Steve Tilford

Yesterday I went over to the Tour of Lawrence, but didn’t race, I just watched. I had ridden earlier, 40 miles on gravel and completely fell apart coming home. I’m not feeling that well and figure I have one day in me, if that.

Anyway, it is important to watch races every once in awhile to understand what is going on from the outside, looking in. It is a completely different experience, an important one.

Yesterday, the race was carnage. It was super hot and the course was tricky, with lots of corners and places the field got super stretched out. The slinky-effect was happening constantly, thus a lot of guys were on their limits.

Guys were getting popped out the back from the gun. The front of the race almost looked easier than the middle of the pack, it was really interesting.

The race was only 75 minutes, but the last 15 minutes, about 1/2 the field disappeared. It finally got down to a group of maybe 12 guys, where everyone could corner without braking, etc. From watching, it showed me that even really good riders suffer immensely when racing, especially in the heat.

Joseph Schmalz, Elevate, rode away with 5 to go, with Garrick Valverde. Joseph’s team mate, Nick Torraca was there for a little while, but after taking a huge pull, he got dropped by Joseph. It looked a little weird, but in reality, when Nick went back to the field, they pretty much gave up, which allowed Joseph and Garrick to disappear. Nick ended up riding away again with a lap to go and finished 3rd, which was a big effort. Here is a link to the Lawrence paper’s article.

Today it is supposed to be much hotter. I just heard on NPR that the heat index is supposed to be close to 110. That is ugly. I’m hoping to finish, but am not holding my breathe on that.

I know it seems a little strange racing when I have such low expectations and don’t feel well, but being from Kansas, it is important racing in downtown Lawrence. It is a very historic downtown, dating back to the civil war when raiders come over from Missouri, a slave state, and burnt the city of Lawrence.

When the Collegiate Nationals were held in Lawrence, there was a USAC Pro 1/2 criterium. I skipped Joe Martin Stage Race to just race one criterium. I won the race that year. That isn’t going to happen today.

Today is the Kansas State Criterium Championships too. It’s always nice to be racing for a title.

So, it is going to be a hard day today. If anything, I hope to learn something for not watching from the outside. The course is easier than yesterday, so I have that going for me.

Joseph won alone.

Nick barely made it in before the field.

Matt Gilhousen had a party after the race. Tucker was way interested in the stack of meat Matt was preparing.

Later on, the shots came out. We took off just a tad later.

Later on, vodka shots came out. We took off just a tad later.

I’ve taken a lot of shit over the years about being from Kansas. When I was a junior, most of the other riders on the national team had never been to Kansas and thought of it as I thought of Alabama or something. Everyone has their own visions of their Kansas. I used to tell them that there was only one paved road and one stop light. And they believed me.

Then after I won the first MTB National Championships, they would call me to the line and say I was from Topeka Kansas and they spectators would crane their necks with audibly chuckles. I could hear the comments about how a guy from Kansas could ride mountain bikes. I guess they think it is flat?

Anyway, cycling in Eastern Kansas has been pretty successful, at least since I’ve been racing. We produced some pretty incredible riders over the years. Two guys that have raced in the Olympic Games, Marc Thompson and Nathan Sheafor, from Topeka. Lots of National Championships in multiple disciplines, etc. Back when I wasn’t a Pro, at one time there were three riders from the state of Kansas on the US National Road team, out of 12. It was me, Nathan Sheafor and Scott Moniger. I think there were just a few more than 150 licensed riders in the state then. Pretty high percentage.

We have some stellar races here too. The Tour of Kansas City has been going on for over 50 years. It used to be an Olympic Development Race, which is equivalent to a NRC race now. Lawrence Kansas has promoted great races too. The KU Criterium, was an Olympic Development race back then too. Now the Tour of Lawrence, which is amazing. If you get a chance next year, you should try to attend. All the categories have a great prize lists and the courses are excellent.

Anyway, we have a pretty good group of elite level riders right now too. There are a bunch of young guys that are riding pretty fast and it is fun watching them progress.

That is pretty much what I did yesterday at the Tour of Lawrence, watch. It was muggy hot, like crazy muggy hot. The crit was 75 minutes and everyone was dragging. Everyone except Joseph Schmalz. Joseph won the race again, like he did the day before. He lapped the field with Alex Hoehn, who is from Kansas too, and a few others. Alex was 2nd at the Tour of Gila, Cat 1/2, and is riding stellar this season.

I rode better than I had anticipated. I was shit, but it could have been worse. I was hot, but I didn’t melt. I ended up finishing 16th, but at least I finished. If I wouldn’t have a couple mistakes, I might have finished in the top 10. But when you’re at you limit, mistakes come fast and easy.

Alex and Joseph are heading off to the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend today. It is a good time for them to bug out. The weather is going to be extremely hot this whole week.

Trudi is flying back from Europe tonight. She was supposed to come back tomorrow, but got her ticket changed to today. She only has a handful of days back, having to head to California to prepare for the Tour of Utah.

Okay, guess I’m doing heat training all week. Last week was the least I’ve ridden since January 1st, and I’m thinking of repeating that again. This virus thing is hanging on. I hate being sick in the summer.