Now that we are in the midst of the cyclocross seasons. Many people have been done racing for a couple months and started the "Off Season". But some have continued on and started racing cross. Last year at this time I was so burned out I didn't even want to look at a bike. This year I am still racing and feeling excellent. I started off the season as a Cat 3, raced Halloween Cross and took 2nd then 7th at Estabrook park. The race after that was a collegiate race mixed in with a WCA race. Since I am an A for collegiate I got to line up with the Pro 1/2 field and race for 1 hour instead of 45 minutes. This race was so much fun and way faster. I ended up in the middle of the field and felt that was good enough to put in for my upgrade to Category 2. The day after I put in for it I received an email saying it was approved. This now means Ill be racing for 1 hour with the best racers in Wisconsin. These guys are wicked fast.
Now this past weekend I wanted to go down to Jingle Cross in Iowa City but didn't have a ride and I didn't want to drive down by myself, so I stayed home and raced. This was my first P/1/2 race and I was really nervous. When we got to the start line a small group was already on the front line and I realized that this was going to be a great race seeing that the field was so small. Once the gun went off I tried to just hang with the leaders. I was holding on to the back of the group until slowly it started to fall apart. I was sitting 5th but lap by lap I gained ground passing people until I caught 2nd place, Chad Hartley. I knew he was mainly a road racer so I wanted to get in front so I could set the pace through the tight turns and off camber hills. I would gain time on him through these but he would jump and get right back on my wheel on the flat sections. Then when we were coming down the home straight to start the last lap my chain broke. I ran to neutral support and got a bike. I rode the last lap knowing I had to push it so 4th wouldn't catch me, but it was really hard to when your riding on flats with clip less shoes. I managed to hold him off and secure 3rd place. This was my first pro podium for cross and my 3rd pay out. I really enjoyed being able ride with Chad seeing as I watched him race on the road since I was really young.
This season has been great and is still going strong. Hopefully Ill keep racing until Nationals in January then its break time until I kick it off again in preparation for next season. Thanks to Crank Brothers, ESI Grips, Cycleops, ISCorp, Wheel and Sprocket/Vision, Ripon college cycling and most of all my parents, family and Coach Joe Cieszynski for helping me develop into who I am today, showing great support and helping me in all my highs and lows. And thank you to everyone else who has made this season and past seasons so much fun.
Now this past weekend I wanted to go down to Jingle Cross in Iowa City but didn't have a ride and I didn't want to drive down by myself, so I stayed home and raced. This was my first P/1/2 race and I was really nervous. When we got to the start line a small group was already on the front line and I realized that this was going to be a great race seeing that the field was so small. Once the gun went off I tried to just hang with the leaders. I was holding on to the back of the group until slowly it started to fall apart. I was sitting 5th but lap by lap I gained ground passing people until I caught 2nd place, Chad Hartley. I knew he was mainly a road racer so I wanted to get in front so I could set the pace through the tight turns and off camber hills. I would gain time on him through these but he would jump and get right back on my wheel on the flat sections. Then when we were coming down the home straight to start the last lap my chain broke. I ran to neutral support and got a bike. I rode the last lap knowing I had to push it so 4th wouldn't catch me, but it was really hard to when your riding on flats with clip less shoes. I managed to hold him off and secure 3rd place. This was my first pro podium for cross and my 3rd pay out. I really enjoyed being able ride with Chad seeing as I watched him race on the road since I was really young.
This season has been great and is still going strong. Hopefully Ill keep racing until Nationals in January then its break time until I kick it off again in preparation for next season. Thanks to Crank Brothers, ESI Grips, Cycleops, ISCorp, Wheel and Sprocket/Vision, Ripon college cycling and most of all my parents, family and Coach Joe Cieszynski for helping me develop into who I am today, showing great support and helping me in all my highs and lows. And thank you to everyone else who has made this season and past seasons so much fun.
you are still really young, enjoy
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