Already August!?!?

Hard to believe its already August!  This season is flying by.  TBS/CFA Racing continues to make its presence known across all categories. 

The Capitol Reef Classic Stage Race was a big one on our list this year.  We sent a strong squad.  Our best place GC rider was Heather Smith with a 3rd in the Women's Cat 4.  Our men made it interesting however.  While the TT wasn't our best result, Ben Towery (me)rode to a 5th place in the short but difficult stage 2 circuit race in the Masters B category.  The next day saw Doug Olmstead in the top 10 of the road race.  Ben made a go of it as well but was gassed in the last long climb.

Trent Olsen was 6th in the circuit race after flatting.  Manny and Darren were primary aggressors in the Pro 1/2 Category with Darren placing 8th on GC.  Blake Fessler was also strong in the Cat 4 Men with a 7th on GC.

We also had a strong contingent at the Chalk Creek Road Race which doubles as the State Masters Championships.  This was another big one for us as I had high ambitions for a state championship. 

The out and back course isn't long, only 50 miles total.  But I suffered on the way up. The rolling hills were taking their toll and it took all I had to stay with the lead group.  At the turnaround I was expecting a big break away but no one really wanted to stick their nose out into the headwind coming up the canyon.  With a Gu in my mouth and a chance to sit in, I recovered well and started taking part in the action.  I was without teammates so I let the other riders with bigger teams do most of the work.  I would however mark some of the stronger looking breaks and keep things at a pace that I like.

With 5 miles to go there's one last climb.  I again thought this is where we would see a breakaway attempt but it didn't happen.  With 3 to go, I broke away but the wind held me back.  I settled into second position for the final downhill surge and made the last turn in front.  I didn't want to be caught in a crash around a turn only 1km from the finish.  With a little gap I saw the short and steep uphill finish and started my sprint.  It wasn't meant to be however and I got caught by Mike Underhill, who I have been battling all season.  He and I are both built better for sprinting than climbing and he just got me. 

Still, 2nd place ain't nothing to shake a stick at and I'm proud of the effort.

Darren and Manny tore it up at the Tour de Park City Gran Fondo going 1-2 in their age group and Darren finished 3rd overall.

We have been mixing it up at the Simply Mac Crit Series as well in Ogden.  Right now we have Keri Gibson leading the points race for the ladies, I'm ahead by 1 point in the B flight and Darren took the win last week.  He and Darren are right up there in the points chase.

Stay tuned for more!