Mississippi Grand Prix

Well, yesterday we drove down to Brookhaven, MS. Now that we are here we will be going out for an easy ride this morning and then get ready for the crit tonight. Weather Channel says it might rain. SUCK. Tight crit with rain equals recipe for disaster. The MS Grand Prix is a Crit on Friday, RR and TT on Saturday and then a Short Circuit on Sunday. I did this race back in 05' but did not have teammates in the race due to a bad crash in the Friday night crit. This year will be different and we will do better. Its time we all get on the podium! We have a great team and now its time to show everyone else.

Results coming soon..

Vuelta Interlude 2

Interlude #2 – Destination: Mts




En route to the climbing stage. We get escorted by the Federales to the next stage in Creel, Ch. My mom said “you are going to race in the “sierra” I have no idea what I’m getting myself into. Heck it’s an experience for something new. The organizers are taking about making this race even bigger for next year. By the way, they televised the race on fox sports. Sweet.

Vuelta Chihuahua Day 3

Well, today was another day on the saddle. Stage 2 is a 122km race. They said this stage is one of the flat ones, HA! Yeah right. If you love the track and crit racing you would have thought this race was one of the hilliest you have ever seen. The profile didn’t look so bad but once you got on the road an actually felt the elevation change and the roads, you would have thought other wise. We rolled for 10km neutral. People everywhere at the start of the race. I have never seen anything like this. Great Vuelta Chihuahua experience so far. I lined up at the start of the race at the front this time. We rolled out and after they waved us for the start of the race an Italian rider attacks on a small climb and takes off. After a couple of counters from other teams I decided to give it a go and was closing in (I got my 15 min on TV, Ha) Tecos and Canels worked together and reeled me in pretty quick. When I looked back I thought it was a motorcycle coming up to me but nope, it was the field single file behind tecos and canels. A few km passed and I started getting thirsty and hungry and the open feed didn’t open until 44km. At the pace we were going my body started asking for food/water a lot faster then ever before. I made myself a domestic because no one else on the team wanted to take the chance of getting dropped from the main field. No real results today but a great experience of cramping and leg pain. Tecos ended up with the win today. I need to start working on my climbing.

After the race (see below) It was sweet, this is the first time people asked me for autographs. The pain was worth it in the end. Seeing kids and grown people’s faces when they asked made me feel good for doing something for them. The real Fans in MX.

Vuelta Interlude 1

Here is a nice picture of us en route to the flat stage.



And of course what is to come




Oh crap is right!

Vuelta Chihuahua Day 2

Well another day down. Today was the 80km Circuit race. It consisted of two 180 degree turns and 4km long. Everything has been running on time. I told the guys yesterday that I will be going for the intermediate sprints today. I rode from my home across to Juarez and made it just in time for the race start. No, I wasn’t procrastinating again, I had built my bike the nite before and found out I had a broken seat post clamp. Knowing all bike shops around the city open at 10am, I had to call Jaime and hope he had an extra clamp. But back to today, I finally get my seat clamp fixed and heat to Juarez, which is 3miles from home, how sweet is that. Not ever having experience racing in MX, I didn’t know what to expect. My boy Chris would have love it!, The pace was Attack from the start and don’t stop until the end. After yesterdays antics I decided to give it a go, but giving it a go meant I have to go over 35mph. As soon as one attack went another was waiting to go. Attacks up the left and counters up the right. Mid way was into the race were points up for grabs. (seen above) With 1 lap to go, a break that had the Leaders Jersey was never brought back, it is surprising that none of the Mexican teams worked to bring it back. My teammate gave me a hell of a lead out but it was 150 meters to short for me. He gave it is all and dropped me off 3rd going into the last 180. I thought I drank enough water but as soon as I stood up to sprint my right leg just locked up. I didn’t want to ruin the chance I had been presented with and gave it all I had. Top 20 for the 1st stage. Now we have a 4hr drive to Chihuahua.
Here I’m after the race.

Vuelta Chihuahua

Well after a grueling 4km I felt pretty good. We got to the start of the race well over an hour before to sign in, take pictures and get everything ready and dialed with the TT bike. The weather is a bit of a change from Dallas. I guess I have become adjusted to the humid weather. Juarez had a great turn out and the prologue went on without any problems. I warmed up, got ready and I thought I rode a sweet time, only to be told that I rode a 4.54 instead of a 4.39 of what i clock at. I guess people warned me about those kind of mistakes occuring in mx racing. Oh well! Tomorrow is the first stage and I'm the only one that can screw that up. My purpose here is to race for the points jersey. My legs are feeling like they did in ELk Grove, Il and well that says a lot to me. I will try and get some sweet photos of my future adventures., and me having fun! Ha., Oh yeah, i'm at 4500 ft of alt.
1st day prologue- 55th place SUCK - wait just got updated, now i'm 56th
1st place clocked 4.23 avg spd of 49.278 Yeah right, that is world record times on the track
I was 4.54 avg speed of 44.082km
Toodles.

Here is a sweet Picture of Leo and Jaime (UCI 2.2 - you gotta have fun)

H n' H

A picture does say a thousand words!!! Hard work and great team work did it this past weekend. The smallest "team" in the race showed its strength and was able to come out with the win!!!! Great showing is all I have to say. If you look closely you see me in the back celebrating our win.
Hopefully a sign of things to come for this team.
Also a quick note : this is the first time Edgar ever raises his arms up.



Doing my part of the job.

The Man

Here I'm finally being an "A" lister. After seeing him in the movie the Hard Road (about pro cyclist) I figured I can't become one before hanging out with one. Here is my proof. Horner (the man) and Frayre

National Championships

Here I'm getting ready for the start of the race. I got a great spot at the front. I tried to do everything I could to stay relaxed and comfortable at the front of the race.




I was top 20 all day long or tried to stay there. A few times the race was so easy that the group would get bunched up at the front and next thing you know you go from top 20 to mid pack of 180 riders. With 8 90degree corners it was a bit intimidating pushing other guys you have never raced with out of the way. With less than 20 laps to go of 50 laps. My buddy and partner in crime decides to push someone way bigger than him during a corner, but ofcourse it had to be the last corner in front of a crowd. He flicks his front wheel to hold it up, as I'm conscious of what is about to happen, my first thought is, you better hold it up and keep it up homo. Ofcourse not, he flicks his front wheel for a second time and loses it. I'm about 3 guys back and try to avoid and head for the hay bale. minimal damage to the "el matador" but good. No the only think that played a trick on me was fear. I realized I was riding fearlessly until then. I was taking corners like I was riding by myself. 10 laps to go I was hitting my breaks like an old lady in her chevy impala in a traffic jam. I ended up rolling in 80 something. I was feeling great and some of the pictures show that, other than I was ready for my podium picture. It was great to be riding with Surfer at the front. He looks pretty good in blue. Oh well, i will be back hungrier next yr.

Downers Grove Pro/Am

Here I'm following Chris Wherry (Pro RR National Champ) around on the crit. Staying close, well as close to the front as I could come on saturday's pro/am race. I felt like I was pushing it a bit but I ended up actually getting on a small break with a few pro's. Being the only amature in the break they wanted me to work and well I couldn't do much. I dropped out of the race with 8 laps to go. I wanted to save it for the next day. National Championships.

TOC

Here is my boy Chris Hamilton dragging the peloton at the TOC