Green Mountain Stage Race ‘24

Where: Waitsfield, Vermont
When: 8/30 – 9/2
Who: Alana O’Mara
Category: 3/4/5

Getting to Green Mountain Stage Race GMSR (or Gay Men Spiritual Retreat, careful similar acronyms may lead you to the wrong website) was a victory itself. After starting residency I figured it was not something I’d get a chance to do.  It’s a four-day stage race taking place in the Mad River Valley region in Vermont, over Labor day weekend. Luckily, coming off a week of night shifts and a fortuitously scheduled vacation, I was able to fly out to Vermont for the four days alongside my two teammates, Hannah and Ally.

I showed up to Stage 1 straight from the airport, my parents met me with an extra large cortado and lots of peanut butter. By the time I got to the start line, they had almost finished for the day. The race director had let me know prior to the event, I could still join, but would have to take a time penalty. With caffeine still buzzing through my veins, I hopped on the saddle to gruel it out for a 2.7 uphill time trial. It was WAY harder than I thought, I even managed to naively stand up on the gravel part only to realize that is not what you do in a time trial. By the end, that cortado was fighting to come back up. But my time placed me in the lead, only the penalty dropped me to sixth overall. This was perfect ammunition, I knew I was strong, and the other girls wouldn’t know to target me.

I started Stage 2 with a 36 second gap to first. The circuit race was a single, 37-mile lap. With rain falling, the race started aggressively, with elbows flying in what felt like an overly chaotic start. Ally and I both knew it was about getting through. I tried to focus on being calm. Finally, the hill hit at mile 20 and I felt at ease. I paced hard up the 10 minute climb and in the last 400m as the sprint to the Queen of the Mountain (QOM) I finished with three others.

Final push up the day 2 QOM. Moments before disaster.

It was my chance to get a time gap! I flew over the crest just behind one other girl, hurling at 40 mph when I smashed into a pothole, tearing a massive gash in my front tire. Great. Day 2. Another thing out of my control, pushing me farther back from the GC. I waited for the neutral car in agony, hoping I could with any chance grab a new wheel and maybe not loose too much time.

A lonely finish following a poorly timed flat.

In rage, I descended the next ten miles. Alone, in control, and tucked. Finish photo above featuring unhappy pothole finder. Wildly, despite waiting for the neutral car and I tire change out, I had only lost 3 minutes on the general classification (GC). Which puts Alex’s tire changing skills to shame.

Hannah hitting the deck with the finish line in sight.

Meeting Hannah and Ally at the end was good. Luckily, everyone was safe despite a crash that had occurred at the end. So maybe Day 2 wasn’t so bad.

At the finish of stage 2: Alana fighting back tears from her flat, Ally unscathed, and Hannah still in shock from her crash.

The field getting instructions at the top of Sugarbush prior to stage 3.

By Stage 3, I had slipped further from GC contention, but this was the race I had been waiting for—63 miles of hilly terrain, culminating in the notorious 2.5-mile climb up App Gap, which finishes on a brutal 20% gradient. I had time to make up, and the goal was to go all out, over and over again. Mid way through the race is the first climb. Hannah set me up with a scorching pace up the first half of the climb, I was able to surge away from the field over the final few hundred yards to take the QOM jersey and break away solo. Also, finally a chance to pee on the bike (I swear I only do this in dire situations and I knew it would be a great way to lighten the load for the last climb). We still had 33 miles left of racing, 20 of which were in the valley, so I rode an honest tempo. I was solo for nearly seven miles before being caught by a group of seven riders, plenty of time to dry off. Everyone worked well together, rotating consistent turns to keep the rest of the peloton at bay… until Baby Gap, where the final climbs of the day began.

