<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Sunday Nov. 26th

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<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>80 km Road Race

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>1pm start with wind and no clouds.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>The start time temp was said to be 108 F.





<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>The race rolls off to a very tame start for Caribbean standards. I am so used to the US criterium-style sprint starts in races in Trinidad and Tobago.



<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>That all comes to a hold when regional big-man Phillip Clarke goes to the front with fellow Bajan Jason Forde to set the pace on fire.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>The two riders take turns cracking the field for about 15 minutes.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>The circuit is up a small hill with tailwind –then around a roundabout and back downhill into the wind. The wind is so strong that attacks can go at anytime and you would feel the same no matter where on the course.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>I get to the front and start to set a fast enough tempo than everyone is sitting on my wheels. The next thing I know, Clarke and Forde are watching each other and I am off alone in the wind.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Now back in my day I fancied myself to be an ok road rider. That was a long time ago.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>I am 36 and weigh about 175 lbs now. Not quite the road time trialist build.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>I set off and keep my effort smooth and steady.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>About three laps later (10 minutes or so) another rider makes a move and catches me.



<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>We work together for a little while but the other guy clearly doesn’t have the same commitment as I am showing.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Only problems are #1 HEAT, #2 no more water and #3 Clarke, Forde and the rest of the big men behind.

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<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>I decide that I didn’t fly to Barbados after a month of hard training in the gym and numerous workouts up Cheyenne Canyon to give up.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Maybe not the smartest thing—but then I didn’t have the goal to finish an 80 km road race anyway!!



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<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>The group catches me after about 50 minutes off by myself. I am dehydrated and ready to be gone anyway. A lap after I get caught—my race was certainly over.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>I got dropped and rode back by the finish area half blacking out from the effort in the heat.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Clarke counter attacked when the group caught me.

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Two riders went with him—he controlled the race from the breakaway and won in fitting style.

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<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Back to the villa for shower and time to see some nightlife in Barbados!

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>The next day I wondered around doing tourist stuff. Taking some pics of amazing beaches and buying souvenirs.







<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Thank you all for your support!

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Thanks to all the wonderful people in Barbados. Big up to my Trini Posse (I will see you all in a couple months!!)

<P class=MsoNormal style=“FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif”>Thanks to all who have doubted me…
YOU are fuel to the FIRE!

Lastly: Thanks to Douglas Lincoln for believing in me and talking me back to cycling at the level I know I can still do.