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2009 World Championships in Austria
ST. JOHANN, AUSTRIA, August 2009 - I was excited to represent the Cyclo-Vets at the 2009 World Championships in St. Johann, Austria 8/23-8/29/09. Here's a rundown. I missed having my racing buds Butch and Jocobo this year, so I was alone to fly the C-V flag. There are two races, one open, no license (The World Cup) and 5 days later the UCI World Championship race. I did both. The first race saw 124 starters in the 65-69 age group, every one of them wanting to win. I did my best to show the C-V colors as you can see as I saddled up for the first race. Also shown is a photo of the S/F and our group staging. Rob Lea from the East Coast was the only other American in my race. The race always goes on the same course, 40 km with 1000 feet of climbing over 3 climbs, then a final flat 16 km into town to the S/F line. It was fast with this last section at 31 mph all the way. Constant attacks but the pack chased every one down. 46 riders made the sprint group, me included. All the rest were shelled due to the pace. This first race was done in 1 hr 1 minute. On the finish into town I got blocked in but still ended up 30th. So much for the open all-comers race. Five days later I prepared for the big event, the UCI world championship race.
To spice things up there was a steady rain at start time with some heavy rain in the mountains. Again there were 114 starters and the roads had not gotten any wider over the week. Fortunately the roads are so clean there is very little grit thrown up in your face, but it was slippery at times. My fiancee' Mary saw numerous bandages, broken clavicles, road rash through torn shorts, etc. in other groups, but the lead group I was in had no falls or mishaps. When we returned to our room, Mary pointed to a rider's front chainring grease mark on the outside of my left leg, which I remembered came when an Italian rider (always Italian, of course) ran out of space on the left and pulled himself back on the pavement by putting his arm around my shoulders to leverage himself back. That's when his front chainring marked my leg. Yes, the riding is close and up personal. But I do have to say that the riders around me were all accommodating and innocent of any attempt to create danger; by the time you're 65 I suppose that's how it should be. I had a good race and set up well for the sprint, riding up the far right to almost the front. Unfortunately at about 350 meters a spectator leaning on the stanchions let out a bloodcurdling bellow that scared the living bejesus out of me and ruined my concentration—I thought it was a crash and unconsciously backed off just a touch. Of course that's exactly when the sprint started…so instead of being in the top 10, I ended up 25th, just missing the podium but ready for next year. In the photo below of the sprint you can see the 46 riders in the sprint group all coming across in a few seconds, and if you look close under the blue flag with the “X” sign under it you can see my helmet and jersey. Hope to see a bunch of you Cyclo-Vets there next year!! Thanks for your support. Gary DeVoss
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