Tree City Stage Race -- Road Race

I actually got 3rd, but they relegated the 2nd place guy out of the race for his conduct. I'll write more later....

Perfect course for me - rolling hills, all in the big ring. Tried my hand twice within 4 miles of the finish but nothing was getting away that day. Finished at the back of the lead pack.

I couldn't pull on my bars on the left side due to a shoulder injury from biting the pavement the weekend before. So, I sat at the back most of the race, occasionally moving up to the 1st third of the pack and then drifting back again. The Rocket was racing pretty wisely, sitting 3 or 5th at the front most of the race. Nobody was really doing anything on this 16 mile technical course other than surging out of the constant turns-you would think the cicadas were putting the pack to sleep. With sixty down and five miles to go one guy was dallying just off the front and I figured we were heading to a pack sprint finish so I launched off. The dallying dude grabbed my wheel and I gave it all I had for a minute. He said we were clear but instead of taking a pull he immediately attacked me. Maybe the cicadas sucked his brain out too. I stuck on his wheel and we were far enough off the front we couldn't see the pack behind us thanks to the constant turns nearing the finish. Cicada brains refused to work after his attempt to ditch me and I pulled for three miles at 176bpm. At that point my legs wouldn't go in circles anymore-I could hear my cogset engage and disengage as I pedaled in hopeless squares. With two miles to go the pack came and kicked our butts. It was nice while it lasted.

Perhaps the most poorly run road race I have ever experienced. To make my case I submit the following examples:
1. The lead vehicles (LA CHOPPERS)got lost during the first lap causing mass crashes and carnage. Not to mention their extended front fork made it impossible for them to make the turns quickly and we found ourselves on top of them continuously.
2. The race was so poorly marked that the riders made another panic stop which resulted in me cyclocrossing down a ravine and up through someones front yard and finally hitting a fence.
3. The wheel truck dumped our wheels on the side of the school without telling anyone. Many of us waited on the van for an hour. arrrgggg!
4. Corner martials sitting in their cars pointing out the window.
5. Oh, I forgot to mention that the road race was not in the town on the race flyer. No, it was a mear 12 miles from Greensburg. Fortunately I ran in to Mitch at the local gas station or I would not have found the race.
6. The flyer said individual events were $25, yet they charged $30 for this race. It made Tyler look good.

SH stage race it aint