Cable Off Road Classic

Cable, WI
Saturday May 14, 2011
by: Aaron Sturgis

I won the 27 mile Cable Off Road Classic.  Problem is is that it was only 25 miles.  Yupers.  That basically sums up my race on Saturday.

I pulled into Cable, WI on Saturday to another race day of cloudy skies, windy, and drizzle.  But I was still looking forward to the first point-to-point race of the season.  I grabbed my bid, put on the cold weather clothing…again…and took off for a short warm-up.

At 10:00 the gun echoed and we were off.  The pace was pretty sweet and I yo-yoed off the lead pack for a couple of miles until we came out of the first single track section.  As the lead pack took off I found myself racing alone….which is not always the greatest thing.  10 miles in I jump on some guys wheel and begin the trek into some sweet logging roads, single track, and fire roads.  We climb up and out of some single track and into the next food station where a race official points the 20 mile racers one way and he proceeds to tell me to go straight.  Not a problem.

I go straight as does the guy behind me and before you know it we are cruising up an old abandoned logging road which dumps us out and onto a fire lane road.  And that is when I realize something is not right.

Three other guys are slowly riding up and down the road and we follow them.  We realize we are not on the course and that we missed a turn.  We turn back and now 10 other riders have joined us.  I didn’t mess around and doubled back and before I knew it I doubled back another mile or so and found myself way back in the pack.  I went from top 25 to top 70.  By then I knew my race was done and I just wanted to get back and finish.

So the last 8 miles of the race was spent talking it up with riders and taking my time getting back in.  I was bummed, but the further away I get from the race the more I end up laughing at myself.  Oh well…I would be upset with myself it I was the only one who screwed up….but considering there were many who missed the sharp left….well, you get the point.

Like I said….I rocked the 27 miles…I just got turned around a bit during the 25 mile race.