Faction Racing was well represented at this race and we had a number of riders step onto the podium. Congrats team! Post your results/pics in the comments.
These are my words about the cat A race. Alex VanderLinden and I car pooled both racing cat A at 2pm. Good drive, great weather and looking like great track conditions. Got in practice laps at 12:15 and again just before the race. Believe the tech guide has last years course which I skipped, but this course was similar to the 2024 race, short lap which will mean lots of laps a repeated hills climbs. The vibe on the track was mostly “likes”, it was ok I guess lol. Sum it up as, steep climbs, long power sections and a few techy areas.
Who’s here, Farland Lamond U23 very fast, one of Canada’s best. Pete Glassford, winner of round 1, hes 43 and ramping up cx because nationals are local. Nick Dinz (remember him from Eager Beaver?) Has a good cross background. Parker Bloom will start fast but assumed to fade. At the line I say to Pete, " Nice Tires" I see hes got 38mm gravel tires!?! Heard he was in and out of the pits changing bikes throughout the race…thats what you get ha!
Farland took off as predicted and got a 10sec gap quickly going for the fastest lap prim ( which he got, but final results showed Pete and I had faster lap 2 at 5:59 and 5:58 to his 6:01).
After lap 1 I was 3rd behind Nick, Parker fading. Pete had a bike change I think and was 20sec back.
I got by Nick sooner then expected and slowly opening up a gap that by lap 3-4 was 15-20sec. Even started to close on Farland to about a similar gap. However after lap 5-6 he opened it back up to 30-40sec which he eventually won by. 40sec behind that kid is pretty good. Nick faded around lap 7 and I could see Pete making a run to try and catch me. On lap 9 he was getting within 20sec, and my mind started to panic a little bit. Just a little. Bell lap and gap grew, I was safe saying 30sec ahead of Pete in 3rd. 10 laps and first 60min race done and a hilly one too, no troubles, no problem ha!
Unfortunately no Woodstock races for me due to Thanksgiving, bummer as thats my course to shine. The outlook for cx season this year is definitely less racing, more easy training. Already thinking of skipping provincials the day after Nationals at Hardwood. With a bigger goal race in Washington DC the next weekend sounds like a plan.
Next cx race will be Christy Pits and likely a Nordic Cats event in between.
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