NBX GP of CX
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 9:14 pm
I haven't written a race report in a while but wanted to check in after having a blast at NBX yesterday. I've never missed this race since I began racing 'cross because it's my favorite venue. The course has it all: power sections, tight turns, numerous wheel-eating roots, a classic run along the beach and two sets of barriers, one being a mammoth log feature. Its placement on the calendar as the last big race of NECX/Verge means people take it seriously but it's not overcrowded like some of the earlier Verge events. Hitting NBX in decent form is no easy task after a full road and CX season, but I trudged through some late season trainer sessions (sigh) and raced just enough to keep the legs alive. I had a third row start which was huge given the tight, rooty woods section early on, which pretty much sorted the race out from the onset. My start was OK but I lost some spots in woods and got to the beach around 20th. The long beach run was immediately followed by a long paved straight leading into a steep, but ride-able dirt climb. This was by far the hardest section of the course, especially since a brutal cross wind greeted you all the way from the beach to the climb. I made a move here on lap 1 and passed 3-4 riders to jump up to around 15th. Things fully sorted out after lap 1 and although I kept chasing the group in front of me, they were just out of reach. Instead I battled it out with a few college kids (RIT) for the remainder of the race. I kept it upright, sucked wheel whenever possible, passed two guys leading into the finish and ended up 15th. I'll gladly take it for a Verge race. My only regret was not race Saturday too, because the course was only slightly different. I was lucky enough to catch the very dramatic finish between Noble/Anthony in the Elite Womens' race. It's been a long season - 24 races. Time for a rest.
