Nine2FivePro

BPM Tour Day 2: Into the Picos!

We waited out the rain over another cup of coffee. Sun came out and stayed with us all day. We had a couple “warm up” climbs to start the day. Then a major climb that was more like a cow path; steep stuff. Another long climb and some nice descents. Then we made it to the Picos de Europa park with its jagged peaks. A flat tire was quickly remedied and we continued our way to find our Picos home away from home in the heart of the mountains in Poncebos.

Nationals recap! After I returned from a week of bikepack touring around PEI in early July, Greg messaged me to see if I was keen on going to Victoria, BC for Masters Road National Championships. To which I replied...

LET’S DO IT!

3 weeks to turn touring legs into racing legs with lots of “Surge & Clear” workouts as LB put it. Even came out of Criterium retirement to ride a few Tuesday Night Crits to learn how to ride around in circles and jam some fitness in the legs.

After putting in the work and tapering, out we flew to Victoria, rented a big ‘ol truck and settled into a nice Airbnb close to the road race. Road course recon made it clear the race was going to be a game of attrition.

Greg lined up in the Master B event, forcing the pace on the climbs, and leaving it all out there to take the Bronze medal. In the Master A road race, there were moments I was the hammer, and others where I was the nail. In the finale, I was in the group battling for the last podium spot, and pretty stoked to take 5th place after a tough race.

Next up was the criterium in downtown Victoria, with big crowds out to watch and a cool circuit around the BC Parliament. Greg went in with confidence, and some fire in the belly to upgrade his Bronze medal to something shinier. He looked comfortable the whole race and delivered on his strategy to lead through the last corner, taking the Gold medal and National Champion jersey. Pretty cool to see!

In my criterium, I was on the ropes for the first bit, and gradually warmed up to the race, getting better lines through the corners and making a couple moves. My late attack going into the last lap didn’t come to much and I cruised in happy to have been in the mix and stay upright.

Post criterium time we chilled out with some fish burgers, a cruise along the water on bike paths, and some giant servings of ice cream. And our extra day there we had a great DIY Tour de Victoria where Greg showed me some awesome roads that the real Tour de Vic takes in, and he got to cruise around in his fancy new jersey. Champ!

Then it was time to pack up bikes for the next days flight home, and chill down by the water in the Esqimalt Lagoon.

Scenes from a great day out at the Glengarry Games Gravel Run.

Grandpa Mike & Kyle sprint finish, Steve Chapman taking a Nine2FivePro win🥇in the Epic event, and just general shenanigans with the boys.

My only win of the year!

Now I can stop training like a dummy.