Today I doubled up with the 4/5 race and then followed it up with the Cat 4 race immediately afterwards.  

Chris (Team Pegasus), Ryan (IIT), Lou (Pony Shop) and I lined up on the line for the start of the race.  I had planned on using this race as a warm-up for the 4s race.  However, that quickly changed as Chris, Ryan and I decided to jump from the start.  The whistle blew, we 3 were joined by Lou and a rider in a Guiness kit.  The break would hold for the entire race. 

This was my first time doing this race and had no idea what to expect.  I have heard many crash stories about the BK Stacker.  The first time through, I did what most who crashed in the stories did, took the corner too wide and almost ended up in the barrier.  The next time around, I quickly corrected that mistake.

The race was pretty uneventful until about 7 laps to go.  We get to the BK Stacker and a steady pace of about 27-28 mph, the paceline acting smoothly between the 5 of us, when I see Eric Goodwin (vw-T) waving his hands signaling to slow down.  I get half way through the turn and see a down rider and slam on my brakes.  This is where the drama unfolded.  

After I slammed on the brakes, my rear wheel fish-tailed out and down I go.  I slide wheels first into the back of the down rider, my chain popped off, got a little bump on the shin, had some blood dripping from the wound down my leg and the race was neutralized.  After heading to the SRAM tent to have my bike checked, everything was fine and headed back to the start line with the rest of the riders.  I met up with my fellow break-away riders and relived the incident.

As the race restarted, we were given our lead back and the race went on as nothing happened.  With about 3 to go, Chris and Ryan broke off from the remaining 3 riders.  I tried to get up there, but my legs didn't want to respond the way I wanted them to.  I settled in with Lou and the Guiness rider and we finished the race.  With the bell lap, I was pulling through until turn 3, where I moved behind Lou, who pulled the rest of the way.  Coming through turn 6, still on Lou's wheel, I was looking to make my move.  About 200m from the line, I jumped.  Moved left from Lou, and spun as fast and hard as I could, then dropped down a gear.  Looked up at the line, then threw the bike, just edging out the Guiness rider for 3rd.  Chris won the sprint and took the 40th Anniversary Jersey.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up, the Cat 4 race.    

Started midway back and on the right side boards.  We were on the line for about 15 min (or so it seemed).  I had not clipped in and then the horn blew.  I hurried to try to put my foot in my pedal and missed.  Got it the second time.  Same thing happened with my other foot.   I ended up almost off the back immediately from the start.

It took my about 5 laps to get the legs feeling somewhat decent after the first race and get back to a decent position.  About 5 laps in, Jeff Holland from xXx got pushed into the gutter after turn 4 and went down into the barriers.  He turned out to be ok, no broken bones, but a couple of bruises.  (Heal up soon Jeff).  The race was neutralized at this point.

We get back to the line for the restart and I had trouble clipping in again.  I finally get into a good position and then get pushed back to about 20th or so.  I ended up behind Adam Clark from CCC.  Again the BK Stacker struck.  Not sure what exactly happened, but from recounts of the crash, a rider bombed the inside of the turn and pushed a few riders into the curb causing a massive pile up.  Adam went down and again I was forced to slam on the brakes.  Back wheel fish-tailed again, but somehow I corrected and stayed up.  I ran over Adams rear wheel and began pedaling to catch up to the lead riders.  The race was neutralized again.  I had some choice words for that turn and was very frustrated at this point.  Two races and the BK Stacker ate me twice.

The race got restarted again and it took a couple of laps to return to the front.  On my way, I pass Chris and Bryce from xXx and tell them to grab my wheel and I'll pull them to the front.  I get to turn 3, and see a rider in the middle of the road down and another rider walking his bike.  Henry ended up with 5 broken spokes and was walking his bike as it was unridable.   

On the bell lap, I get to the front coming into the BK Stacker.  Looking for Nate to lead him out, my legs died about half way from turn 6 to the line.  Nate ended up taking 2nd and I snagged 7th.  

There were a total of 4 crashed during the Cat 4 race and at least 1 in the 4/5s.  The safety crew had to bring their A game today as there was at least one crash in every race except the women's 1/2/3 race.  Good luck to everyone the rest of the week. 

I got to send a huge thanks out to the medial crew as they were definitely on top of their game today.  They helped clean up my bloody leg in no time.  But not only me, but countless other riders who went down today.  Thanks Superweek medics.