Coming in the UCI3 day I really didn't know what to expect. I'd been fighting a pretty nasty cold, hadn't slept in 4 days or ridden. I'd been noodling even whether to make the trip down for fear of digging myself even a bigger hold in the fitness department after such a nice build up. The weather was as much a factor as the 3 different styles of course we were going to ride. This was one thing for sure, the 90degree heat was going to take it out of you...

The first race in Kentucky was the hardest course I've ridden, and also the bumpiest since my SuperCup days in Boulder, CO. I think I lost a few fillings out there. I was staged at the back, found my way toward the front pretty quickly and just watched guys melt down in front of me except for 1st place. I had good battle going with Jon all day until 1/2 way into the last lap when he dropped his chain on the run up while I rode it opening the door for me to take 2nd.

Day 2 had about 100 turns, and more then a dozen 180's but the heat was really the story of the day. By race time the temps were near 90 and getting hotter. I got a horrible start by my standards, got chopped a few corners into the race by a unnamed rider just trying to hold his position as well and that was the story of my day. As I would claw my way slowly from the 20's back toward the front it was one guy either crashing in front of me or I just couldn't get around people as the course twisted back on it's self more then a snake. Still I had fun & I almost made it back up to the podium and into the 3 &4th place. But 5th was all I had time left for.

Day 3 at Harbin park & not my favorite course to top it off. I was pretty determined to get a better start but that didn't really happen as I somehow got staged even further back with at least 5 of the fastest guys from the weekend on the front line minus JC and I. Good start, moved my way up into 3rd a few laps in. But the power from the engine room was just not enough on day 3. You see, if this was a road race you could sit in and still be fresh by day 3 but in a 'cross race there is not hiding. I'd get gapped going up the start/finish stretch which was a 400m uphill grassy slog into a giant sand pit at 5mph. Once out or the sand I'd start closing it back down throughout the lap only to get dropped again on that same start/finish stretch again & again, over and over. I fought pretty hard right till the very end and made JC earn that last podium spot & I walked across the finish line dehydrated for 4th.

So, so long Ohio. I won't miss you or your dry dust bowl heat, coughing, buckeye, acorn, stick,180's, giant barriers, bumpy courses, sand pit, 4x4 run up, - payout, UCI C2/C1 races until next year...