I’ve long anticipated an epic battle on my home trails. This past weekend has left me with some unforgettable memories of laying it all out. The Pisgah Stage Race did not disappoint in delivering serious competition on demanding yet beautiful terrain. I had three of the most sophisticated battles of my racing career. Jeremiah Bishop is a smart racer, if there is something to be thinking about you can be sure he’s thought of it. I was stoked to be able to hang on the climbs which allowed me to put the pressure on through some of the downhills. JB does not lack skills either and it would continue to be a battle for seconds throughout the grueling stages. It took the secret puzzle of Bennets Gap to finally get enough of a gap for a stage win.
Probalby most memorable and most brutal was stage 2. We rode in what must have been record cold temperatures. Thirty something degrees and raining. Most racers did not have the gear for this October surprise. After waste deep stream crossings it was nearly impossible to warm up. Climbing Laurel Mountain should have beat back the cold but the temperature dropped with every pedal stroke. I took the lead and gave it everything I had. I could clean some tough moves that JB might run but he wasn’t losing any time. I’m not even sure if I was wearing him out. Within the last mile of the summit I snapped my chain and the battle was over. A true warrior, he offered a quick link to save me some time. After getting it back together I climbed the rest of the way and into the snow. It was almost unbelievable. I felt like I was on the brink and could not imagine how the rest of the riders would survive with the skimpy outfits I saw in the morning. A couple of flat tires set me back further and left me to battle with Christain Tanguy for the rest of the day. He’s a tenacious climber but a catious descender on unfamiliar terrain. At the finish I felt as if I had done something truely epic despite having ridden these trails countless times. These mountains cannot be totally tamed.
Great race Sam! Tough luck it sounds like. Im sure the chain and flats were frustrating but you still killed it buddy. Look forward to hearing more.