Shelton and Eurman in Nor-Cal!

Alex Shelton takes the win at the Tri-Valley Criterium in Pleasanton, Ca.

Tucker Eurman rode to a 2nd place finish in the Central Coast Circuit Race in Monterey Sunday!

Platinum Boys in Nor-Cal!

Written by Tucker Eurman- with commentary from Alex Shelton

 This Weekend Alex Shelton and I trekked north to compete against NorCal's racers in three races; two criteriums saturday, and a circuit race sunday. Saturday's Tri-Valley Criterium Classic was held in Pleasanton on a wide,"D" Shaped course, which became more interesting with a rather nasty wind. Up first was the 3/4 race which was scheduled for 40min and over 70 starters. The race started without a hitch, Alex and I content on following wheels. Being a 3/4 race with the addition of the wind, there was a little extra "bumping and barging", but something we are used to from the chaos of LA Crits. Things started speeding up with 5 laps to go, and we both did our best to remain near the pointy end of the pelton- Alex on the inside, myself on the outside. Choosing the outside line became my downfall (quite literally) when a rider took a corner wide taking out the rider directly in front of me. I was able to bunnyhop over his downed bike, but still hit the deck, bouncing off my tush. With a bruised rump- and ego- I hurried back to watch the sprint. The last corner was about 120m from the finish, and I was ecstatic to see Alex come around 2nd wheel. He planned it to perfection, following attacks on the back-half of the course, and easily passed his only competition to take the win! 

 After a short break we lined up for the 2/3 race, and I was intent on overcoming my bad luck from the earlier race. This race was clearly faster, but we were both smarter and did less work in the wind. We knew exactly what we needed to do, having tasted sweet success only an hour earlier. The exclusion of the 4's, and the addition of the 2's made the race all that much more safe. Fast forward to 5 laps to go, a break of 5 about 20 seconds up the road. I followed wheels and got stuck right up near the front. Going into 2 laps to go the rider in front of me pulled off and "elbowed" me to come through- break at about 10 seconds. Rather then be "that guy" to pull off, I put my faith in Mr. Shelton, put my head down, and pulled the break back just before the beginning of the last lap. After pulling off, I tried to jump back into the front of the field. Alex was ahead of me, right where he needed to be, but was running on fumes in the head-wind back side. I felt good, but was unable to move up enough on the last lap after pulling the break back. We both finished in the top half.

 Sunday led us to the 3/4 Central Coast Circuit Race in Seaside near Monterey. I know this course extremely well, and riding on our cloud of success from Saturday, we felt we had an edge over everyone else. The great 4 mile rolling course was dirtied with a nasty wind much like the day before. Lap 3 of 5 saw a single rider escape off the front, and was out of sight on lap 4. Alex expressed that he was feeling a little tired, and though I felt fine, my bike started making an incessant rattle, only to find my saddle on the verge of dislodging. On the last climb of the last lap, the lone rider was in sight, but the group lost the desire to chase. I was glued to Alex's wheel in the descent, and he came around the final corner 3rd wheel (a small gap had formed to the two riders in front of him). Right after the last corner I kicked past Alex, locked on to the other two riders. I was initially unsure if I would catch them, but to my surprise, passed them like they were standing still, winning the field sprint by multiple bike lengths. 

 Overall we had a very fun and successful weekend, and a few bumps and bruised couldn't keep us off the podium. I have not been racing as much as previous years, but have opted to up my training. I was very pleased to be able to unleash my sprint and leave the other riders in the dust. And though Alex may be small-framed, he packs a punch that, accompanied with his tactical edge, easily delivered him to the top step.

Platinum Wins The Big One!

US Cup Finals  Big Bear  6/2/13

 

The seven race series ended in Big Bear, Ca on Sunday.  The course included a new 3 mile section of singletract that gave the riders a new feel to the old classic course.  The course has never been my favorite due to the hill climb start which sends your resting heart rate through the roof within minutes of the race.  Once into the meat of the race, the riders do come across some of the perfect flowing singletract around.  The Pro/Cat 1 race was a large 24 mile loop which sent the riders past 8,000' in elevation.  The thin air was very noticeable on the climbs.

