From Lee...

Fun racing yesterday with some surprising and encouraging developments in the 35+ 4. We had a general plan to spring Jason Grefrath on a well represented break (conspired with with Taleo and others). That move went right off the bat! Right from the start Taleo took to the front and set it up. Five guys took off, two up front and another 3 that contained Jason closing in. As expected the pack just sat there and let them go -- way too early, right? It seems like a bona fide break never ever sticks in this category. We went into block mode along with Taleo. Unfortunately several strong teams were not represented and the 5 up front never consolidated. Taleo and IC3 were the two up front with DBC, another IC3 and Team City right behind. Jason was prepared to put in a hard day's ride but in retrospect maybe having another IC3 in the second group was counter productive to their effort to bridge to the 2 guys up front. NorCal, Squadra Abruzzo and Wells Fargo eventually mounted a successful chase eventually catching Jason's group of 3 while the 2 guys up front managed to increase their gap! Over a lap to go. I tried to create some moves but at that point the group seemed content to race for 3rd spot. On the last lap Jason tore off again before the KOM and got a huge gap. A Team City guy was the only one able and willing to follow. The pack led by Wells and Squadra ramped it hard up that hill. From the back I can see that Jason and Team City guy started to work together. I was sitting right behind the chasers when all of the sudden I see a bike go airborne! Jason got tangled up crashed out! Wells Fargo and others charged to the front and I went into panic mode! As I pass the scene I see Jason get up and looking OK. I chased hard and managed to reconnect with about 1 k to go! One of the guys I had marked to do well, Bill Beers (Wells Fargo), took to the front at 700 meters. I picked up his wheel. We are 1 - 2 going into the corner! At about 500 meters he looks at me, I waited for him to make his jump. I had 2nd wheel going into the finish and focused on Bill's Wheel. 400 meters -- I'm waiting, waiting for the explosion when third wheel jumps hard and goes around us bringing a gaggle with him and boxed me in! Dang! In a matter of seconds I went from setting up my jump for the podium to about 20th place! I managed to claw out to 16 or 17th -- OUCH! Great to see Jason's dings were minor. Several of us along with Wells, Squadra, NorCal, Bicyle Trip all had a great post race chat about how it all went down. Bill told me he cramped right at the end. I got the right wheel but at the wrong time! Lots of shoulda coulda, woulda but it's in the books now. Please post your reports. I would love to hear/read how it went from your perspective. Oh yeah, I stayed a bit to yell for the women and men's 5s but had to go before their grand finale. As I was preparing to leave the sky opened up to dump ice water! I mean rain plus solid quarter inch marbles that hurt! I can only imagine what it must have been like for the riders. It hailed for several minutes! I can't wait to hear the epic stories from the poor women and Cat 5s. As you can imagine the road got slick in a hurry and as I was pulling out of the gate I saw 2 pile ups in the corner after the finish. All seemed ok as they peeled themselves off that fence and got back into the race. I hope all are safe. Wow! A masters cat 4 road race decided within the first 2 miles! Maybe Hell did freeze over yesterday. Lee