April 23, 2011
Team: Steve Weller, Evan Burkhart and Peter Hurst
Result: 1st Overall
http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2011/04/23-Quabbin-Road-Race.asp
Steve, Evan and I raced the 2011 Quabbin road race. It was 38 degrees and raining for the 64 mile race. We started off neutral down the hill to the course and the 50 starters stayed together for the first 30 minutes. Once we hit the first set of climbs a group split off the front of about eight riders including myself, Aidan Charles and Roger Aspholm. The split had a gap for about 20 or 30 minutes but we were eventually reeled back in. Once the group was back together we rolled at a decent pace for the next hour. Evan and Steve were attentive to every move at the front. As we approached 15 miles to go the group seemed to thin and 2 or 3 riders including Adam Sullivan went off the front. Steve made a strong bridge attempt as we entered one of the more technical portions of the course ahead of the last set of climbs. The main group came back together before the last set of climbs with the exception of one CF rider who was riding fast off the front. At this point Roger and Jake Hollenbach were riding near the front and looking strong. As we approached the final climb to the top of the park Steve came to the front and set a hard pace to shrink the gap to the CF rider. I sat behind Steve and was well protected. Once Steve pulled off I continued at the front and was able to maintain the distance to the CF rider. With about 400m to go as the road pitched up again I went as hard as I could, passing the CF rider and riding to the finish alone. The win was a direct result of the textbook racing on the part of Steve Weller and Evan Burkhart.
