Pie

Five guys rolled off the front of the Cherry Pie course in the 1/2's right from the gun. It seemed early. They never got that far, but as it turned out, it was far enough.

As the gap started to grow, I got nervous about it and spent over an hour doing my damnedest to get away somehow. Time after time - something could get out a ways, but if it got halfway to the break, people got jumpy in the pack and ended up bring it back, possibly while trying to bridge themselves. The most promising move had a Team O and Livestrong power rider in it, and we still got caught right at the top of the finish hill at the end of the first lap. Two guys took off right then, as the break was pretty close by then, and made the junction. Then it went away again.

With about 20k to go (of a terribly short 85) I drifed back and rested, then bumped and jostled my way to the front for the finish. Being out of any serious placings it wasn't super interesting, though the short uphill finishes like that are not good for me (never won a sprint... in my life), I went anyways from about 5th wheel out of the last corner and ended up 8th in the sprint. I was probably helped by the Hutch's rider putting his front wheel into a Therapeutic shoe and snapping the valve stem, it helped clear the bunch right behind me as the usual mayhem ensued, although of course no-one encountered any serious trouble such as crashes. No, that happened in the 3's - I didn't see it but I heard a few stories about five figures $ worth of equipment getting trashed. Seriously, guys, stay safe. And if there's anyone who was doing blatantely dangerous sprinting or some such, y'all talk to them until they really, truly get the point. Peer pressure and embarrassment can do a lot for attention to safety.