Category: XTERRA Las Vegas
XTERRA Las Vegas- Old School vs New School
Caveman at Urban Rage 2010
After fighting the 9hr time change and jet lag that comes with it, I think I’m ready for XTERRA Las Vegas, the USA Season opener. The form is good, I had great legs and won the Vigne a Vigne MTB race in South Africa on sunday, (despite a puncture and a bit of a tumble) but the question is, is 5 days enough time for acclimatization?
I was stunned by the number of 29ers on the course today. The kiddie wheeled bikes make up maybe 25% of the people pre riding today. I’d like to think I put the 29er ball on the roll (I raced on a Stumpy 29er for the first time 4 years ago). Of course the Specialized 29ers are head and shoulders above the rest- you just cant argue with the level of engineering that went into the Epic. Speaking of which, I ordered a set of race wheels and was going to race on my Maui Swork Epic, but when Fedex came, the box looked a bit big, and contained an brand spanking new Sworks 29er, All built up with my favourite parts, the right tires, so sweet! Thanks to Garth and the crew at Specialized HQ.
How sweet are these Avia AVI STOLTZ‘s?! They look wickedly fast – even in the box.
XTERRA Las Vegas, volume II
More pics from XTERRA Las Vegas coming in.
A couple of good qoutes this week:
From my coach Ian Rodger: “Training is like fighting a Gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the Gorilla is tired.” “or maybe its more like fighting Chuck, you dont stop till Chuck is tired…”
When I couldnt remember my rental car company. Just like I often forget my airline company, hotel room # etc so I made this one up…
“The rental car company is Hertz. Just think of what the race is going to feel like Sunday: its going to Hertz!”
Won XTERRA Las Vegas
Its always good to start the season with a win. Even though Josiah Middaugh made my job a lot easier by flatting when he poached my line…
More complete post later. Click here for XTERRA report and complete results.
I got the job done on the bike- this moon landscape course is very particular- there were lots of crashes and flat tires. I had my Specialized Epic Sworks’ Brain suspension set up super plush and could safely (well, kind of) power through the rough stuff – Caveman style.
I know its last years’ World Champs race kit ,(2010 kit is in the mail) but check out my new flash Green and Gold (Springbok) Oakley Radars!
Congrats to fellow Avia racer Shonny Vanlandingham for kicking off the XTERRA season with a bang, Raynard Tissink (we raced each other as juniors) won Ironman South Africa, And Burry Stander got 3rd at the 1st UCI World Cup
XTERRA West- Las Vegas video
Yes, that is me crashing (only a small one) at 3.00.
Earlier in the race I was quite rattled after losing the chain and bending it. I thought my race was over, but I bent it back (about 90 degrees!) and it worked perfectly. I could see Josiah charging from behind, and with my mind all over the place, I wasnt cornering that well along the “single track” along the lake side. Braked too much and at the corner in question- the last one- in front of some spectators, I was determined not to brake. The soil (no, “dust”) was loose and ridden out and the Fast Trak tire just didnt have enough bite. The Captain would have railed it.
Anyway, hardly lost time, but it throws one off, and creates interesting video…
XTERRA Las Vegas 2009
Viva Las Vegas!
Pic by Rich Cruse . Check out more race pics on Rich’s Twitter.
I had a good season opener, despite a few hic- ups on the bike. (a small crash and a twisted chain)
Josiah Middaugh from Colorado had a 1.15 lead after a phenomenal bike, but to my surprise I slowly reeled him in on the 1st (of 2) super hilly run laps. On the 2nd we dueled head to head, and with 2k to go I attacked and got a little gap on Josiah. I told him afterward if he had worn the Avia AVI Stoltz racing shoes, he would have won…
