Race Report: Boulder Stage Road Race MM 40+ 3

MM 40+ CAT 3 Boulder Stage RR (2108.07.01)

The race started without issue with a field of 24. We were lead out by Pedal Racing Nate Pitzer and the pace was moderate for the first few miles from Lyons. Approximately half way up the first ascent Primal’s Jordan Sher picked it up dramatically and separated himself from the field by a good couple hundred feet. The group was broken at this point so that Jordan was by himself and I was trying to hold ground with two others. Given the option again I would have stayed there vs sprinting to catch up to the lead. It was eerily reminiscent of Guanella HC where I burned too many matches and fell completely off for a period. I was cooked when I caught up and could only hold the pace and was not able to increase the lead that Jordan and I had. A night of overeating didn’t help and found myself getting sick during a couple of intense efforts.

Before we took the turn to Nederland Nate P (Pedal) had closed the gap and it was now a group of three. The rolling hills were uneventful with the shifting winds. We were fortunate to have a tail wind on a few climbs and had enough of lead on the main group that being caught was not a major concern. Nate P spent most of his time at the front of the group pushing the pace on the climbs. As we started the last ascent, thinking we still had a downhill into Nederland, Nate P fell off completely with a cramping leg. I then realized that the race finish was not were I had originally thought and was coming up shortly. Jordan and I turned the corner to the dirt road, I felt like it was time to go, and to borrow the words of Jordan himself “it was magical”.

Z