This weekend, David, Jeremy and myself drove (actually, he drove and I was co-pilot) to Northampton, MA for the 3rd and 4th rounds of the Verge New England CX Series. 

We got to the hotel on Friday afternoon and received my new National Champion skin suit that Waldek had shipped overnight after spending 2 days sewing and preparing. It looked very professional. 

In short, it was a super fun weekend. I won on Day 1 and got 3rd the second day. The courses were fun, the energy and atmosphere at the event was great and I was happy to do honour to the Canadian Champion suit that Waldek had put so much effort in making. David was all smiles and kept my bikes rolling smooth and with no problems. We had good fun and I was grateful for the support I receive from Clif Pro team and from my friends and family! 

Now if you want more details on how it went, please see below. 

Friday: 

Drive to the hotel, get the skin suit. Impressed by Waldek’s ability at sewing. Get changed. Go for a fun ride in Vermont’s country roads with Dave and Jé. Take a shower. Eat Thai food….Mmmmm. Go to grocery store, hang out in hotel room, sleep. 

Saturday: 

Wake up. Breakfast. Barista coffee in the french press. Dynamic stretching. Prepare bags for the race and some sandwiches for lunch. Drive to venue. 

Pre ride once. Pick up + pin numbers. Pre-ride again. Course is fun and fast. Eat Luna Bar (Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond) , eat Clif Bloks. Warm up on FeedbackSport trainer. Eat gel. David puts 20 psi in tires. Go to start line. 

• Whistle goes off. 
• I get the hole shot. 
• Everyone is following me. It is windy. "Better not push too much and burn all my matches now". 
• Accelerate out of corners. “yes! only 4 of us now.” 
• Emma attacks. I follow. Separation is created. 
• After 2 laps, it’s only me and Emma. 
• We work together a little bit. She goes in front. 
• Emma HAMMERS the run-up. “Crap, she runs fast!” 
• I catch up in technical section in the woods. 
• 2 laps to go. 
• Exactly same thing happens… Emma SMASHES the run-up. “Crap Magh, you should have known!” 
• Emma gets a 2 bike length gap. 
• Emma slides in a corner in the wood section. 
• “Oh! here’s my chance” I go in front. Get a little gap. 
• Time to push it now. 
• “Just hold on until the end!” One to go. 
• Emma chases hard. “It hurts. But it’s okay. Just hold on”
• “I won!” Woohooo! (This is my first UCI CX win in the US!) 

David gives me jacket, a high five, water and recovery drink. Get dressed. Cool down with Dani. Receive a giant cookie on the podium! “I’m bringing desert to Taco night!!” David, Jeremy and I go to our friend Luke’s rental house for a Taco night. They are preparing everyhting. I want to help and offer to grate de cheese. Find out there is no cheese grater. I cut cheese in tiny pieces for 45 minutes. Eat delicious Taco meal with Dave, Jeremy, Luke, Dani, Tyler, Katie, Josie, Kevin and Jamie. So fun, they are smart and interesting and funny. Share the gigantic cookie. Clean up. Find the cheese grater “Can't believe it!”. Drive back to hotel. Happy about the awesome evening we just spent. Shower. Sleep. 

Sunday: 

Exactly the same thing as Saturday except I do laundry, David prepares the sandwiches and we listen to Christmas songs. At the venue, again, exactly same thing happens, except the course is different. 

• They say go! 
• I get third wheel from the start. 
• “Ouuuff, it’s hard” Not feeling awesome. 
• After 1.5 laps, “Okay feeling better now” 
• Emma, Ellen and I ride together at the front.
• "Emma is really strong today."
• It’s tactical. Crystal bridges to us and attacks. 
• With 1 to go, Ellen gets a gap. Me and Emma chase. 
• Emma bridges and attacks. I don’t quite get there. 
• Finally, catch up to Ellen with 3 min to go. 
• I kind of face plant in run up. 
• I lose Ellen. 
• Finish 3rd. 
• No thrilled, but not bad. I regret not trying to attack! 

Cool down, watch men’s race, podium. David packs up everything in the car. I try to help but I actually do nothing productive at all. David drives us home. Stop for Indian food. I reflect on the race and learn a lot from it. Listen to good music. I try to stay awake, fall asleep. I’m a useless co-pilot. 

All in all it was a great weekend!