View from App Gap

The last two climbs, Baby Gap, and App Gap are each brutal climbs. This was my last chance to gain time back on GC, so I attacked again. Only one rider tried to follow, even offering to help on the downhill after Baby Gap, but she didn’t last long. I’d scouted the Strava segment the night before to figure how to best pace the effort. Based on times from former teammates, 40 minutes from start to finish seemed like a stretch but ultimately possible. I cruised up Baby Gap in 18 minutes, still feeling okay. During the quick descent, I realized I had a monster of a climb left. I drew on my most recent cycling trip to Mallorca, where Alex and I took on the switch backs of Sa Calobra, and channeled my inner climber-gremlin. As the gradient got steeper, I started passing a few others from earlier races, but also seeing a few walk their bikes. The thought of dismounting and running crossed my mind - but I could see the finish line - I was so close. I bike-limped over the finish line and immediately collapsed. Alex came running over screaming in excitement, his stop watch already started to see what the gap would be.

Finishing with nothing left in the tank.

I finished the segment in 40:04, faster than all women on the day. That finish put me back in the race, moving me into second overall in GC, only 37 seconds behind the lead. And the best part was getting to watch my teammates battle it up the mountain as well.

Ally and I thriving in the medical tent.

The final stage was a gritty, hilly crit in downtown Burlington. The leader and I traded blows for much of the race as I tried desperately to get away. I managed to snag a few points on prime laps, but ultimately, I finished in the sprint pack, taking fifth on the day. I held on to second place overall, with first place taken by professional triathlete, Jenna Horner.

Giving it one last rip in downtown Burlington.

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend. I had so much fun enjoying a weekend sharing the sport I love with some neat people. I even got to watch the boys skip rocks, indulge in maple-flavored creemees, and observe Arsalan in his natural habitat. TIll next time, GMSR.

Clarendon Cup ‘24

Sunday, June 2
Arlington, VA
Aaron Seip

The Armed Forces Cycling Classic is the biggest bike race in the D.C. area. It’s one of the biggest bike races in the country as a matter of fact. Two days of intense criterium style racing in the nation’s capital (kinda - Arlington) with professional riders from all over the world. It is personally one of my favorite races to watch, and more recently, to race.

Since I was in high school, I’ve been watching the Clarendon Cup, which is the second day of the AFCC. At this point in my life, cycling was becoming a keen interest for me. I remember watching the 2015 edition of the Clarendon Cup when the weekend was known as the Air Force Cycling Classic. I thought to myself, “Wow, I had no idea there was bike racing at this level in this area. I would love to do that someday”.

Fast forward to 2022 and I had my first chance to pin a number and rip around the streets of Clarendon. This first attempt was short lived, as I came to find that the course is incredibly difficult due to the short, fast loop with tight corners. This meant that my race effort was a lot of high-power bursts out of a turn to maintain the pace of the group while also constantly preparing for the next turn. A relative lack of fitness coupled with a night out partying before (dumb) meant I was pulled by the officials at about the halfway mark.

2023 Edition of Clarendon Cup didn't go so wheel for us, Frankie behind. Caught chasing the whole time.
Photo by Ari Strauss

Now let’s talk about 2024. I got my category 2 upgrade earlier in the season, so I was feeling better about actually competing in the category 2/3 race for Clarendon Cup. My preparation leading into the race was ideal: not too much fatigue, but enough effort to have solid fitness with some freshness before race day. Strategizing before a race like this is helpful but not likely to matter once you get started. The course profile coupled with the early June D.C. heat meant that there was a lot of attrition, so the strategy was to stay with the inevitably fast start. Once you made it halfway and were able to stick with the front group, chances were that you could make it to the end.

For Meta, we came in with a massive squad. Spencer, Luke, Devin, Flo, Sean, Colin, Brian, Owen, and myself. This meant that we had a lot of options when it came to making and following moves up the road. The start was fast as always, and we were able to stay towards the front and monitor for threatening moves. Things were all together until roughly 20 minutes in when two riders started getting a small gap off the front. This gap blew out when a crash happened between them and the main peloton, causing the peloton and our team to slow and recalculate our paths forward.

By the time I was able to move towards the front to assess the gap, it was not looking good. The gap was continuing to grow, and the peloton was not working together to bring it back. Several riders made bridging attempts, and we were able to follow all of them due to the fact that we had so many teammates. These efforts were all short lived, as most of the peloton showed no interest in setting a cohesive chase. This meant that we were now racing for the final podium spot. The silver lining in this situation was that the effort got easier and we could take a deep breath before preparing for the finish.

