Iron Cross Light – Race Report – 1st Place (Cat 4)

In a rivalry that transverses multiple genres of bicycle competition I once again found myself in waning stages of a race attacked by Cooper Ray.

Whether it be a road race, criterium, alley cat, unsanctioned fixed gear night race, and now cyclocross I am perpetually having to defend myself against this ruthless teenager.

The Race Course

Cooper and I both took our inaugural cyclocross start at the Iron Cross Light event in the Cat 4 field.  It was the traditional cross race the day before the marathon main event.   Since I can’t compare the course to any other I can only describe it.  The lap started with a gravel false flat through the woods.  The course would emerge at top speed into what felt like a stadium arena.  Lines upon lines of brightly colored ribbons  zig-zagged and spiraled across this clearing in the woods.  Initially disorienting to pick a line and figure out which way the course went, I quickly programmed into my mind the sequence of corners and obstacles.

After the gravel stretch the racing surface transitioned to slick/wet grass.  A right hand hairpin gave way to a short straight that tightly wrapped its way around a YMCA  picnic structure.  A few more quick corners came a chicane that dumped you into a rideable sand pit.  Exiting the sand the road turned gravel and climbed up towards the woods.  After a few hundred feet it made a 180 degree corner and plunged you back down into the grass arena.  This led you to a series of corners which jammed you into a sand pit that was un-rideable.  A quick dismount/remount and you were routed back up the hill before switching directions again.  Another U-turn and you were heading back uphill towards the only barrier on the course.

The barrier was mid climb which resulted in a serious loss of speed when it hurt the most.  After the barrier the only option was to run up the rest of the climb and remount on a tangled root strewn section of trail.  Immediately after remounting you would navigate another corner that would once again drop you back into the arena.

This descent was fast and featured a left hand kink that put you on the wrong side of the road for the following right hand hairpin.  The right hand corner then stretched out and twisted the road to the left.  This was the beginning of the spiral.  The spiral wound around and around, smaller and smaller until it ended with a sharp tricky corner.  The road then increased its radius spinning around the outside of the spiral.

It straightened out and crossed the finish line before turning left and winding its way through the trees, bunk houses, camping facilities.  After several stretched out corners we encountered a section of windy single track.  In the middle of the single track was a strategically placed log across the trail.  This log would interrupt your rhythm and perhaps your entire race.  After the log a slight descent led to a fast lefthander onto a long gravel section which ran parallel to a beautiful lake.  This gravel road turned 90 degrees and that was a lap.

Lap 1

I attempted to talk myself out of it but I knew that there was no other option than grabbing the hole shot.  With reflexes highly tuned for standing starts I knew that I would lead the field into the race.  Because of my cross inexperience I wanted to give myself a cushion at the beginning of the race for a few bobbles.   Adrenaline plays a large part and pushing my body from the gun is something I do well (but suffer later for).

The race started and I went fast.  The field apparently disintegrated immediately.  Within a few corners there was only five guys left in my wake.  I literally sprinted from the gun until halfway through the first lap where I eased up and let Cooper and Todd Schonei take over.  My head was pounding and my heart rate maxed out.  I accomplished my first goal but recovering from the violent initial effort was going to be crucial.

Towards the end of the spiral on lap 1 I slid back and lost contact with Cooper and Schonei falling back as far as fifth briefly before entering the single track in fourth position.  I passed the dismounting third placed rider and hopped the log  which shut the gap to Cooper who was unable to ride the log.

Lap 2

I ended the first lap in third place behind Schoeni and an attacking Cooper Ray.  I patiently concentrated more on recovering than chasing Cooper’s moves.  Through the power sections of the course Cooper opened up the gaps but would lose time on the obstacles.  Exiting the second sand pit Cooper’s cleat failed to engage his pedal quickly enough and we both sailed past.  He quickly chased back and retook the top spot.

I again was shot out the back from these two leaders.  Through the single track I rode the log and took the descent and found myself almost running into the back of Cooper.  He had apparently crashed.   I yelled at Cooper to quit fucking up the log crossing as we bridged up to the leader on the straightaway.

Lap 3

Cooper led us into the sand pit but had to stop and straighten his handle bars which were knocked sideways from the previous lap’s crash.  Schoeni seemed to have some highly tuned cross skills so I cruised behind him briefly as Cooper drifted backwards.  Heading up the second gravel climb I attacked and took the lead.  I ended Lap 3 on the front with Schoeni tucked into my draft.

Lap 4

I assumed the Cooper was cooked and out of the race.  Schoeni and I had a several second lead over the youngster.  I led the race but stepped down the pace a notch to recover for the battle ahead.  Through the spiral Schoeni administered a rather aggressive and seemingly pointless move as he used a liberal application of elbows to take the lead.  I didn’t contest the spot immediately waiting for the entrance of the single track to retake the lead.  I check my peripheral and Cooper was out of sight.

Lap  5 (last lap)

Schoeni stayed glued to my wheel despite the small attacks I laid down on the gravel road to test his mettle.  I cranked up the pace and cornered harder than the previous laps.  My aim was to keep the pace high to prevent any duplicate rough house passing attempts from Schoeni.

This tactic worked as Schoeni went backwards on the first gravel climb.  Cooper however had bridged up out of nowhere, shot past Schoeni announced his presence rather rudely by attacking on the next climb to gain several bike lengths over me.  Cooper’s attack was strong and completely demoralizing.  I gritted my teeth and increased the pace hitting the barriers in contact but barley hanging on.   We both remounted our machines in similar fashion and made the corner which shot us down the hill and to the final corner before the spiral.

Cooper’s clip-in was slow and I charged down the hill.  Under heavy braking for the hairpin I saw my chance and dive bombed the inside line.  Cooper attempted a block but didn’t shut the door (which would have resulted in a nasty crash).  I yelled at him and squeezed past into the lead.  The only thing left was the spiral.  I sprinted from this point on and through blind rage and extreme oxygen debt I was able to hold off for the win.  Amidst all of the excitement Schoeni crashed in the spiral butwas able to remount and take third.  Fourth, fifth and rest of the field were nowhere in site.

I was happy to win and relieved to come out ahead of Cooper in our latest battle. I know the future won’t consist of beating up the cat 4 field so I need to get my act together and train. Cooper will be back strong and once he learns how to ride his bike will probably be leaving me in the dust.

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