Race Review: WORS Englewood Opener

In the mix of Finals week and exams at school, I decided to make the three hour drive home for the first WORS event, Englewood Opener. After following the event on Facebook, the event significantly grew larger and larger. Sponsors and companies decided to make donations of cash for the overall winners, sweet prices, many raffles and some sweet trophies! I decided to race Cat 2 Sport this race. I was moved into the 19-25 age, this is a fast, aggressive group of riders. Myself being 19 I was at the bottom of the ladder.

After a good warm up with my younger brother Noah, I felt pretty confident when we started to stage. At 3:02 my wave went off, 2 minutes behind the 18 under wave. I saw a perfect gap right from the start and went for the start hill. I was in first after the hill through the lead out for a good mile and a half. I then slipped out through an uphill corner during the lead out. I got up quickly, then went into the single track in the number 3 spot. I spiked my heart rate a bit too much for my liking within the first 10 minutes or so.

The prologue lap went by extremely quick and the first lap went smoothly, my legs felt great. At the start of second lap I was still chasing down the two leaders in my wave. After taking a difficult B-Line the second lap, I then made a simple mistake on the singletrack that was following that B-line. I went right over the handlebars and had a pretty hard fall. I then got passed again. I got back on after being in slight shock, I finished that lap still sitting in third. I then passed my brother and fellow teammate, Noah, right before the third lap. We gave each other some constructive criticism and motivation to keep riding hard. This was definitely helpful  to know I was closing the gap on the leaders.

The final lap rolled around and I caught back up to the leaders in my wave. Lap traffic was the only issue at this point in the race.

My body and mind were in the right place and felt great. I stayed on the wheel of the leaders until about 2k to go. I stayed calm in the last portion of single track and made a move right out of the single track. A short punchy climb put a gap between us. I then continued that last push to maintain the gap between the past leaders. I finished the race with a solid 15 second gap between 1st and second.

I waited anxiously for the results to be posted for the Cat 2 Sport. The field was larger than normal, 144 racers! After the results got posted I finished with a 56:17.0 to take home first place in the 19-25 group! Also placing 5th out of the 144 other racers! I was very proud to start the season on this note. The event put on my Loft and Shove and WORS was one for the books. Many cash prizes and raffles followed the race. The atmosphere of the race was awesome. I then made my way back to UW-Stout to finish up three exams on Sunday afternoon and finish my freshman year of college on a strong note.

Overall the course was perfect. Lots of technical single track with many A and B lines to choose from, many short punchy climbs, and some fast winding double track. The event was spectacular. This was also the first race on my new bike, only two short rides prior, it felt great and had no problems! As many more miles for training will be put on this summer, I look forward to many more races as well!

Thank you to 2 Rivers Bicycle and Outdoor / Trek, ESI Grips and all other team sponsors, and my family for supporting me this season!