Stage 1
We knew Ryan would have a competitive time somewhere in Top 10, but it was a pleasant surprise to find that he made the podium, and entire team was stoked for the task ahead of us of keeping him there in upcoming stages.

Stage 2
Team Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home had the GC lead and controlled the race from the start. We kind of had an expectation that Jordan Cheyne in 2nd GC might slide down the ranking, particularly in the crit, so strategically we’ve decided it is to our best interest to give Jamis a hand now, knowing we would need their strength in later, harder stages.

Half way through the stage we had Robert Gutgesell join the rotation with Jamis on the flat highway approach towards the main climb near 50km to go, since he’s one of our best climbers and would still be able to make it over with the bunch. As we were catching remnants of the breakaway over the climb, the attacks started to fly as expected, but nothing managed to gain ground and we were all together hitting the long 30km decent into town for the finish. Peter Disera and Rob joined the rotation back with Jamis again to bring back the late flyers and keep things steady, with Travis Samuel taking over our train on open wide highway for the final push at 3km to deliver Ryan in perfect position for the technical run-in to the uphill finish at the 2km mark. I was to help Ryan after the steep kicker if there are gaps, but he was just fine holding his own right behind Team SmartStop’s lead out train and eventually finished 4th, while I rolled-in cross-eyed not far behind him in 12th. Ryan also moved in 2nd GC due to a 2 second split behind him. The only sad news on the day were to find out that we are a man down with Yuri not making the time cut after being unable to get back to the peloton after getting tangled up in a crash early in the race.

Discussing how our Tactics performed to perfection, both the Norco’s & the strategies!

Stage 3
That stage was going the be the biggest task for us in controlling, where in past surviving in its own four times up the circuits’ climb wasn’t easy. But we are up a level in fitness this year and had high expectations from ourselves. Things worked out as planned on most part, we let Jamis control the race until they start to run out of men and then join-in in bringing back late escapees with whoever we have left.

Race turned out to be even harder than previous years with addition of crosswinds after the climb. I learned the hard way on first lap that drifting back on the climb is going to be too costly after having to close down gaps opened in the crosswinds. We lost Rob over the 3rd climb for these reasons, and then 4th time over the field has exploded to pieces. Ryan did a great job covering GC threats and made over in lead group of 25 riders, while myself, Travis and Peter regrouped into 2nd chase of 25 on the upper, shallow portion of the climb. The group contained both 3nd and 4th GC riders, Jordan Cheyne and Cameron Cogburn of SmartStop, respectively. Although it would have been good to be with Ryan to help him cover the attacks in front group, we had to sit back and take in the verbal abuse, but force other riders do the chasing in our group knowing our turn to work will come upon the catch. Jordan laid it all out chasing early on the climb, and perhaps overly exerted himself as he was no longer in the group over the top after crosswinds.

My reenactment of Stage 3 crosswind “HNNNGG” moments

Eventually after 10km of chasing both groups made contact. Travis and I went straight to the front to check on race situation with Ryan, and were quickly put in rotation with only two Jamis’s working riders left, J.J Haedo in Green Jersey and Ben Jacques Maynes in virtual 4th GC, in chasing down late breakaway. It was a honorable moment to be working on the front with such iconic names of Domestic Pro Peloton as well as showing that this Jetfuel Coffee-Norco Bicycles team is not a pack fodder, but here to race. All late escapees were eventually brought back, and Ryan kept safe near the front for bunch sprint to keep his 2nd overall.

Only reason I still had gas in the tank for that late in the race chase!

Stage 4
This criterium was my personal nemesis, unable to finish it in the past two years I’ve done it, so I was particularly nervous but motivated to start at the front of the race, stay there at any cost, and sacrifice my race for Ryan if I had too. Luckily, Jamis had a strong grip on the race where they neither needed our help nor allowed any good moments for Ryan to steal the show. Travis and I both rode strong at the head of the race until the final lap where we lost contact, but still happy to finally ride-in to the finish of one of the toughest crit courses out there, also knowing we had secured 2nd place in GC as a team.

at the front of strung out crit

Upon results we found out that only 37 riders finished the crit, and thus Travis and I moved into Top 40 overall and in the money! AND Travis and Peter moved into 4th and 6th Overall in U23 Category. So much success deserved some celebration!
In the evening we treated ourselves to some Pizza and a little beer with our awesome host’s, but of course not before a special show that the girls had for us!

The team relieved of pressure and tired now drooling for some pizza

Pizza celebration with hosts

Show Time!!

Cartwheels, back-flips and more!!!