FSC # 7 Loyce Harpe Park

This race was a whole lot better than my last one!  Home course advantage paid off and I took the win. 

The Team Time Trial was a huge success also.  Adam, Sam, Jordon, Madison and myself were not expecting to place too high in the TTT since we are all juniors and our competition is all adults.  However, when we lined up we noticed that we were indeed going to be more organized than the other teams.  We spent a lot of time practicing the TTT.  My Dad had us stagger on the start instead of being side by side.  This allowed us to fall into line faster on the start and draft each other into the woods.  Once we got in the woods Adam led us through with Sam, Jordon, myself and Madison following.  The fourth person across the finish line is the time that is scored so Madison hung on as long as she could.  She still needed to hammer it out because if someone had a mechanical she would have to be that fourth person.  Everything and every situation was planned out and we were cruising good.  At the end of the course we had about a mile of open area and road so we started rotating like roadies and finished with four of us together.  We were suprised to find out we were in first place but still had a few teams after us.  Fortunatly, we held on for the win and the five bonus team points.

TTT video part 1 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvLSYlmxFRw

TTT video part 2 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ9Ay1ahhwA&feature=relmfu

TTT video part 3 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxoniL5XZQk&feature=relmfu

I was expecting to win the race because I had to.  If you win any race it has to be on your home course.  I got a real good start and went into the woods first.  I managed to get a gap right away and never had any problem passing.  I was riding smooth and everything was going as I had hoped.  My Dad was giving me time gaps at different sections and second place was closing in the open areas but my home course knowledge allowed me to open up the gap again through the technical sections.  I knew I had to keep a big lead because the one in second place is a real strong finisher.  On the last lap we had a head wind on the road back and I could see what looked like second place chasing after me.  He had about eight riders with him and if they worked together he could pull me back in.  All I could do was stand and sprint.  It worked.  He never gained any time on me and I got a much needed win.  I forgot to start my helmet cam so there is no video.