Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Verge New England Series UCI Cross Finals Race Report

Verge New England Series UCI Cross Finals Race Report
12/09/2007 - Warwick, RI
reposted ftom www.gtbicycles.com

This weekend took me to Warwick, Rhode Island for the final rounds of the Verge New England Series of Cyclocross. New England has some of the deepest cross roots in the country, so it’s always great to get back there for the races. It was another muddy weekend of racing, though not nearly as bad as in Portland.

After flight delays, I arrived at my host house for the weekend about 1am on Saturday morning. Not too bad considering it was snowing in Durango, Denver, and Boston, all three of my stops. Saturday morning was a bit rushed--building bikes, getting food, and finding the course were my major objectives before the race.

I like to race the weekend leading up to Nationals to test my form and keep myself in race mode. I usually only race one day of the weekend, but since Nationals are Sunday instead of Saturday this year I decided to do the double day.

The course on Saturday had some long pavement sections, a short section on the beach, and plenty of mud since it snowed the day before and was forty degrees on race day.

A group of four formed on the first lap with me, Jesse Anthony, Chris Jones, and my brother, Troy. After a few laps Jesse and I separated ourselves. I attacked him a bunch of times, but each time he clawed his way back. It came down to a sprint with me beating him out by a tire width for the win. I’m not known as the best sprinter, so it was great for me to win a sprint against a great road racer.

Sunday a few more heavy hitters showed up and the temperatures dropped. The course was at the same venue--right on the ocean--but was more technical with longer sand sections on the beach, more tight turns, and more barriers.

Jeremy Powers got the hole shot, and it took me two laps to reel him in. We rode together until two laps to go when I crashed around a corner after attacking and had to catch him again. I caught him with one lap to go, but my derailleur and hanger were bent in the middle at a 90 degree angle. I couldn’t sprint on it so I figured I might as well go into the pit, get another bike, and try to catch back up to him for the sprint. I got a fresh bike and caught him with about 500 meters to go. We sprinted it out, but he got the better of me. I had to settle for second by about the same margin I had beaten Jesse by the day before.

It was a great weekend of racing, aside from the travel headaches that winter weather seems to always provide. Next weekend is Nationals and the pinnacle of my cross season after which I will be going on vacation!

Thanks for your support,


Todd Wells

Friday, December 7, 2007

Portland USPG Finals Race Report by Todd Wells

Portland USPG Finals Race Report by Todd Wells
12/3/2007
Portland, Oregon
reposted from www.gtbicycles.com

This weekend was the final round of the USGP Cyclocross Series in Portland, Oregon. I have never been to Portland when it isn’t raining and this weekend was no exception. The rain fell hard all weekend long. Temperatures were in the upper 30s to low 40s, there were 50 mph wind gusts, and a tree blew over on the course yesterday...big tree.

The rain wasn’t too bad on Saturday. The rain even stopped for a few hours before our race so the course turned to peanut butter. We were doing bike changes quite a bit in the beginning of the race, but then the sky opened up with rain and hail. The mud got lighter and bike changes weren’t as necessary. I rode in third for most of the race chasing Ryan Trebron with Tim Johnson about forty seconds in front of him. I caught Trebron in the closing three hundred meters of the race, but he got the better of me in the sprint for second.

Sunday the temperature was about four degrees warmer but it was pouring all day. The only time I have raced in worse conditions was at the Mountain Bike World Cup in Calgary when we raced through the middle of a lightning/hail storm that dropped inches of rain in forty minutes.

Trebron took the lead from the start with me, Johnson, and Barry Wicks in the chase group. I attacked and got clear of Wicks and Johnson on the third lap, but two laps later I snapped off my rear derailleur and had to run to the pits. They both passed me while I was running, and I dropped to forth place by the time I got to the pits and got a new bike. I was able to catch and pass Wicks, but could never regain contact with Johnson. I had to settle for third again. Hatrick, coupled with the SRAM guys, got my broken bike up and running again within a lap. I couldn’t believe it since I thought I had also broken my hanger but they did an amazing job.

Portland had the best spectators so far this year, and the weather was atrocious so I can’t imagine how many people would have came out if it wasn’t raining in biblical proportions. Next weekend I’m off to Rhode Island for two more UCI races before my final race of the year, Nationals in Kansas the following week. Stay tuned.

Thanks for your support, Todd Wells


Jill Kintner Goes to Camp...Olympic Training Camp

Jill Kintner Goes to Camp...Olympic Training Camp
12/5/2007

Southern California
reposted from
http://www.gtbicycles.com/

Hi everyone,

Most of you know that I moved south last week to live at the Olympic training center until Beijing, so I thought I would write a little update to share. Firstly, the process for making the US team is about half over. As it stands I am leading the points for US girls, but it is far from over...

This Olympic effort will be 100% of my energy for the next year. Mountain biking will have to take a back seat for the next 9 months. I believe that I need to be in a place where the riding is good and where I can focus on training. The Olympic training center is the best place I could ever hope to land, and Southern California is close to all my major sponsors and some good friends/riding buddies. Add Bryn and some family and there would be nothing more to wish for.

Dorm housing, food, trainers, medical, massage, replica track, nutrition, psych--it's all available, so our job of training is easy. I really, really appreciate my time here, and I am so glad to have this resource. I've been meeting people I would have never ever been exposed to in regular life. Super humans...

There is this blind track sprinter who has a guide runner leading him out. Both of them have a tether-like string tied to their fingers, and they have to swing their arms in sync or they get disqualified.

There is another Paralympic runner, with one leg who could jump on top of this box with one leg that was at my mid-chest. That is impressive with two legs, one is extraordinary. He has 2 gold medals already and has lived here for years!!

This OTC hosts track and field athletes, rowers, kayakers, archers, shooters, field hockey players, softball, BMX, triathletes, a speed walker, and maybe a couple others. Pretty small, like 50 residents, and a few camps that come and go. I've only been here about a week, so I'm sure there is lots more than what I've seen.

The replica track is not finished, so I've been driving sooo much to scope the scene and ride. Chula Vista is about 9 miles from the Mexico border. I put on over 2800 miles this week if you include the drive from Seattle which was 1350 miles. Thanks to everyone for your support. I'm on a mission! It's 84 degrees in December here. Nutz.

Jill