Checking in with Flo, mid-race to stay on the same page.

With about 13 laps to go, my saddle comes loose and tilts down towards my top tube. I was at threshold trying to keep myself from sliding forward and out of my saddle, which I knew was not sustainable if I wanted to even try something for the end. As luck would have it (for me, not for others), there was a crash on the start/finish straight. I was several wheels behind the falling riders but I lost all momentum trying to avoid the pile up. Race rules dictate that if you are affected by a crash, you can take a free lap as long as the race has enough laps remaining. I check the lap counter and see that I only had two more laps until free laps were over. Thank God. I was able to dive into the neutral service tent and fix my saddle before being thrown back into the race.

Taking free laps is a bit of a double edged sword. On one side, you get to fix whatever is wrong with your bike and continue racing. The other side is that the officials throw you in with the main peloton from a stand still, which means you’re dumping massive watts just to get back to race pace. This meant that I had to burn a match that I would have otherwise used for my final sprint. By the time I was able to match the pace of the peloton, I was towards the back. I needed to move up.

I was able to use the next few laps to gain positions until I was eventually at the front of the group. There, I found Colin who asked if I wanted to go for the sprint for third place. I still felt strong so I told him I was down to give it a shot. With three laps to go, he moves to the front with me on his wheel. In the moment, this felt like the right move. We were able to control the pace and take the best lines through the course. Unfortunately our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and Colin had to drop me off with more than a lap to go.

This is not where you want to be if you’re trying to set up for a final sprint. I’ve been in similar situations before and rather than try to do a really long flyer like I usually do, I ease off slightly to let other riders come around. This is a dangerous game in the final lap of a crit. You don’t want to let too many riders pass you because that’s more space you need to make up in a final sprint. But you also want others to give you a draft so you can take one last deep breath before the final 200 meters.

Trying to get get some cohesion back in the group to chase the break. Colin second wheel.

As Colin starts to pull off, two riders attack off the front. I know that I can’t let them go, so I dig deep to bridge the gap. By now, my legs don’t have much left and the other riders who got my free pull came around me going into the final turn. The final straight is a long false-flat drag, and it took everything for me to put down one final push to grab the best result I can. Ultimately, I come away with 12th. Comparatively to the previous two attempts at this race, this is a great result. But compared to my season and the level I want to be, this was a bummer.

As I had time to decompress and reflect on the race, I realized that our team is still new to racing together at this level. Most of us only upgraded to cat 2 this year, compared to some riders in the field who have been at cat 2 for multiple seasons. Races are always a learning experience, and this race showed us that not only can we last the entire race, but we can actually contribute at the pointy end.

Like any race, there’s always next year.

Mabra Champs Weekend

MABRA Senior Criterium Championship
Saturday May 4, 2024
Hagerstown, Maryland
Frank Tiburzi

This year's criterium championships at Hagerstown offered a challenge both from the competitors and the weather: the early May race day came with persistent cold rain up until and through the race. The field was relatively small, around 30, with only a handful of teams represented. Still, the field had plenty of firepower and several people that could get away solo and create a headache for us.

Speaking of us, we lined up with myself, Alex, and Flo, and came in with a plan to either try to get myself away from the other threatening riders, forcing them to chase, and if it was all together at the end, the plan was to light it up on the front with 1.5 to go with Alex behind me and send him flying into the final half of the course for a hopefully easy victory, and Flo to try and take the field.

There was a small riser on the backside, but really the most decisive part of the course was the final turn into the finish, where a deep puddle combined with road grime created a super slick patch of pavement that wanted to throw you to the ground if you tried to lean the bike over at all.

Wet roads, and rail road crossings...not a fun combination

The pace was aggressive, as racers tried to take advantage of the dicey conditions. However, nothing really stuck due to the lack of true team coordination. The most threatening move of the day came when an Espresso rider got a 20s gap after attacking from the front. He pushed his luck too far and slid out in the slippery final corner. Just like that, the field was all back together.

