CX Race Recap: Evan @ Providence

Follow NYC Velo Cyclocross (CX) Team Rider Evan Murphy as he tackles a the 2011-12 CX season, his first as a RISD degree-holding adult:

I can already tell my 2011/12 season will be defined for by injuries. After healing my hand (from my last mid-race mishap) and hitting the trainer for the past two weeks, I made the mistake of heading to the Providence Cyclocross Festival at Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI with little to no off-road training. This proved to be a fatal mistake.

Day 1 (Saturday) was the ‘technical’ course and I found myself sitting around 40th by the second lap. This being my first UCI Elite race, I might have been a little too eager as I fumbled the tricky barrier remount and slashed my leg on my chainring. After losing a ten places or so trying to get my chain back on the ring, I spent the rest of the race pushing to make the 80% cutoff (or risk being pulled from the race early). Unfortunately, I was the last racer pulled before the leaders finished up. Wow, 60 minutes is a long time, people! Highlights of the course include the insane barriers and awesome descent back behind the monument.

Any chance of an overnight recovery would not be in the cards for me as Providence is old turf; my RISD and Brown U buddies invited me out for drinks and we grabbed gyros at East Side Pocket. Sometimes, the dream of a decent UCI Elite race result goes by the wayside in favor of good company and, well, good beer.

Anyway, Day 2 was much better for me, however, it turns out that I’m actually that guy, the one who caught his foot on the barriers in the Elite race. Yep, on the first lap at that. I was sitting pretty in mid-pack when I came in waaay too hot, clipped my foot on the barrier, and slammed face-first into the grass. I got up and, woo! Last place! As it turned out though, I was able to focus on the race and put my strength to good use, finishing on the lead lap at 50th place. Out of almost 70 starters, I’m pretty stoked with my result. Also, I had a bit of extra fun after my dramatic crash by pulling some sweet airs at the beer tent each lap, which counts for a few extra points, right? In the end, Sunday’s course was fast, long and hot, almost 80 degrees!

I head to Granogue this coming weekend, racing UCI Elite event on Saturday, and the 2/3/4 category on Sunday. I’m basically hoping to not crash. Which is also last weekend’s Elite CX lesson: do not crash. Thanks for reading!