Cherry Blossom Classic Final Report

From Paul Mach:

The rest of the Cherry Blossom Stage Race went pretty well for Team Bissell. There were three more stages with a double day on Saturday and a road race on Sunday.

Saturday's morning TT was an 8 mile out and back with a head wind and steady 2% climb on the way out. The first half was a suffer fest, but the way back was like a bobsled track, you kept going faster and faster. Jeremy finished 2nd, 8 seconds back and I was 7th, 50 seconds behind the winner.

The crit in the evening was a four corner rectangle with a tail wind on the home stretch. We started late and since it was getting dark they shortened it from 50 to just 28 minutes. We all raced really hard and attacked a bunch but the field was too fresh for anything to stay away. One lap to go came out of nowhere and we all just cruised in with the pack.

Sunday's road race was 3 times up a steady 7 mile climb for 84 miles total. The pre-race plan was simple; keep the GC placings and maybe go for the stage.

For the first two laps Jeremy and Omer rode tempo on the front. There was some arguing between them as Jeremy wanted to make sure he did just as much work as Omer, but other than that it went pretty smooth. I just sat 3rd wheel the whole time.

Omer, just coming back from his injury, was killing it on the climb. The first time, half way up, 5 miles into the race, people were already making bad choices. Some bumping, shouting and spokes into quick releases. The second time up Omer did the same thing. He'd look back to see people suffering and that just made him go harder.

With a lap to go the group was down to about 20 and they told us it was 3:30 to the break. It was clear the field was hurting since the group was so small. So the third time up the climb I attacked with the intent of catching the breakaway. A few of the GC contenders went with me, so I attacked again. I was going deeper into the pain cave as I went up the hill but finally caught all but one of the exploding break.

That guy still had 1:30 on me at the bottom of the decent so for the last 15 miles I chased and chased and chased. The gap got shorter and shorter. 30, 25, 20, 18, 15, 12 seconds. In the end I ran out of pavement and he won by 5 seconds. Almost. Jeremy was in the chase group and finished 4th.

It was a good weekend. Me and Jeremy Vennell went 1 and 2 in the GC with 1 stage win and 2 second places. That night we barbequed with our host family in Hood River. Can't wait to see them again when we head back for Mt. Hood Classic in June.