CHIN through to Peterborough

July 1st is the day of the infamous CHIN picnic, the winning of which awards local bragging rights for the year. CHIN is one of the coolest races of the year for me, mainly because everyone in the city that I know comes out and cheers - it makes me feel like a celebrity.

As always CHIN was a showdown between Ital and us. This year the team thought we'd change tactics and try and take the race to everyone else, rather than bringing it to a bunch finish like in years past. The weather had something to say about that though, as a gusty wind picked up towards race time, blowing strongly through the start finish area; it was to be a different CHIN than the usual suckfest. A definite highlight of the race this year was Steve Bauer - former 4th place finisher at the Tour de France and Canada's greatest ever cyclist - pinning on a racing number.

For another year CHIN came down to a sprint, even though the team had raced super aggressively in the hopes of instigating a winning break. Buck particularly raced hard, spending much of the race off the front and almost, almost, lapping the field. Impressively Ital started their leadout with 6 to go, at which point I thought for a moment that we might have been in trouble. Unfortunately for them they had a problem as their two main sprinters were taken out of the race when they rubbed wheels, and broke spokes, after having been pushed into one another by someone trying to get into the line - no respect. With 2 to go Jet Fuel hit the front, taking over as we have in years past with Tim following the train. The big surprise of the day came with half a lap to go on the back side of the course - Steve Bauer launching a great attack down the left side of the road. Trouble, was all I thought. Jumping out of the saddle after him I was in doubt of whether I could catch him or not and it wasn't until we were within a couple of hundred meters of the line that I did. From there Tim took over and once again the Jet Fuel squad were the winners at CHIN, making it four editions in a row now. Hopefully next year will be five.

I wanted to say thanks to everyone for coming out to support us, it's what makes the race so much fun.

Sunday, although it lacks the history of CHIN, was another great race in Peterborough. It seemed that this race was a great reply by the field in Ontario to my critique last week. All day we raced hard, with an average speed up around 44km/hr or more to make for one of the fastest races of the year. Unfortunately it ended in frustration for the team. After being attentive to the moves all day I countered off a move with 5 laps to go, hoping that the Ital team after having worked hard would be tired and be unable to bring me back. At 3 to go it was looking good, then with 2 they were closer, but closing that last little bit is always tough so I was hoping, but with 1 to go they got me. From what I hear it was with the help of Ed Maset - one of the guys that has been really aggressive these last few races and of an older pedigree - that Ital was able to get me, good to see him racing so well and showing the young guns how it's done. And so, once again it was a bunch finish. Josh and Joe did the leadout thing, this time for Buck. The team wasn't so lucky in Peterborough and storming through for the win was Dan Lefevre putting in a fantastic sprint and pushing Buck into second. Bummer, but you can't win them all.

Next weekend is road nationals out in BC, should be hot.