Mt. Hood Crit - 90 minutes of pain

David Clinger of Rock Racing has found the most effective way to hide the "Mask of Pain" a racer takes on during a hard race, in my opinion.

After the top 10 and a few national champions were called up the stage was ready to start.

Sager thru the start finish of lap 1.  A blur.

First rider dropped, on lap 1 of about 35 laps!

After the race we headed out to our next stage, Jim's first, starting near Hood River, Oregon.  That's Mt. Hood peeking just above the clouds on the horizon.

Last day of rest for Jim before he starts racing tomorrow.  He and Jason did an hour+ ride in the morning with Jim doing 8 10-second sprints per Wes's recommendation.  Jason felt lousy on the bike after yesterday's prologue, but felt great in the evening for the 90 minute crit.  Jason rode well, mid pack the whole race which featured 125 feet of climbing per lap and 4000 feet of climbing total.  There were 10 primes and 2 bonus sprints so the race was fast and furious the whole time.  Racers were coming off in the first lap, and 35 guys were pulled (5 didn't make time cut) out of 140 starters.

You can checkout the course profile, and Jason's physiologic response to it, in the diagram below.

Tomorrow is a 18 mile circuit which is 9 miles up hill, then 9 miles down hill.  Jim does 3 1/2 of thes (4 times uphill)  for 7200 feet of climbing Jason does 4 1/2 for 9000 feet of climbing.  Should be interesting, albeit painful.

Stay tuned.