Saturday, May 1, 2010

The Top Step



Finally all those cold winter rides and 4:30am dawn patrols paid off. For the first time, I got the top step at an ICUP race in the singlespeed class.

The race report can be summed up in a few words. It hurt a lot. Short steep climbs. A lot of them. And long laps.

Kyle (Racer's Cycle Service) had an 18t vs my 19t and was able to drop the group on lap one but took a wrong turn and went off course. That made me feel better cuz I felt like I was chasing all day and could not see him at all. It wasn't until I finished that I saw Kyle roll in. Sorry man. That sucks. He was riding super strong and would have had it for sure.

I had to fight it out with teammate Nick Rico all day but I managed to save a little extra in the tank in case he tried to come around. Nick took 2nd by a very close margin. Too close. He is getting stronger every week.
With 30+ inches of new powder in the mountains and some of my friends heading out into the backcountry this morning, I knew I had to make this race count.

I shall now hereby announce my retirement from MTB racing. It's stupid and it hurts.



17 comments:

dug said...

if you hadn't won today, i would rub the 40 (not 30) inches of new snow up on the new line we did between the hallway and holy toledo in your face.

but since you won, i'll simply say congratulations and be on my way.

Grizzly Adam said...

You should get a bonus at work for the podium photo (and finishes).

Anonymous said...

Nice Job Today ! Nice photo too ;)

Dave said...

It looks like Kyle and Rico are on the same size boxes if you measure from the top of their heads!! Kidding Rico, take it easy...

Kyle said...

Nice work today. You killed it. And retiring when you're on top is a lot smarter than quitting when you're on the bottom. ;)

Nate Dawg said...

Nice finish. 40 inches would be tough to pass up. I'm still earrrrrrrning that though. Retire on top, thats what they always say.

bjchild said...

Good job Rick and Nick. Way to represent. I wish I could have seen that finish. Throw Dave B. in the mix and it would've been 1, 2, 3 Adobe / UC Lunch Crowd.

Nate Dawg said...

oh and is that your tweety bird chair?

Rick Sunderlage said...

dug- I'm still not sure i made the right choice today but thanks for not rubbing it in.

Justin- Thanks for the photo! I forgot to give you credit for that.

Kyle- Whatever it is your are eating, I want some. You crushed it today.

BJ- Good to see you out there today.

Rick Sunderlage said...

Nate- The tweety chair is for 4th place but since the awards didn't happen until 2ish, a lot of racers didn't stick around.

Anonymous said...

7 seconds! Damn that was close, wish I coulda seen it. Congrats on the W!

StupidBike said...

Let me be the first to say it, well here at least.

Sandbagger......

Jonnie J said...

Whatever....once an addict always an addict. Let me know how the next icup goes.

evilbanks said...

Good work man!!

South County Ciclista said...

Nice Win!

Steve said...

Congrats, man - that's awesome.

KanyonKris said...

You look good up there. We know you paid your dues to get there. Well done.