Danny's View
I was expecting a steep hill but man this was steep. No big ring for me unlike Hubby who is paying for it with a sore back. I felt awesome all race after the two NRC stage races we just completed. Spent a few laps off the front in groups and won a prime which we were hoping was money but turned out to be just a box of cliff bars. Harsh. With 4 to go Sleece and I talked and we decided to go seperately over the crest of the hill each lap. Sleece went and was gone my turn came around and just as I got off the front and went to shift back to big ring something happened and my chain was off the inside! Double harsh. Not sure how that happened. I ended as the last finisher pretty dissapointed but happy at how good I felt in the race. And Sleece had a solid result.
Sleece's view
I think that hill was the steepest I've ever raced in a crit. It was a fun course and the racing was exciting. It felt good to be leading the bunch and covering moves or attacking after only following wheels and rarely seeing the front in the large NRC stage races. I was off the front a couple times and just missed the winning break. I had good legs and should've been able to bridge but waited too long. After the hill I shifted up and stomped away from the bunch and three guys were able to join me. We worked together some and got close to bridging but on the last lap we started playing games. I should've led into the last corner but didn't and it cost me two positions so I finished 6th.
Hubby's View
Pretty wicked race today at Cats Hill. The boys rode well going with the moves for the first 20 minutes. Once I was able to get going and find myself at the front of the race I was able to pull back a dangerous move that the team had missed. I am personally enjoying racing the crits again and feeling a little more at home. I didn't contest the final as I was out of position with a couple to go, rolled in mid bunch. I was happy with what had been my first race back in California and on the rode to recover from my health issues. Better everyday! Not a bad day for the team with Steven coming in 6th and Danny looking strong
We stayed with Danny's sister, Becky, at UCSC saturday night since Sunday's race, the Scott's Valley crit, was nearby. It was a flat and fast twilight but mostly night crit that wasn't very technical. Cal-Giant had the most riders again and raced to lead out Reaney so no breaks were staying away. We raced for primes, got a couple, and covered any moves with potential. In the final 8 laps, the 9 Cal-Giant riders went to the front and everyone behind fought behind the train.
Danny's View
"Skinsuits are for time trials and twilight crits"- Kurt Stockton. It was time to break out the crit skinsuits for Scotts Valley! The racing was fast from the get go, too fast for significant breaks which the course was not meant for. We talked before the start that we needed to make some money tonight or we would be in deep trouble. Guess who one the first two $50 primes NOW-MS with me taking the first one solo off the front and Sleece winning his in a sprint. With 10 to go Hubby took me up to the front to meet up with Sleece since it was obvious the team with the numbers was riding for a sprint. It was sketchy to say the least racing in the darkness with lots of bumping and chopping for position. Cal Giant did a perfect leadout for their man to win and after a big fight for position I entered the last two corners 5th and ended up 3rd at the finish. The crit legs are coming back for Tulsa! Great team effort tonight.
Sleece's view
The last few laps of this race were very scary, some of the scariest racing I've done actually. The course had little lighting and a couple stretches were just pitch black. As danny said, we raced at the front and got some primes but with the speed of the race and the tactics of Cal Giant, no breakaway was gonna stick. The final 8 laps got sketchy as people fought behind the Cal Giant train which wasn't going that fast. I moved to the very front with Danny with two and half to go and he got up just behind the leadout. I intended to try to get him up further again at the finish but was only able to stay up in the group and finish seventh. We raced well together today though and I am happy with the weekend.
Hubby's View
Better again for me today!Getting excited for what's ahead, as my bad run maybe over on how I was feeling today. Today I was able to really get in the mix of the race following moves and attacking out of moves. The course was super fast though so it wasn't going to be a day for me to escape unfortunately. So as we got closer to the finish I did the job for my team mates. Steven and Danny are really flying at the moment (making dollars!) and its good to lay it down for them as I know they would for me if I was in good shape. A big month on the cards for me now with my training coming up. It will be good to see what I can do at this level with some luck in the coming month! Thanks for reading.
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