Blue Hills Road Race - May 1, 2010

Blue Hills Road Race - John G.

First time at Blue Hills for me. I was late signing up for the 35+ race with the rest of the guys but I managed to sign up for the 45+ just before it filled up. Every field filled in this race, a real testament to it's popularity.
It's a 7 mile loop we with a big ring climb to the finish line, just the sort of climb that a sprinter like me can do well with. We started nice and fast and despite plenty of tries none of the breaks were sticking. I think the great weather had everyone feeling like they could win today.

Since the rest of the young guys were fighting it out in the 35+ race I was on my own, sort of. The OA guys are all fellow Mainer's and they don't have a strong sprinter. They told me they would help me out at the end if it all stayed together. There was one dangerous break that got 15-20 seconds on lap 4 but nobody on OA was in it. Graydon Stevens and Jeff Fisher went to the front and pulled hard for the next 3 miles and brought it back just as we approached the climb. I figured he fireworks would start and there would be hard counter attacks, we strung out but no big gaps formed and by the start finish for the last lap we were all still together. Once again Jeff Fisher drilled it at the front till we hit the 1 mile to go sign. The pace was nice and high from there on and I slotted myself right on Paul Curley's wheel trying to figure how soon to go. Just as we hit the last steep pitch to the line Curley hit the gas and opened 3 bike lengths on me. I was hoping he would fade at the top but we all know Mr. Curley is rarely wrong on his timing in a sprint. I could only pull back to half wheel him as we crossed the line. No win but second was a hell of a lot better than last week at Turtle Pond when I tried to ride my bike upside down for a few seconds in mid air. I was pretty banged up all week but fortunately nothing was broken other than a few bike parts.

We didn't win the 35+ race either but at least a Fuji bike crossed the line first. Congrats to Paul Richards with his new SST 1.0 he won on.