This year I really wanted to add some additional “fun” races into my schedule just because I love racing. With the Lifetime Grand Prix’s continued competitive escalation, it’s easy to become hyper-focused on those events exclusively because they really could captivate all of your attention. That’s only 6 races a year, though, and as someone who loves standing on start lines, connecting with the cycling community, and testing their limits, it’s important to me to find places in the schedule to line up for races that are “just for fun.”

The Grand Junction Rides and Vibes absolutely fit that bill, but don’t let “just for fun” fool you. It’s still a super challenging event. It kicks off with a fast and curious fat tire crit on Friday night into a very quick turnaround for a 43 mile, technical, marathon mtb race on Saturday morning.

Friday Night Crit:

The Friday Night Fat Tire Crit is a spectacular. We raced 20 minutes + 1 lap around a small 6 corner loop with spectators cheering and lining the course. With high speeds and a flat course, I figured that no attacks would stick and instead I committed myself to the last lap attack for a sprint finish. Something I’ve been learning is how much bravery that type of patience actually takes. On paper it seems like an early attack or a break away might be the gutsiest move, but sometimes those moves actually come as a result of nerves or impatience, wanting to write the finish of the story before the race is actually done. If you can attack and get off the front, the tension releases because you’ve proven your strength on the day. If you wait for the end, you’re betting on yourself to make the correct moves in the critical moment.

When the last lap rolled around, one of the girls made an aggressive attack off the front into the first corner, I was slightly caught off guard and as I saw the gap open, I had a moment of concern. But I shoved it down, and accelerated back to the wheel then immediately stood and counter attacked. The finish couldn’t come soon enough as I counted down the corners at full push. When I came around the final corner with the finish in clear view I could finally breathe, I did it! Victory!

Backcountry Race:

A 6 pm race with a 7 pm podium, turning around for an 8:00 am start the next day for the backcountry race is a tight turn around. I had all of my equipment laid out and ready to go and even got into bed at 8:30, but my mind didn’t shut down until almost midnight and the 5 am alarm came a little too soon.

My legs felt heavy in the opening moments of the race as I tried to respond to the attacks and early pace setting. I couldn’t quick find my rhythm and found myself on the back foot with a little bit of a gap to first and second place ahead.

I stayed focused on the task at hand, exclusively focusing on riding each technical obstacle on the course as fast as possible while every now and then checking in if I had made up time. I fought my way back to 2^nd place and continued on the hunt to find 1^st. I actually did reel her back in but a few mistakes had me coming up short to actually grip the wheel or attempt a pass. As we climbed up the big climb, I felt the slower start, the make-up effort, and the heat draining my body as I fought to stay in the game. My body wanted to relinquish the pace, but my mind was determined to keep the pressure on the pedals. When I crested the top of the climb with about an hour to go, I was given cold water, ice, and the motivation of the gap ahead. The ice brought my body back to life and I began hunting again. My eyes were scanning the trails ahead to see if I could pull 1^st back in. I was told that I was reeling her back in, but I knew I was running short on time to make it up. I crossed the finish line in 2^nd and had so much fun on the day racing myself, my competitors, and the course. Any day on the podium is a good day.

Now we head into the big Unbound preparation phase as I swap technical trails for 200 miles of Kansas gravel.