Vegas: Cactus Cup and USA Crits Finals

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Chad was in Vegas for the big event…and got some riding in too!

The 2008 Crits was in the stretch run and I got to be in Vegas for a full week?! I flew up on a Friday and was to be there thru the following Friday.

The weekend started off with the restoration of the Mountain bike race: Cactus Cup. The “cup” used to be a huge deal until it just fizzled. Well, its back. The Mountains Edge TT at Exploration Park. It was uphill and gnarly. The Pros’ went to the top. Sid Taberlay scorched the TT and was ahead on GC heading into the the Super D and the Crit.

Mountains Edge and the small town of Blue Diamond hit jackpot (had to go there) with a great Super D and Crit. The super D was ELEVEN miles?! So, U23 wonderkid Sid Jurekovic pulled off the win there. The race had me hopscotching from the Start to Blue Diamond, 11 miles away.

That night the Crew put on a Fat tire Crit that was really cool. Mountains Edge Planned Community was the focus as we used the main drag for the Community as the tight 2 corner course. The attacks were fast and furious with World Champion Christoph Sauser constatantly trying to get away. He couldn’t get anywhere. Manny Prado took a valiant move to set up a great counter by Sid Taberlay. Sid avoided a gnarly crash on the last turn and won by a couple of bike lengths. The multi time Australian National Champion.

Sunday dawned quite confidence by Sauser because the General class was only separated by a minute or so. The XC course was set to be a brute with a climb up the “Hurl” and that would decide the GC for sure. Sauser came through after the first long lap 1:30 ahead of Jurekovic and 2+ on Taberlay. He kept going hard, but suddenly heard that chain chatter of Jurekovic fast approaching. In the post race interview, he indicated that he could keep rolling and have it “pretty easily” until he heard the youngster fast approaching. Sauser hung on for the win and solidified the GC by winning by a minute or so. Wonder what this guy could do on the road? He climbs like a goat.

Here World Champion talks about how I need a shave real bad and how fast he is!

Swiss World Champion Christoph Sauser

After my weekend of working on my 80^th birthday (Felt like it) I was very happy to hear that Las Vegas Cycles was going to hook me up with a 54/55cm bike! Hell yeah! So, Monday I hopped on for a 1.5 hour ride before heading to downtown. Uhh..so much for a 1.5 hour ride! It ended up being 3 hours. I rode to Rock Canyon and did that loop. Spectacular view and a nasty little climb to boot. Here are a couple of pics. Yes it was very bright...and no I don't have a razor.