New race venue made for a fast and sloppy course

After catching covid in early April, then getting knocked down by a cold, my fitness has suffered by not being on the bike for 6 weeks. I had signed up for this event to show support for a new race on a great trail system. In spite of my w/kg sliding 15%, I decided to try to race myself back to fitness.

I raced the short course, 11.3 mi and 1,130 ft. The start was a long, flat gravel road before the singletrack started. I knew keeping near the front would be the best strategy for getting a good placing at the end. I managed to keep in contact with the leaders on the long climb and managed to pick up a few places on the decent. The finish was the reverse of the start, but I didn't have enough in the tank to hold off the sprint for the 3rd spot on the podium.

Now, onto the Sisters Stampede.