When recalling the Verge Series #3 Cat 2-3 race, the two words that immediately come to mind are pain and rain. I lined up at the start line, ready to race in the most inhospitable conditions the sky had to offer. The race started with a steady, gentle drizzle. On the first lap, riders were relentlessly attacking, desperate for a breakaway—likely trying to go off the front before the rain turned the pavement slick.
Then the chaos began.
On the first lap, two fire trucks blocked the course at the start/finish line, forcing us to unclip. We were neutralized until the trucks cleared. The same thing happened again the next lap—just as I was in a promising move off the front. After the restart, I found myself shuffled to the back, and that’s when the real breakaway escaped. Four riders slipped away, never to be seen again. I was frustrated—I’d burned matches chasing every early move, and when it finally stuck, I was out of position.
As the race progressed, the rain poured harder, and Prospect Park turned into a battlefield of grit and grind. I committed to chasing the breakaway down. I was always in the top five positions, working together with other riders. As I pulled, I pushed myself past limits, setting new 5-, 10-, 20-, 60-, and 90-minute power records. I felt that the savage downpour dulled the pain. With one lap to go, I made a frantic attack, with eyes on getting a small group to go off the front with me and take it to the line. I wanted to avoid field sprinting in the pounding rain, reducing the risk of crashing—especially before Road Nationals. Three of us got away and held it until the final climb. I had pretty much blown myself up at that point, and the group passed me with tremendous speed—I couldn’t catch on. I then rolled in for 28th out of 37 riders.
This result doesn’t reflect how satisfied I am with my performance. I proved I could hold a top-five position in a Cat 2-3 field, chase hard, and perform in brutal conditions. I’m doing well at the right time. Road Nats are two weeks out, and I’m more motivated than ever.
You can see all the action on YouTube.