 

The Platinum Performance- Sho Air Team has had a very successful history while competing for the team California State title.  Over the years, the team has come in 2nd only once.  With this seasons title adding up to the team's 10TH title!  The team saw many outstanding individual performances throughout the season.  The Finals was no exception.  Platinum riders like Tim Sparks, who have dominated their field (Cat 1 Singlespeed)  the entire season walked away with the series championship.  Another top performer was Jon Miller with his undefeated season in the Cat 1 60-64 class.  Todd Booth made it count at the right time.  Booth's solid performance with a 2nd place in the Cat 1 40-44 (point and a half) Final, earned him a 2nd overall for the series.  Ted Williams had another strong race with a 2nd place finish in the Cat 1 55-59 class. Williams consistency awarded him a 2nd place finish overall in the series.  Dermott Carroll took on the "O Show" in the Cat 1 50-54 class.  Carroll came up short but managed to finish 2nd in the race and 9th in the series.  Alex Teno had a bottle mishap which cost him some time but still rode to a 3rd place finish in the Cat 1 45-49 race, which seated him in 2nd for the series.  Francisco Vidal put in another seller performance in the Cat 1 50-54 class with a 3rd place finish.  He ended up with a impressive 2nd pace for the series.  Mark Luke pulled off a 3rd place finish in the Cat 2 55-59 race and a 3rd overall.  "Danger" Dave Culbertson place 3rd in the Final race and landed in 2nd overall in the Cat 2 50-54 group.  John Biron battled in the Cat 1 50-54 class for a 4th place and a 3rd overall.  Craig Sisino rode strong in the Cat 1 Singlespeed division for a 4th place finish and a 2nd overall.  Corey Luce had a tough day in the Cat 2 30-34 w/ a 6th place finish, but his consistent results throughout the season landed him in 3rd overall.  Andy Osborn rode to a 6th place finish in the Cat 1 50-54 race and rounded out the top five overall in that group.  Roger 007 Moore rode to an 8th place finish in the Cat 1 45-49 race.  That result landed him in 8th overall for the series.  Other notables were Dean Swank who ended up in 3rd overall in the Cat 1 55-59 division.  Along with age group competitor Steve Silva who ended up in 4th overall for Cat 1 55-59. 

 

The team's main goal and focus this season was to walk away with the Pro/Cat 1 team Title.  By the looks of the points spread...goal accomplished!  Next up for the team is the "one day" California State Championships held in Big Bear in two weeks.

Malovos Has Success in Northern Cal!

Central Coast Circiut Race   5/27/13

Written by Platinum rider Andres Malovos

With a trip planned to the bay area for the holiday weekend I decided to bring my bike and race. I chose an early afternoon Cat 3/4 Central Coast Circuit Race in Monterey. The course itself is a real treat, no center line rule, gradual short climbs, short punchy rollers, big fast sweeping corners, and blustery wind over a 4.3 mile circuit. The field had a few local teams well represented. With one team having 5 guys, and another having 3, it was clear from the start that they race each other on this course all the time.

 The first two of five laps were spent with teams alternating guys off the front as each catch was made. On the third lap attacks came thick and fast, and while covering moves and bridging gaps I came to believe I had a real shot of winning the race. I spent the final two and half laps in conservation mode allowing the teams to play their usual game. The final lap saw attack after attack, but it came back together with a 1/2 lap to go as we hit attacks, and gaps to bridge constantly, so I covered the moves I needed to, but played it conservatively trying to remain fresh for the sprint. One rider from the 5 man team was off the front as we headed onto the descent, roughly one mile from the line. I led on the downhill as the group came back together and I worked to keep the breakaway rider within range. I jumped going into the final hairpin corner to ensure my position up front, and opened it up hard for the uphill finish. I pulled away from the field, and was closing fast on the leader, but unfortunately I wasn't able to catch him by the line.

 I won the field sprint for a 2nd place finish, and all things considered I was happy with the result.

Success at Sagebrush!