With a few laps left, it was clear the race was gonna stay together to the finish so Alex made his way up to me and I confirmed he was behind me with 3 to go. Going into 2 to go I kept looking back and could not find Alex at all. I was coming down the main straight as Jonathan yells at me that Alex is out(I learned after the race it was a mechanical DNF) so I immediately went into high alert - it was game time; on my shoulders alone for a result.

Coming into the final lap, I was further back than I’d have wanted. Total’s Zach Raccine sent his signature attack early in the final lap, causing gaps to form throughout the field. I dug deep on the hill, and coming out of the corner I launched a last ditch effort to close on the leader. I came up to 3rd wheel into the final turn. I had safely navigated the tricky turn the entire race and I wasn’t going to mess it up now. I took it nearly straight up, as the rider in front of me slid out. I narrowly eked by, while three racers closing on my wheel weren’t so fortunate and succumbed to the water trap. I pulled out a decent sprint to pass a fading Racine, and with daylight behind I posted-up in celebration, taking a very hectic edition of the MABRA Criterium Champs.

MABRA Senior Road Race Championships
Sunday, May 5
Greencastle, PA

Back up to the greater Hagerstown Area! Just across the Mason Dixon line in Greencastle PA it was time for a road race on a brand new course. On deck was almost 80 miles of light rolling terrain with a few long straights and a hilly section in each of the 5.5 mile course for 14 laps. My first impression was that this course is awesome. It flowed well and appreciated how the first half of the lap had long stretches where team tactics could play out and then could further develop in the more challenging, flowy back section.

Now, on to the race. There were a lot more people signed up for this one, nearly 50, and much more team presence, most notably Total Civil Construction and Project 412, both with 4 or more riders. Representing META it was just myself and Alex and we knew we would have to play games with the bigger teams and try to make the break.

Still early-on, the peloton all together comes through the start/finish line. The bottom of the hill was ~150m from the finish line.

Like all road races, people want to get away from the group, and attacks were launched over and over from the beginning but nothing with the right composition was forming for the first few laps. 

Around 25 miles in, with the pace hot and the field strung out, a small group was starting to form off the front with 3 Total riders, 2 P412, 1 Bike Doctor, and 1 CVC. We were about to enter the rolling section of the course and alarm bells starting going off in my head that this could be the break that finally sticks. As we rode by Jonathan on the sidelines, he gave me a shout telling me what I had just come to realize: this was gonna be the split.

I made my way to the front of the field and put in a 30 second dig to accelerate across the gap, and got to the front of the developing break and put in another short pull to convey my motivation to make this stick.

We rolled turns for two laps while the gap stayed less than 20 seconds and groups tried to bridge across, but the strong makeup of the break meant some of the strongest riders left in the peloton wouldn’t do any work and none of the efforts made it up to us.

Frankie making sure everyone's contributing to keep away from the peloton

We continued rolling until we had opened up over a 4 minute gap. During this time I had considered trying to get away solo, but I was confident in my sprint against everyone else in the break except for P412’s Shawn Litster, who has stood on the top step after many dominant sprints in local races, so I figured I might as well take my chance in the reduced field sprint than potentially get countered while trying to attack the break, since I was alone with two teams of 2+.

Going into the final lap, one of the P412 riders sent a flyer and quickly gained ground on us as the non P412 riders and myself looked at each other deciding who was going to chase. Fortunately for me, Total had 3 riders and one of them took to the front and put in the biggest digs to bring back this promising attack.

Greencastle living up to its name. Beautiful pastures on this overcast Sunday.

With half a lap to go, a few efforts went but nothing that really had to gusto to stick, as soon as they saw we were accelerating they turned it off. It was going to be a field sprint.

Coming into 400m to go there is a downhill, an uphill, then a downhill drag to the line. Not wanting to be caught off guard and stuck trying to catch a fast accelerating rider on the downhill drag, I went for it at the start of the uphill. This turned out to be a bit longer than I remembered it from the previous lap, and even worse, at the top of the hill, about 250m to go I see both Shawn and Zach on my wheel. Nothing to do now but sprint as hard as I can despite my legs already feeling like I went too early. As we get within 100m of the line I see shawn come to my side and gaining on me. We both throw for the line and he nabs it by a few inches. We fist bump for a great finish and make our way to the side of the road and wait for the rest of the field to roll in, where Alex takes the field sprint.

