Today was the Kuna Butte Road Race stage of the omnium. The Pro/1/2 men were supposed to do a 4-lap course for a total of 80 miles. I managed to get dropped the first time up the only significant hill and had to chase with a few others for 1/2 lap to catch back on. Then the second time approaching the hill, a couple of people went off the front and I decided to go with them. We crested the top of the hill and had a group of 3 or 4 with about a minute over the pack. Chris was in this group and did a lot of work. I was pulling through but I didn’t feel that strong.

We eventually got caught and I tried to stay out of the wind as much as possible. Then going into the 4th lap I noticed my front tire going down. I rode it for as long as I could then pulled over and waited for the sag wagon. Unfortunately, Brian, the support mechanic, didn’t have any more wheels…too many people were flatting that day. The story goes that a tractor went onto the course between laps and carried a bunch of goat-heads onto the road. The fact that he didn’t have any more wheels was probably a blessing in disguise as my legs were toast and I didn’t feel like doing another 20 miles. So Brian gave me and my bike a ride to the feed zone where Heather was waiting. Good thing this is an Omnium where you can race the next stage even if you didn’t finish the prior one. In a stage race you have to complete each stage to continue and some even have time cuts.