Three Sundays of Cross.

Chicago, IL & Madison, WI
USGP #1 Madison, WI Sunday September 25, 2011
by: Paolo Urizar

Three cross races down - 18 to go. I have a very heavy CX season ahead of me and with the Metal behind me, I'm ready to take the season on. I had an unfortunate crash thanks to a tri-athlete in training who rear ended me in a sprint. It cost me bike parts, ripped knees (6 stitches!), and an intensely sprained wrist - a total of 2-3 weeks off of the bike completely. Thankfully, it happened at the end of August and it didn't hurt my CX season beginning too much. It didn't settle too easily with me heading into the season recovering from injuries and low thunder in the legs - especially when so many were primed and pumped coming off intense MTB and Road seasons - but my competitive nature kicked in and was able to hold my own in spite of the dull legs at the start of the racing season. Jackson Park the start of the Chicago Cross Cup was my first CX race of the year, I started sheepishly way in the back on purpose to stay clear of bad bike handlers and nurse my still sore wrist that I had taped up Chicago Bears linebacker style. I managed to wrangle a 51st place out of 100 racers in both events. A good omen that my handling was still my one and only saving grace. USGP#1 in Madison was to be my first serious effort with the Masters 35+ on Saturday, Day 1 and Cat 2/3 Day 2. I barely but did hang on in the Masters races despite a snafu'd call up that put me in the back of the pack. I pushed incredibly hard to stay my position and thankfully held it well as I battled another friendly soul out in spite of him throwing me into a stake. I beat him at the end and that alone was worth all the suffering in that race. The second day, was in the rain, in the mud, in the torrential pouring of a soupy course - perfectly my style and the metal kit was my defendor of mud and representation of my attitude as I plowed my best through the muck and managed to not get lapped by the field and finish on the leader's lap. My finishes were not stellar at the first USGP but I had to take confidence in knowing that I am slowly progressing back into form and there's still a ton of racing left. Third Sunday of CX was brought to me by Hopkins Park in DeKalb, IL via Chicago Cross Cup. Finally - I feel like the form is kicking in as I improve a 51st place finish in the Masters to a 36th spot in what should've been a 20 something position that ended up being a sufferfest to catch back the riders that passed me when I dropped a chain like a fool. Sophomore error cost me but it was great to feel the legs respond to a severe beatdown to catch the fury in the lungs and the stomach to catch the crew ahead of me. I did a double day, and raced the Cat 3 race an hour later - and out of 100 starters, I still manage a 56th spot after fried legs from the Masters. I am keeping strong and looking forward to the next 18 races to go and happily powered by Twin Six METAL!