CSC Invataional
This was my 3rd time doing the CSC race and last night before I went to bed I told myself I would win the race. You know, I have came close in the past two years and today I had to prove to myself that I could race with the best.
The whole day I was active looking for ways to win the race. Every move I made (I thought) was accurately executed. When dangerous moves went, I would follow the chase and right as the chase was starting to slow down, boom, I went. Late in the race I had to make that very move to a dangerous break and when I got there, every “big” team was now represented but when they saw me no one was motivated anymore. I was pissed because it took me a whole lap to get there.
3 laps later I was sitting dead last because I may have lost about 3 cylinders of my v6 engine. 15 laps to go, CSC and Toyota United are on the front setting tempo to keep guys from attacking. So I’m doing my thing and its this one European guy from the Navigators team giving me *** the whole race and with 15 to go we bump again and he says “ get out of the way, i’m leading out the winner” speaking of Hilton Clark the fast Aussie. 5 to go Kayle and I hooked up and we both said we were feeling good, so at this point its just important to stay together.
2 laps to go, I’m 10-guys back. Crossing the finish line with one lap to go, I had made up in my mind what I was going to do and I did it. Going into the second to last turn, we have a straightaway of about 200m and when I got there I started my sprint. Moved from 10th to 4th with Kayle 2 guys back. I went through the second to last corner so fast I think other riders stopped and looked to see if I would crash or not.
I’m in to the last turn and I’m 4th wheel…I’m thinking…well if Kayle is here, we could get 1st and 2nd. I started to sprint and I quickly moved into 2nd position right behind Ivan Stevic of (Toyota) who beat me in stage 3 of Tri-Peaks Stage race. 150m to go and I pop out to close the deal and my first 4-5 pedal strokes I came neck and neck with Ivan and from that point on, I knew I had it. LeoGrande finished 8th giving us 2 guys in the top ten. Not bad for a new team.
Its such a big win for the team. We are all so excited….I’m super pumped.
Talk to you later…