My yearly Copperopolis wake up call

I always wait until Copperopolis to come to the realization that you should really train for climbing races sometimes. Two a half months of crits every weekend does not a road racer make. I started the race with a lot of apprehension, cause last year in the 35+ race I was dropped first lap!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the legs weren't all that bad this year. I guess crit power doesn't completely evaporate at the sight of the uphill. The extra weight I'm carrying perhaps a little offset by the new LOOK, the bike really was a pleasure. I've been riding Cannondales for three years, and this was a big departure.

First lap a and half were not very eventful. Talked to my three teammates: Bosch, Eric, Greg Mellor. The descent really was different on a carbon bike! Second time up the climb wasn't bad either, though it whittled the group to 19, and we still had four. Eric wasn't feeling good though, and as the group sped along the flats, he and a couple of other riders lost contact with the back.

Then Metclaf solo attacked and got a pretty good gap. On the little climb before descent, Phipps took off with Noble (Time). At the top, I took to the front and strung things out enough that we got a gap on the descent. I was surprised but thought I would continue this, taking teammate Greg and I up to the other three.

I then proceeded to work way too hard to make a gap with the five riders. In retrospect it wasn't smart: create a big gap and deliver the best climbers to the bottom of the climb. The last thing I heard was Greg saying: 'Let's work together up the climb', just before Phipps attacked and dumped both of us! Bastard.

Anyway, they got a 2 minute gap on us by the top! Saw the pack getting close, and I was ready to just go back when Greg said we should give it a try. He was right, and worked really hard, cause we stayed away for 4th and 5th. A real pleasure Greg, thanks for the help. I think he did quite a bit more work than me, I was cooked!

Bosch crashing into a crashing Dan Martin certainly marred things, but sounds like he's healing up and hoping to race again, perhaps as early as this w/e.

Now my back is all f****ed up from climbing without preparation. Hard to be old.... Hopefully back for the w/e though. Looking forward to Sierra Point. Need to decide between Hanford (3 hour drive, $4K, lots of teammates), and Brisbane (30 min drive, $1K, one teammate).

Good to see Ryan and John all jazzed up doing their first p1/2 Copper. They deserve more for their <30 place finish in that race than my 5th place finish in the 35+!