Cherry Pie with Extra Cherries

Sometimes a breakaway sticks, sometimes it don't.
By Jake Hansen

Early furious attacks led to Bedford, myself, and a few others getting off the front of the 90 man pack for about 30miles, in the 52 mile Cherry Pie RR.

Alex Lightman, the Professor of Blocking, ran a 30 mile seminar for the rest of the pack, keeping his teammates off the front.

All of his teaching (chasing pursuing breaks) left him rather exhausted at the base of the first climb, where the pack caught us shortly there after.

Our breakaway group worked together, but could have been schooled a little better in the art of rotating.

Once caught, our "Plan B" (forming up a lead out for the sprint) was put into effect. It didn't happen, as I crashed when somebody came jetting into me. It was my fault for being so far back in the pack.

We worked great as a team even though we didn't get the results we wanted. Alex saved our reputation in the finish. Meanwhile, we learned a lot about the art of the breakaway and put ourselves out there big in the first race of the season.

I am encouraged by Bedford and Alex's strength and know that we are going to have a great season.

Maybe next week we'll sit in and form up a lead-out as "Plan A".


See on Jake and Bedford's wheel Sean Babcock, the S&M guy who beat Tonkin and the big pros in Cyclocross.


Photo Credit:
Pat Malach of Oregon Cycling Action