All smiles after a successful weekend.

Tour of Newport News

Where: Newport News, Virginia
When: 4/11-4/14
Who: Luke Burger

I have a complicated relationship with the Tour of Newport News. In 2023, racing as a cat 4 in the 3/4 my street sprints were a wash, the time trial went decently, I got blown out of the water in the crit, and had a lackluster finish in the circuit race.

This year would be different and I had a plan: Devin was going to take the W in the 3/4, then his upgrade. I was going to do whatever was necessary to make that happen and maybe get some points along the way. All is good, happy days.

Devin and Flo discuss tail gunning etiquette

None of that happened. Leading up to the race, Devin and I were given the challenge of racing up in the 2/3 along with Flo. Was I mentally ready for this? No. Was I physically ready for this? Maybe? Either way, I clicked "Edit Registration" and the die was cast. It was 2/3 or bust.

Before we dive into the race, let's get some clerical work out of the way. What does this race actually look like? It's four events over three days:

• Street sprints (Friday night): single elimination tournament sprinting 200m from a standing start

• Time trial (Saturday morning): five mile out-and-back course

• Criterium (Saturday evening): 40 minutes on a 1k course in downtown Newport News

• Circuit race (Sunday): 60 minutes on a 3 mile course through Fort Eustis

Eventually, the day came. Alex and I drove down to the team AirBnB, everyone got settled in, and we were off to the street sprints. To be honest, I was not mentally present for these. I hadn't done any prep for the standing start, I didn't see myself being a player in the omnium, and I had seen three people (including a teammate) have impromptu meet and greets with the asphalt. At the start line, I was somehow both terrified and ambivalent, a combination of emotions I didn’t know was possible until then. The whistle blew, I almost fell over, I pushed anxious power, I finished third. Not good enough to move on. But even though that was what I’d expected, I felt…annoyed? I was upset that I hadn't progressed, which meant that I had an expectation for myself. That's a good thing.

Actually, I tricked y'all. This recap isn't really about the race itself, so let's back up a few months to a preseason team dinner. After dinner and fraternizing, we had a team meeting with each person coming up with some goals on the season. Flo wanted his 2 upgrade (you bet your ass he got that) and so did Devin (ditto). In my head, that wasn't really an option for me yet. I wanted to win Jeff Cup because I thought that was the only race I had a realistic chance at. It had taken me 10 races to get my first points in the Cat 4 field, what made me think I could be anything in the 3 field (much less the 2)? Getting from 3 to 2 was a challenge years in the making.

Back in Newport News, it was day two and time for the TT. Just an out and back 2.5 miles each way, but with a whipping headwind on the out. So the plan was obviously to drill it into the headwind and hang on for dear life on the way back, right? You're absolutely correct, that's what someone with cojones would have done. But that's not what happened. I did 13 more watts on the back half than on the front and finished with an 11:54 – good enough for 34th/54 at almost a minute off the winner's 10:59. My problem wasn't even the power. I could have done probably 20 seconds faster with the same watts if I had just paced better. My problem was that I raced scared. I was terrified of going out too hard and blowing up on the way home.

Noticing a trend here?

After I saw the results I was mad (again this is a good thing). See, it isn't really possible to not believe in yourself and still be upset about not performing. If I really didn't think I belonged in the 2/3 field, I would have thought "woe is me, why did I ever sign up for this category?". Nah, we weren't about that. Let's move on to the crit in the afternoon.

