Tuff Start to the Cross Season

This past Saturday I kicked off my 2011 cyclocross season by attending the Queens of Cross race, not far from home. This venue has been kind to be in the past, I've won races (a race) here and generally had good results. This year I was lining up with the SM 3 for the last race of the year. I was nervous but I tried to stay hydrated in the warm afternoon sun and I remember to be patient on that first lap.

At the start, the officials started doing call ups. He must of read off 50 names for the 12 racers there (no shit). Near the end of the list I even got a call up, that was unexpected. 12 guys, he should of just said "line up". Callups are very important but not for the start of this race. The start had a good straight away then a u-turn and back to the first obstacle. I didn't kill myself, I knew they'd have to slow way down at the turn around, and they did. As we started with the first lap I started moving forward, I was feeling good and people were getting tired after the start. I passed about 4 guys as we came into the first barrier. I dismounted a looked up at the guy I wanted to follow, and jumped....

BOOOM

I clipped my foot on the barrier and went flying through the air like Superman! Splat, right on my stomach and elbows between the barriers. I'm sure I let out a nice "uuuugh" as the air was pushed out of my lungs. It must have looked spectacular because one of the coarse marshals was on me asking if I was ok before I even looked up. I actually felt ok and knew nothing major had happened so I jumped back on the bike. But my speed was really reduced. I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach.

My legs had more in them but puke brewing in my belly said, "not so fast dude". I was hoping if I could keep a few of the racers within my sight I might be able to catch them later. In the end I caught two of them, narrowly avoiding DFL. The wheel I was planning to follow before I crashed went on to win the race, he's a friend, it was good. Two bad I didn't lift my foot another inch. I am happy to say I rode every bit of the two huge, steep hills on every lap.

So, there you have it. I crashed on the very first cyclocross barrier of the 2011 season. Things can only get better now!