NACT Toronto International CX Day 2

Day 2 brings a totally different course, built in and around a valley on the other side of the ski hill from day 1. The course is rolling, with punchy climbs, some off camber and again lots of turning, but overall much faster than the hilly course.

Warm up was uneventful, and still cold, but I felt ok. I opted for the Rhinos after doing a lap with the FMBs. In reality it probably didn't matter but the frost/dew covered grass was a little slick in a few corners and there was not quite enough straight stuff to balance it out. I hadn't brought my green Swiss Stops along, so I had to run the yellow pads on aluminum rims. I was unsure how it would go, but I'd heard it worked pretty well and I can say now that it's actually a really nice feel for cross. Maybe not as much power, but still plenty of it and lots of modulation.

On the start line the crowd was mostly the same, but Noah looked a lot more awake and Dave Brown was not a DNS today. I asked him about Saturday and I guess he was/is sick, and said he was out of shape. The start was far slower for me and I immediately knew my legs did not have any snap left in them after Saturday. I hit the grass about 5th wheel, and a last minute barrier addition to the course took us by surprise and Dave (who was leading) took a trip over the bars on a botched dismount leaving us all to funnel tight to the inside of the 180.

I was struggling to make contact with the front group of 4 which became two groups of 2 by the time they hit the run/ride-up loop thing, and I was off the back. I spent most of the race chasing and never really gaining. The interesting parts were that with 2 to go as I came onto the start/finish straight I could see 4th place at the other end, so a good hot lap and I might catch him. That didn't happen. Similarly, when the course doubled back on itself on the dirt road by the pit I could see Dave slowly gaining time on me each lap. He was probably about 30 seconds back with 3 to go, but was closing about 10-15 seconds a lap.

I hit it pretty good on the bell lap to hold him off, but some masters bumbling their way up the up-down-up climb slowed me enough for him to just about make contact. He was a few bike lengths off me through the valley and just as I came on to the gravel I realized it was going to be a sprint finish. I tried to use the small gap I had to hold him off, but after two days of racing my legs were shot and Dave took it by less than a wheel with both of us throwing our bikes at the line. So much for sick/out of shape. That just goes to show how dead my legs were from Saturday. So kudos to Dave, and all in all I guess it was a good race. I paid for my efforts the day before, but such is life when racing 2 super tough courses in a row.

Here's a couple photos from Day 1 graciously poached from Scott at True North who was running around taking photos and providing updates on Saturday. He took some great photos of the True North racers and bikes that made appearances - check out the flickr set.