Race report: Westwood Velo Cross
Westwood Velo Cross 2009. Photo: Daniel McMahon
Headed up to Mahwah, N.J., this morning with a couple of teammates to race Westwood Velo Cross. It was my fifth cross race.
The weather forecast was right on: sunny and warm with a high of 60 F. The changing colors all around us were stunning.
We pulled into the parking lot well ahead of time, and I saw the Van Dessel trailer. I’d requested to test-race a Gin & Trombones, and there it was, prepped and waiting for me. I just screwed on my Eggbeater SLs, lowered the saddle a tad, and was on my way for a warm-up. It was weird riding another bike, as it always is, but it felt good, fast. It was probably three pounds lighter than my LeMond, easily.
My first four cross events this year were Cat. 4 races. This time I decided to check out what the Masters 35+ was all about. That the race started at noon was sweet. Getting to a cross race at 9 a.m. just sucks. No two ways about it.
Something like 35 guys lined up for the start, and once we got going I was maybe 15th through the hole shot, so not a great beginning. I felt okay but not really strong. I passed a few guys going up the long drag after the hole shot—basically the guys who went too hard at the start—but lost a place or two in the downhill section, which zigzagged its way through a series of muddy 180 turns. I fared better in the tight turns than in the past, though, and that had to do with taking a better line—approaching turns from the outside and going closely through the apex. I was focusing on turns today since I pretty much sucked at doing these in my first cross races.
My race was really the same the rest of the way, kind of on autopilot. I was about 20th the whole time and rode alone. Some guys got lapped early, and some were having mechanicals or wiping out.
The course was fairly technical with lots of tight turns, muddy spots, rocks, stairs, and two sets of barriers. It wasn’t very fast, and there was almost no off-camber to speak of. It favored a power rider with above-average technical how-to. I liked that in five cross races I was on yet another different kind of course. Variety’s fun.
Not that it affected my results, but I had some major back pain today. Last weekend at Granogue and Wissahickon I had no issues with my herniated disc, but today was not the case. It’s impossible to predict when my back will act up, but after lap one I was dying a slow death all the way to the finish. It’s a bummer because I feel it distracts me from racing 100 percent. Again, I don’t think it affected my placing, but it did put me in the hurt locker. I did my best to block it out and just ride. I stood up and pedaled when I could. That helped a bit. But I had to laugh: There I was, doing the Masters race with a slipped disc acting up. How cliche.
Once I settled into my rhythm I pushed it as hard as I could without blowing. I figured I was not going to see the front again so why not practice racing at my own pace and honing some skills. My race was mostly uneventful, however. I thought I was done when I rolled toward the start/finish at about minute 43, when I learned I had one to go still. Ugh! The last lap went surprisingly fast as I wanted it done ASAP.
THe Elite Men's race at Westwood Velo Cross. Photo: Daniel McMahon
I’m going to write up a short review of the Gin & Trombones, but suffice it to say it was a great ride. Very stiff, very fast. I’d never ridden tubulars on a cross bike before, and what a difference they made, especially in the tight turns. It was amazing riding a 40 psi tire. So much more grab in the corners.
I liked racing in the Masters 35+ race. I may do more of these. It’s a tougher bunch of racers, and they are smoother and stronger. I figure those are good things. I will do more 4 races this year, but if I can I’d like to mix it up. I guess I can do 3 races, too, now that I’ve done five cross races.
I was 22nd at the finish but got lapped by the top seven guys, I think. They were moving.
Overall a good day of racing and a beautiful day out with autumn splendor everywhere. I couldn’t get over how gorgeous it was.
Pretty happy too that I’ve completed my first five cross races in a row. Looking forward to the next one and the last five of my first cross season. I continue to hold that cross and road racing are very, very distant cousins. All the better probably.
Full results here.
View more photos from today’s race at the CyclingReporter.com Flickr page.
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