Crested Butte Race Report

Sage Wilderman and I ham it up on the podium

Well, I was so busy with the USA Cycling Devo Camp (see my brief write-up below), that I forgot to pre-register for Crested Butte. Since I was now stuck with paying the $30 on-site registration fee (holy cow!), I opted out of Super-D and just signed up for the XC race. Arriving late Friday night, I crashed in the Crested Butte Grand Lodge with Nick from Shimano.
On Saturday I enjoyed a leisurely morning, pulling my kit (kit is the term for my team outfit that I wear racing, complete with chamois and jersey) on at 11:00 for my 12:30 start. The course had changed from last year, and we were set to do a grueling three laps. At the start line we took a vote and opted down to two laps, a decision which I am still glad we made. At the gun we took off on the first climb, which was vastly improved over last year’s climb. In the past we had to spin up this awful cat-track that was too steep to do anything but spin and suffer in the little ring. This year after a brief start alley to spread us out we climbed up on lovely singletrack switchbacks. Soon we were following contour lines around the mountain, occasionally hitting a switchback in the aspen forest and open fields of wildflowers. A few sections of downhill singletrack followed and we popped out on a short stint of brutal fire road. Wheeeeezzz Thankfully we got to point it downhill, and onto some very new singletrack. It was so bumpy and soft that it was clear that it had been cut that week. I couldn’t seem to focus (literally) and had a couple scares where I almost blew off the trail or into trees. I needed some calories. I popped out of this only to see Sarah Rawley, the leader of my race and super-cool girl on the side of the trail in obvious pain.
I stopped with her (as good racing karma dictates) and sent the next rider who went by to let a course marshal know that a rider was injured. Luckily the bike patrol was nearby, and in a very short time two fellows with the ubiquitous white cross on red jackets came hiking up. They were calm and knowledgeable, and quickly had Sarah on the way to the nearest cat-track so an SUV could carry her down. At this point I knew my race was over but figured I ought to finish my laps.
Here’s the crazy part. All that resting with Sarah had recharged me. I made it to the bottom and started my second lap in short order. The second climb I did completely in the middle ring. I was picking riders off on the climbs (!) so often that I lost track. I’ve never felt so good on a climb in the Mountain States Cup. Ever. I bombed into the second descent, determined to see if I could catch my friend Lauren, whom I knew was still ahead of me. I did, and ended up finishing in second! Granted, it wasn’t a very big field, but I still felt very proud to have attacked the second climb so well. More results here.
I checked in at the mountain First Aid. Turns out Sarah had broken her collarbone, and later required stitches in the bursa of her knee. She had urged me not to stop with her and finish my race, but with that list of injuries, I’m glad she wasn’t alone. And besides, I had a great race. Get well soon Sarah!