Got back from Mexico and decided to fly out to the East coast to see how fast everyone is going in X. Thought I might get a couple UCI points for Portland. Had to line up a fair ways back,with no UCI points, thus had a mediocre start. Hooked up with Todd Wells for a lap or so, then rode a couple laps with Ben Jacques-Maynes and finally got into the top ten. Rode hard the last lap because I knew I was going to get outsprinted by anyone I was with, having only a 39 X 12 for a big gear. I’ve had a little of a lung thing going for a month or so and a little Montezuma’s revenge the last week, so I was happy only finishing a couple minutes back, considering I was a minute back after a lap. Off to New Zealand for the Tour of Southland next week and back to the US for the last couple Crank Brother’s Races in the Northwest.

Results

UCI Elite Men

1 Ryan Trebon (USA) 0.54.34
2 Jeremy Powers (USA) 0.23
3 Barry Wicks (USA)
4 Tim Johnson (USA) 0.25
5 Todd Wells (USA) 1.56
6 Davide Frattini (ITA) 1.59
7 Steve Tilford (USA)
8 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) 2.04
9 Geoff Kabush (CAN) 2.11
10 Jon Hamblen (USA)

Completed the 27 hour total travel time trip to Invercargill, NZ, for the third time, to race the Tour of Southland. It is supposed to be late spring there, but being so far South, (jumping off point for Antartica) the weather conditions are always the challenge. This years addition was one for the books. Snow, cold, rain and raging winds. The last two days were especially epic, which fits my riding style somewhat. Moved up for 24th to 14th in the Overall GC on the last two stages the final day. Winds blowing nearly 50mph. It was a pleasure riding with Thurlow Rogers, an ex-teammate from the Levis’ team in the 80’s. He was riding pretty good for not having raced for nearly a month. He finished 13th Overall in GC. We pretty much hung together the last three stages. Photos later.