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Sunday, June 23, 2002
21-06-02 NORBA #3, Snow Shoe, West Virginia.
Hi, after a couple of very frustrating weeks, I finally finished a race, and in 2nd place! The course here in West Virginia was what I call a real MTB course! The long descents were steep, with heaps of gnarly roots and rocks. The climbs were equally as tough.. long, steep, and hot. Maybe I am a bit biased though, as I usually like a course after I do well!
I had the worst starting position, as I didn't have any NORBA points, so heading into the first downhill I was in about 20th place. I had to fight hard for the first 2 laps (of 5), while Roland and Ryder did their standard thing.. opening up a 20sec gap on the struggling field. I managed to catch them on the second downhill, partly because I was riding my full suspension Scalpel, and a Dual Slalom (2.2) front tire! That was a bit of an experiment for me today (I have never seen anyone ride XC with a tire this big!). It was Doug's (our DH mechanic) idea, after he rode the course. We had cut down the center knobs to help lower the rolling resistance, and at the end of the day, I think it was a brilliant idea.
I managed to hang onto Roland for another lap, meanwhile we dropped Ryder, but then Roland put down the hammer up the steep climbs, and I had nothing left to respond. This guy is just too strong! Finally I almost blew on the last lap, and just managed to hold on for my second best finish in a NORBA.
I will race the short track tomorrow, but I haven't done too well at these recently, so I will look at it like good hard training!
14-06-02 NORBA #2, Alpine Valley, Wisconsin.
This was an event put on by Team Sports, who also own our team Volvo/Cannondale. So it was important to try and do well here. The venue was kind of in the middle of no-where, but the course was fantastic. There were no big mountains in sight, but the organizers had created a great maze of awesome single tracks, that kept us on our toes the whole race. Well, for me until 1 lap to go that is! I was riding on some very light weight skinny tires, and managed to puncture for the first time in over a year! Then 1/2 a lap after I fixed it, I managed to puncture again. I was in 2nd place at the time, just 40sec behind Roland Green. I just stood there, holding my frustration in. I tried to contain myself, and tell myself that its just racing. But considering I had the same situation just 5 days earlier in the Euro Cup (except then it was my rear derailleur!) I was really bummed out. None the less, I tried to keep my head high... its a long season ahead!
The next days short track was a bit of a bore. Roland stomped away to win again.. not that I could see, as I was struggling around to finish 16th.
The whole weekend was a bit disappointing for the team, as Cedric was a bit ill, and could not podium in either 4-cross, or DH.
Kashi
posted by
jeff lyall
6/23/2002 10:00:31 AM
Thursday, June 13, 2002
Check out a new interview with kashi about his season so far..
Click on Interview
posted by
jeff lyall
6/13/2002 01:00:48 PM
Monday, June 10, 2002
Europa Cup
Just a quick report from today's race..
It was no surprise to wake up this morning and see misty rain.. its been raining all week! What would have been a truly fantastic course, full of switch backs, and single track climbs, became much more of a mud slush.. but still a lot of fun.
Christoph and I managed to get a small gap straight away, and only Cedric Ravenal (Orbea) followed close behind. We rode 2 laps together, taking turns on the lead. After a while Susi got a gap, but then soon after took a big fall. He was okay and continued to end up 3rd. I then had the lead for a while, but Cedric caught me soon after. With just one lap remaining I was riding up one of the sticky mud climbs, when my derailleur jumped into my rear wheel, ending my race there and then. Finally Cedric held on for the win.
Tomorrow morning I fly to US, and will race a NORBA on Friday
Kashi
posted by
jeff lyall
6/10/2002 01:15:30 PM
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