CSU Cobb Lake Road Race Recap

This weekend we raced our home race, the Cobb Lake Road Race in Fort Collins, Colorado. The course was an 8 mile circuit that featured a finish consisting of a mile long dirt road run in to a paved kicker 45sec-1min long. However, the race would be defined by the blustery winds of the great plains.

We planned to use the wind to break apart the field despite our small 5 man squad consisting of Tayne Andrade, Alex Marr, Matti Rowe, Henry York and Max Frankel. So leading into the cross wind swept dirt section, the Rio boys lined up and took to the front. Henry York took the first pull as we entered the dirt. After his pull he looked back to see only Tayne was left in the front row of the echelon, the others replaced in the chaos of an eager peloton. Seeing the breakdown of our line up and riders being guttered, Tayne launched an attack with Michael Bouwkamp.

They were briefly caught before the kicker to the start/finish line, but attacked again on the climb. At this point, most riders were seeing red after only 20 minutes of racing and the attack stuck. Tayne noted after the race that he and his breakaway companion were dumbfounded that no one brought them back immediately and that they were let go by the group to try their luck. The breakaway gained more time each lap by setting a fierce tempo while the peloton performed a staccato rhythm of attacks and lulls. Any concerted chase was disrupted by Rio riders Alex Marr and Matti Rowe(Henry York flatted).

Heading into the final kilometers of the race, Tayne was hardly keeping Michael’s tough pace, but he remembered the advice of team coach Zack Allison. If he could just get a gap through the last dirt corner, Tayne might have enough punch to hold it to the line. Putting Zack’s prophetic words use, Tayne jumped his singular breakaway companion into the last corner. He gained still another half second in the turn itself with his cyclocross skills and Tayne powered his way to his first Pro/1/2 victory. To add icing on the cake, Alex Marr won the field sprint for 4th.

I'd add that while we were in the break, both Micheal and I were dumbfounded that we weren't being brought back by the group. I decided pretty early that if we did make it I would need to go early. I noticed each lap that my companion consistently went slower through the final corner off the dirt road. Using Zacks advice from the GJ crit I knew I could make the jump before the corner and likely hold the gap to the finish. I'd integrate that into what Henry has written.

Quote from Tayne on the Day’s Race:

"I really didn't expect the break to stick. About halfway through I was ready to pull the plug because the legs were not feeling good after working hard to establish the break. But when we didn't see the group even on the longest straightaway, I was able to settle in. Come the last lap I started skipping turns and taking easier pulls, feeling confident that I could make the jump at the end. Beyond excited that I could pull of the win for the team and teammates"

Written by Henry York with Notes from Tayne Andrade