Racing already?
by Matthew Connors on January 31st, 2008
Last weekend was the start of the Arizona State Championship. I have been looking forward to this race for months. The night before I could not sleep at all, I got up an hour before my alarm was going to go off and got everything packed, drove out to the race to get all set up and hang out with the guys that I train with. I got out to the race three hours before my race started; I was so ready to go.
The start of the race comes around I got my worm up in, checked the air in my Kenda tires and I was ready to go. During that time I found out that all the experts would start with the pros, that was music to my ears I was so happy! Since I know that there were going to be a lot of people at the start I got there early so I can get a spot on the front line. I got my place on the line but I had three minutes before the whistle blew, that was the longest 3 minutes of my life. I was looking around to see who was in my class and who I wanted to stay with.
The start of the race came and I was fourth out of 50 riders on the trail. The first four riders started to pull away but I knew they were not in my class. For the first two laps everything was going good. I pulled a dozen of pros around it was so much fun. The third lap I fell apart, my legs were dead, so I slowed down that lap. I came back around past the feed zone and heard my dad yelling, “You’re doing good, keep going!” I know I had to keep going through the pain. Next thing I hear is my friend Paul yelling as he is going downhill, he was just playing around but he was in my class and I had to shift into another gear and start haulin ass. So I could put some time between me and him.
So finally, the last lap came around; and I knew that the finish was four painful miles away. I put it in the big ring and pushed as hard as I could. With a mile an a half left someone was on my back wheel but I did not know who, I didn’t say anything I just pushed as hard as I could. I knew I had to sprint to the finish line to be safe. We came out of the trail I was pushing my bike side to side going for it, I was right next to the barrier and some how he got in between me and that barrier and about crashed me out. Of course he was in my class, I finished 2nd by 0.2 seconds. I was so pissed off.
After we finished he would follow me around to try to talk with me, but I had nothing to say to him. I didn’t want to talk with any one. After leading the whole race I lost it in the last 10 feet.
In the big scope of things I finished 2nd out of about 20 people, so that was not too bad. It is a long season, and I have plenty of time to pay him back. It has just fueled the fire, which is bad news for all the other riders in the expert class.
At the podium I said congratulations to everyone and shook their hands, but not the guy the almost crashed me out of the race. We did not make eye contact at all. He knows that was bullshit, I’m over it now. I’ve been training really hard. I’m looking into getting a coach and also getting a hypoxic chamber to try out for awhile so that should be sweet. Can’t wait till the next race so we can really see who is better then who? Till next time, see you in AZ.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Ah grasshopper, always know who is on your wheel since they have the advantage in any sprint on the road or the trail. When in doubt slow down and pull over slightly to make them show their hand. Congratulations on a great podium spot though. You are going to have a great season.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Matthew, congrats on your finish. It’s great to see younger riders so passionate about the sport; however, it would benefit both you and cycling in general if you could just lighten up a bit. It’s good that you are doing so well and are making efforts to improve yourself as a racer. Also recognize that being pissed off at somebody because they beat you and then dissing them after the race is not doing a damn thing to make you faster. If you are going to race a bike, you’re going to get beat every now and then - get used to it. Learn what you can from the situation while remaining a positive influence in the sport. You were still in diapers the first time Bryan beat me on a mountain bike. Since then, we have been both rivals and team mates on the bike and I have known him to be gracious both in victory and defeat. I know he would have been glad to teach you a thing or two if you had showed him a little respect. Congratulate him and see if he’ll tell you how it is that a guy almost twice your age can still be winning races.
BTW - if he was between you and the barrier and didn’t make contact with you, how did he almost crash you out? Sounds like he was at your mercy and yet still outsprinted you.
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
yes, very impressive results and to loose the 1st place podium by only .2 seconds… Arggg. Take the win at White Tank next weekend!
February 4th, 2008 at 2:07 am
With such aggression and determination I’m sure you pip him next time. but just remember that after the race things are done, so shake hands and make sure that next time its him thats eating your dirt, no point in making enemies. Well done on the result