7.05.2010

Race Report: Long Pine Classic, M.A.S.S.

By: Who do you think?!?!

Long Pine Classic podium, Jordan 2nd, Matt 5th.  

It's always nice when you can start a race report with a podium shot!  The Giant Mid-Atlantic Cycling Team celebrated 'Merica's Birthday in Michaux State Forest at the Long Pine Classic XC race.  It was an old-school single-lap throw-down with plenty of walks and climbing.  Despite it being a big 'ole fat american holiday, there was still a strong field of Pro/Open racers at the start line, ready to hold off on their (intercourse) beer drinking until 22 miles later.

With a lead moto to start things off, we rolled out nuetral until the road turned upward and it was game-on. It was here that Matt & Jordan took things easy while everyone traded barbs up the first climb into the singletrack.  It didn't take long for people to get in over their heads, and our intrepid duo soon found themselves up with the first chasers without too much effort (a combination of crashing and lapped riders helped too).  We rode some fun singletrack for a while, making a little time up on the lead duo, then hopped out onto a fireroad where Jordan set pace up to the leaders.  Once caught, we had about 6 or 7 in the lead group, and things stayed relatively calm in the next singletrack section while we passed sport racers.  On the next fireroad, we regrouped and Brandon D set pace towards the next section of trail, which was a long doubletrack climb.  Here, Jordan took over the pace and quickly set himself apart from everyone else, tapping out a gap of over a minute at one point.  Matt stayed reserved and patient with a teammate ahead, and rode smooth and clean to the finish for 5th.  Jordan solo'd the rest of the course until getting caught by Aaron Snyder with 500m to go.  Due to some confusion on the location of the finish, Aaron took the win in a 'sprint'.

After the race, we had a chilled case of Inercourse Brewing Co. Bareville Pilsner ready to go, which needless to say vanished quickly while we waited for awards.  Awesome day on the bike for Giant Mid-Atlantic!

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