Todd Booth Cat 1 40-44

US Cup #6 Sagebrush Safari   5/19/13

 The US Cup headed just east of San Diego toward Moreno Lake for it's 6th stop on the series.  The Sagebrush Safari has always been a very popular stop for the XC crowd due to it's very fun downhill sections which make up a lot of the course.  The race organizers switched up the course rout this year due to Mtn Pinos not accessible due to fire prevention.  The top loop was utilized twice by the Cat 1 racers instead of once and than climbing up to the top of mtn Pinos.  The racers started off on a long road section that gave them a little warm up before hitting a 1.5 mile climb up to the first singletract dirt section.  The singletract provided flowing downhill sections with short punchy climbs.  Midway through the loop the riders hit the "wall" a long "hike a bike" section that made a riders legs scream "Stop already"!  Than more single tract until the final climb out to the start of the loop and back at it again.  Once completing the two loops the fun really begins with a 2 mile flowing singletract down hill to the finishing strait.  

The Platinum Performance- Sho Air Team brought 13 riders to buffer the team's lead in the Team points series.  With a huge lead going into the last two races the team is very confident they will be taking home thier tenth State Team Mtn bike title in a few weeks.  The final race will be held in Big Bear Lake in two weeks.  

The Platinum team had Tim Sparks and Craig Sisino in the Cat 1 Singlespeed division hit the course first.  Sparks hammered it out and took another win for the team, while Sisino was directed in the wrong direction and rode off course.  Sisino DNF.  Adam Poytress took on the riders in the Cat 1 30-34 class.  Poytress once again pulled off a 2nd place finish.  Todd Booth powered to a fast time and landed him in 4th in a very competitive Cat 1 40-44 division.  Alex Teno and Roger Moore competed in the Cat 1 45-49 class.  Teno suffered an early crash which took him out of the race, while Moore raced to a 9th place.  The Cat 1 50-54 class saw Platinum riders Francisco Vidal, John Biron and Andy Osburn.  Vidal rode a solid race for a 2nd place finish.  Osburn pulled off a 5th and Biron DNF. Ted Williams took a 2nd place finish in the Cat 1 55-59 class.  Jon Miller is still unstoppable this season with another win in the Cat 1 60-64 class.  "Danger" Dave Culbertson rode strong for a 2nd place finish in the Cat 2 50-54 class. Mark Luke pulled off a 6ht place finish in the Cat 1 55-59 division.  

Tim Sparks wins the Cat 1 Singlespeed division!

Francisco Vidal takes a 2nd in the Cat 1 50-54 class!

Adam Poytress takes a 2nd in the Cat 1 30-33 class!

Roger "007" Moore competing in the Cat 1 45-49 division.

Photos by Roxanne Moore.

California State TT Championships!

California Sate TT Championships  5/18/13

Written by Platinum rider Andres Malovos

I made an early morning trip to Lake Los Angeles to race my first California State Time Trial this past Saturday. It was my first time there so I was learning the course as I was on it, but luckily it's about as straight forward as it gets. The course has 4 right turns, with no significant elevation change. With form starting to come back around, and some strong rides on the time trial bike leading up to the District TT I was hopeful on how I would stack up in the Cat 3 field. Others who had been there before told me quite a bit about the course, the possibility of wind, of heat, and the difficultly of making good power on the long flat course. 

I arrived with plenty of time for registration, and a thorough warm up before my 7:30 start time. The temperature was almost calling for arm warmers, something I was thankful for after the 100 degree race at devils punchbowl, which was held the previous weekend and about 20 miles away. The breeze started to pick up as my start time approached, and only grew stronger throughout the day. 

As I made my way away from the starting line and into the first long tailwind section I settled into a steady conservative power output, and made my first turn into the crosswind. This shorter section was more difficult but felt decent enough. I then turned into the long headwind and realized just how much the wind had picked up. It was about half way in this section that the legs starting feeling good and power was coming up. I turned right onto another short crosswind section and was still feeling pretty strong. I then turned back onto the long tailwind section toward the finish. It was a little after that point that I began having difficulty in the aero position. The course was so flat and straight that I had not spent that duration in the aero position before. I found myself having to move around and shift position as my glutes were beginning to go. I spent the last 6 miles trying to keep power up while hoping my muscles didn't lock up completely. 

I finished the 23 mile course in 51:20 at about 5% below threshold power, which I felt was decent, but definitely not an A game performance. I ended up 2:25 off the winner in Cat 3, and finished 8th out of 22 entries. I certainly learned a few lessons to apply in next years state time trial, and look forward to taking another crack at it. 

Dean Swank is on the gas for a 4th place finish in the Master 55-59 class!