The weekend started off well, with good food and good company. Dave and Lynda and I had a dinner friday night, along with Lynda's husband and kids. It was a relaxing evening, perfect for a pre-race atmosphere. Lynda's husband, Steve also helped us out with our drop bags during the race. It was a big help, so, thanks Steve! Good luck at Brianhead on Saturday.
Saturday morning Dave and I headed off tot hestart line at baout 5:30AM. We rode our bikes along the dark streets of Park City, spinning easily in the cool mountain air. A few minutes later we found ourselves at the line, and Boris standing on a rock countingdown to the start. "3 minutes!.....1 minute!.....5...5...3...... We were off.
After a few nimutes of climbing a steep dirt road we hit the singletrack. We snaked our way up through Aspen trees, and across grassy slopes when, almost suddenly, the trail became an absolute blast. It was like being on a roller coaster. Small burst climbs, folllowed by twisty turns, and descents, banked corners, smooth dirt, beams of light illuminating the dust thruogh the thick pines and then....we opo out high up on a ridge, Park City far below us, the sun stretching over the mountains. I had an ear to ear grin, knowing, whatever pain might arrive later, that thiswas going to be a good day.
Stage 1 came and went quickly, ending with some tricky, fast switchbacks that drop into Park City Mountain Resort. From there, the course points upward. And upward. And then upward some more. Stage 2 began with 90 minutes ofclimbing. Some of it technical singletrack, some it dirt road, some of itsteep doubletrack. The stage tops out atover 9300 feet.
For all the difficulty in this stage, it was still a pleasant portion of the race. The climbs are rewarded with great views, and stunning singletrack. Can I say enough about the singletrack? I hada good rythm going, and I felt really comfortable onmy bike. I decended betterthan I ever have, even catching people on downhills. After the race a few people would comment on how fast I was descending. That is a first.
I made myway up the Tour de Homes climb, knowing that atthetop I would be done. I crossed the line with a big smile on my face, pleased with mytime, andthe effort I put in. Boris happened to be at the finish line as I rolled through. I shook his hand, and congratulated him on a job well done.
The E100 now looms. I have a better idea of what we are all in for with that one. It will be a beast. But I can't wait for it.
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