and stood to get back on. There was no way. Two broke at the top of the riser and it was on in the pack. I hammered one lap and soft peddled in the final. Bummer night. My bad. Feel bad for the guys that went down behind.
This was the fastest 4/5 race I have raced. It was ON from a runner at the start. I was redlined from start to finish. No rests tonite on the long straights. We were hammering all the way down and back. Average mph, even after the soft pedal lap was 23.8 mph. So I’m sure the pack was over 25 mph. All the races were hammertime except the 3/4 which looked pretty lazy until 3 to go. The 1/2/3 was amazing with a 3 man break probably up a half a lap and a two man chase (w/ Eric Benz) 3 turns in front of the pack. Stephan Roth pulled the pack back to the chase two and then onto the break in a lap and a half. Unbelievable. Stephan then went on and took the field sprint for the win. SUPER STRONG. Korioth got the most aggressive rider jersey.
