SBT SUCCESS

SBT GRVL IS A BEAST

Here's my race story. 

The morning started excruciatingly early, alarms going off at 4:30AM. I had taken a HUGE nap on Saturday afternoon, and despite the early hours I felt wonderfully rested and recovered. 

Two instant oatmeal packs for breakfast, some sliced banana, honey, and peanut butter. Everyone always wants to know what we eat. There you go. Oh, and a few kilos of rice throughout the day on Saturday. 8-10 g/kg of carbohydrate on the day before a big race day. Science! 

I rolled to the start line around 5:45AM and hopped the fence onto the start line with a spot thanks to the wonderful teammates Spicer and Caveman. It was chilly, tense, and relatively quiet. The normal pre-race talks rang on through the speakers. I remained calm and tranquil. The start gun rang, off we went. 

The day was centered around two huge climbs. The first one, Wahooligan pass, had been word of the town. Coming around mile 30, it was long and STEEP, with bonus points for the extra rough and rowdy descent after. This was the first crucial part of the race. 

We climbed up past 8,000 ft, I lost only a few wheels, and with strict rules around using the restroom of course I had been holding the bladder and eventually had to stop. Me, stopping to pee, at arguably the most important part of the race. Damn! I got back going, passed more than a few who had blown tires off on the descent, and settled into the tempo I’d be riding for the day ahead. I was with some really strong guys - a few who had podiumed at Unbound, and was happy with how the day was coming along. 

From here on out the race was simple. I yo-yo’d between groups, having to stop a few times for fluids (SBT is a fully unsupported race), catching back on, suffering like hell, contemplating my decisions, suffering some more etc etc. Pros go through this also. I found myself alone in the final miles, detaching a few and confident I’d roll through the line solo. I was destroyed. I stopped at the final rest stop quickly to down as much water (and coke) as possible, not thinking there was anyone remotely close. I got back on and began to roll the final descent down Cow Creek when a group of 5 came up on me. WTF! 

This was the highlight of my day. A fast and technical somewhat singletrack descent. In a group. After a day of a lot of slogging I finally felt like I was really RACING. 

SPEED. ADRENALINE. TENSION. The final kms beckoned. 

We rotated well, some big names in the group with me (Nico Roche, Petr Vakoc). A few turns in the final hundred meters meant I wanted to come out of the last turn first putting my crit skills to good use. I did just that and proudly won my little bunch sprint. A few World Tour names in there meant some good morale boost for me. Top 20! 

I’m not a small rider and as the first race of my fall gravel calendar, I am more than happy with the day. This is a BIG race, a stacked field and while I’m always hungry for more, the result here was more than good. A stepping stone in the right direction. Brutal, but I’m excited to come back for more. 

Next I head to Garmin Gravel Worlds this Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska. Following that I have a weekend off before the big Gravel National Championships in Gering, Nebraska. I’m feeling really positive and excited as I head forward into these next events. Happy riding, 

MG