Cross Crusade #6 @ Estacada: Sisyphus Hill

Cross Crusade #6 Results, Beginners

“Posted by Ken”

Today was the sixth Cross Crusade race, held at Estacada Timber Park. I raced with the beginners and finished 6th of 86, completing three laps on a 2+ mile course. I felt good the entire race, despite some muddy sections that eroded my confidence. Nonetheless, I consider today vindication for my awful ride at Barlow and proof that I am among the elite in this group.

The day was dry and partly sunny, but the temperature failed to reach 40 degrees.  The course was likewise predominantly dry, but featured mud in places most likely to cause traction problems. The course is notable primarily for a bowl-shaped depression about 30 feet deep several hundred feet in diameter. The course designers always take maximum advantage of this landscape feature.

Jim and I staged early and started close to the front.  I got a good jump and stayed with the leaders much of the first lap. Like last week, I found myself in battles with a couple of riders. Where the course was firm, I used my power to gap people. Where the course was technical, I gave it back.  The latter was especially true in several places: two muddy off-camber turns around trees, three steep descents into the bowl, and two climbs out of the bowl. The climb before the finish line was especially challenging.  I called it Sisyphus Hill because almost everyone dismounted and ran it each lap.

The paved section at the bottom of the bowl was big ring territory.  I passed numerous people down there.

The first two laps were relatively uneventful.   I rode Sisyphus Hill both times, though just barely.  On the third lap, I was locked in a duel with rider #401.  He was a big dude, very muscular, and I was surprised someone his size could be fast. We were about the same speed on even terrain, but he was faster in mud and descending. We traded positions several times on that final lap, though we did not speak and were not deliberately working together.

He reached the pavement before I did, but I caught him just before the sharp right dog leg back onto dirt with a small climb.  The pavement was wet and as we slowed to turn, a lapped rider on a mountain bike in front of us lost traction and went down.  I swerved inside and #401 went outside, narrowly avoiding a pile-up.  I hit the dirt first and lost most of my momentum on the little pitch.  There was a single decent line through that section and #401 had no room to pass.  He yelled “Go!” and I replied, “I’m workin’ it!  I’m workin’ it!”  I gapped him on the ensuing singletrack section and thought for a moment I was leading the race: I could see the next half-mile of the course from that spot and detected no fast riders ahead. #401 caught me on a muddy section and though I struggled to hold his wheel, he eventually escaped.  On the final ascent of Sisyphus, I opted for discretion over valor, more concerned with holding my position than receiving a shower of accolades from the assembled throng.  #401 finished a few feet ahead of me.  It turns out the top four finishers built a larger lead than I thought, hence the reason I failed to see them on the back side of the course. As a consolation prize, I beat both of the riders with whom I tangled last week.

My results thus far: 5th, 44th, ~12th, 5th, and 6th.

Jim was 32nd. He had a rear derailleur problem and rode most of the race in one of two gears. Props to him for not abandoning.

Photos

Kudos to TM and TS for some great camera work!

The start.  I’m in the dark green jersey on the right.  Jim is concealed on my right.

The six-pack barriers. It was slippery between them.

One of the off-camber sections. “Gingerly” was the adverb of choice here. That’s #401 behind me.

The descent to the pavement.   #401 behind me again.

Near the dog leg right at the end of the pavement where the mountain biker washed out.

Me leading #401 where I had a power advantage.  Or maybe he was just toying with me.

The flat just after Sisyphus Hill and just before the finish line.