Nelson Frink, 5th, Snelling 35+ 4/5

Derek,
I'm glad you got a great workout today. From where I was sitting in the comfort of the pack I figured that was your main goal today, as it seemed like you were pulling for about half the race. I enjoyed working out front with you for awhile, but that got old quick and I was still worried about getting dropped and trying to save enough energy to just hang on.

And I found out what getting guttered meant today. I was on the far left-hand side as we were going along that back side stretch with the gusty crosswinds from the right. A rider encroached on my spot, and I let him in, but he came in so fast I lost my nerve and dropped off the edge of the road to find I couldn't get back up the 8 inch shoulder, and I lost about 40 yards on the pack before I got back onto the road. Fortunately Jason and Lee and and another DBC racer worked with me to get back in. I thought I was finished halfway through the first lap.
When you had that breakaway going, and then held on alone ahead of the chasing peloton for a couple of miles, I toyed with the idea of breaking away and joining you and we could take 3rd/4th. But I have to admit I was so glad to just be in the top fifteen or so at that point, and I seriously questioned whether it was feasible. The pack caught you with less than a mile to go and I was proud of you and the other DBC racers who worked hard together, did their best and had a fun time on an epic road race course.

Also, it was sooo sweet to see John come through first in the B group following ours. I can only dream of such an accomplishment someday myself.
Nelson