Ripping figure 8's in Downtown NN

If there's one thing I believe in this world, it's that figure 8s are the perfect criterium course. Newport is fast, punchy, and flowy with a bit of a kicker each lap. What more can a growing boy ask for? I may have made it all of 15 minutes in the 3/4 race last year and put up some lackluster performances in the previous two events, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from having a good time this goaround. I line up second row, whistle blows, we're off. And then? It's just racing. Something clicks – we swing into corners, we punch out. Rinse, repeat. I hold some wheels and bump some shoulders, and all of the sudden it feels natural. Some moments I'm top three wheels and others I slide back to P20, but things are never out of control. I don’t want to play myself up and say I was one of the people who dictated the race, but I belonged. I’m not hanging on for dear life getting tumble dried. I’m finding the spots to hold speed and move up on the outside of turns. Or taking a cheeky inside line to make up a handful of positions. I’m just racing. In a 2/3 field. As a Cat 3 with a single points performance to my name. Huh.

All isn't a fairytale. I didn't win the race, or podium, or top 10. At the end of the day, I came 22nd/58. I was sitting P10ish in the last lap when I got squeezed on the inside of a corner and had to scrub off way too much speed. So it goes sometimes. I'll learn to get my elbows sharper in the last lap at some point, I'm sure. But none of that is really the point. Based on prior results, I was predicted 41st, and based on my mental headspace going into the weekend, I was there as pack fodder. No, no, no. I'm here for a reason. Let's move onto Sunday.

The circuit race was probably the event I had been least looking forward to.

Features of races I enjoy:

• Tight and twisty town center circuits

• Elevation change

• Short laps

Features of races I do not enjoy

• Wide, sparsely featured circuits

• Pan flat

• Long laps

Take a guess which of the two describes the circuit race. Ah well. In for a penny, in for a pound. This one goes off quick and stays quick. Attacks fly and we cover them well as a team. I have two brief scares as (1) a very dangerous looking break makes it 15 seconds up the road. I bridge 10 of those 15 seconds and quickly realize I’m not closing the last five, then (2) nearly pop trying to recover when I get caught along with the break. Despite everything, we come into the last lap looking like it’ll be a sprint. And here I have the same problem as yesterday – be it a lack of aggressiveness or missing that last percent to give late in a race, I start sliding back from P5 to P10 to P20. Leadout riders are peeling off. We roll into the finishing left-right-left series of turns and the final drag to the line. Devin flies past me like he was fired out of a cannon, same with Flo. Then I come across the line: 17th/61. Not terrible, especially given my expectations.

I don’t want to frame this as some masterful weekend I put together, in fact, I didn't score a single omnium or upgrade point. None of that really mattered to me though. I came out of Newport News knowing that I was ready for a 2/3 field and just needed to convert the form and skill I had into meaningful Cat 3 points. And I did. I scored 22 points in my next eight 3/4 races and secured the upgrade. Newport News brought to mind the words of wisdom I wish I could credit, "If you want to achieve a goal, you cannot respect that goal". And I didn't anymore. I knew that I could be a competent Cat 2 – it wasn't anything special. It was just a matter of converting. And now I get to do that all again in the march from Cat 2 to 1. This time, maybe I'll believe in myself.

So to wrap this up: thanks to my team for supporting and challenging me. I wouldn’t have pushed myself like this on my own. And thanks to the Tour of Newport News for being a great race I look forward to as a fixture on the race calendar. I can't wait to give it another go next year.

Final day and all smiles
(Left to right: Owen, Flo, Alex, Sean, Frank, Alec, Colin, Brian, Devin, Me)

Tulsa Tough ‘24

Where: Tulsa, OK
When: June 7-9th
Who: Alex Hedrick

Tulsa Tough, aka the super of bowl of crit racing in the US takes place over three days on the downtown streets of Tulsa Oklahoma. Thousands of competitors and spectators come out for three full days of racing. The energy throughout the weekend was reminiscent of a block party, everyone was tailgating, having the time of their lives.

Frankie and I had planned this trip for the first weekend of June all the way back in February and it was marked on our calendars since last year. There was serious anticipation for this weekend.

We’d signed up for the category 1/2 field with hopes to compete for podium spots. Friday night’s blue dome criterium was a perfect course for me, super-fast and flowy with lots of advantages for riding efficiently. Frankie timed an attack after a prime lap and got some airtime for 1.5 laps. Sadly, no one bridged, and his breakaway was short-lived. We settled in for the last half of the race, biding our time in order to save energy for the flurry of efforts to come in the closing laps.

Alex staying out of the wind on Friday night.

Unfortunately, with 4 laps to go Frankie got caught up in a crash leaving me to navigate to the front on my own. As I patiently waited for the speed to come down before making a move, the lap counter continued to tick down, 3,2,1…there was no time left and it was now or never. I surged on the homestretch coming into the last lap and sling-shotted up the outside from 20 wheels back into the top 10. Perfect, now I just had to hold my position as lead-out riders dropped off and I could hopefully come away with a result. The last lap happens almost in slow-motion as your senses heighten and your heart races. I kept position as best I could but ultimately failed to follow the eventual winner but was good enough for 8th place on the night. Not bad for a field of 130 riders.

The heat was definitely a factor on day 2.

The next two days were unbelievably hot with the arts district on Saturday…I tried the same thing as Friday night and crashed on the last lap, Frankie suffered in the heat. Sunday was crybaby hill, a Tulsa classic. Frankie raced heroically, nearly clawing back the breakaway. But without any help, the group of 3 stayed away. On exhausted legs he was still able to attack the last lap and hold on for a 12th place finish. An excruciating sprint for the line as his chasers caught him in the final moments. As for me, it was all I could do to finish and take in the atmosphere.

Frankie and Alex gunning it up cry baby hill on the last day of Tulsa Tough.

All in all, an eventful weekend for Frankie and I and one we won’t forget. Hopefully we can bring more guys next year to share the experience.

Buck’s County Classic ‘23

Date: September 10, 2023

Location: Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Category: 2/3

Franklin Tiburzi

In the heart of Doylestown, where the rain-slicked roads had borne witness to the thunderous clashes of past glories, the Buck's County 2/3 Criterium unfolded as a stage for redemption. Having claimed 3rd place in the same race last year, amidst the same relentless rain, I was determined to rise above history's repetition.

Race Start:

The rain poured down, a relentless torrent that couldn't dampen the fiery spirits of the riders. With memories of last year's race fresh in my mind, I was propelled by an unyielding drive to script a different ending this time around.

Mid-Race Drama:

As the peloton navigated the treacherous curves and slick roads, I found myself in a familiar position—alone amidst a sea of contenders. The cruel unpredictability of criterium racing was ever-present, made more evident by Brian's unfortunate crash earlier in the race.

In this maelstrom, breakaways rose and fell like tides, as each rider sought to avoid the fate of the previous year's winner, who had claimed victory from a daring escape. The tension escalated as we inched closer to the grand finale.

Closing down a threatening breakaway on the slick streets of Doylestown.

Breakaway Drama Averted:

With three laps remaining, a brave breakaway group materialized from the rain-soaked peloton. Memories of last year's race flashed before me, and I knew I couldn't allow history to repeat itself. Instinctively, I surged forward, joining this band of courageous souls, hoping our combined strength could defy the peloton's pursuit.

As the final lap beckoned, the peloton, determined to avoid the same outcome as the prior year, began to close in, our breakaway's fate hanging in the balance.

The Final Sprint:

The breakaway was reeled in on the last lap, and I found myself back in the front group, the rain-chilled air heavy with a sense of déjà vu. The final 500 meters lay ahead, and my heart pounded with the determination to rewrite the narrative.

With 200 meters remaining, I unleashed a surge of energy, propelling myself toward the finish line. The wet asphalt disappeared beneath my wheels as I overtook my rivals one by one, the echoes of last year's race fading into the distance.

In those last meters, I surged ahead, crossing the finish line with arms outstretched in triumph. This time, history had been rewritten, and victory was mine to savor.

Conclusion:

The Buck's County 2/3 Criterium, shrouded in relentless rain, became a canvas upon which redemption was painted. After securing 3rd place in the same race last year, the memory of that defeat spurred me to cover a daring breakaway and sprint to glory from a reduced group.

In the end, this victory was not just a triumph over the elements but also a victory over the ghosts of races past. It was a testament to the power of determination and the ability to learn from history and emerge victorious in the present.