Tria Cycling presented by DonohooAuto

Posted by Philip Thompson
September 13, 2008
Birmingham, Alabama

Before the race we discussed being aggressive and going on offense early and often. The race start pretty quick and I had to work up through the pack on the back side. On lap2 I saw an opening when the front riders slowed coming out of turn4. I cranked up and went. The pack caught me on the back side. Lennie rolled up and I tucked in behind him. I rested for a few seconds then attacked again into turn3. This was the spring board needed to go solo for 5-6 laps. The team must have been doing some good work, I looked back a few times and saw a big gap. I got a prime and was caught on the back side. I stayed in the front (for Brian) with a handful of other Tria jerseys. A lap or two later there was a $65 prime. A Mellow Mushroom (MM) rider attacked hard on the back, I took chase for the money. I realized I was not going to catch him so I sat up, I looked back and saw a decent gap so I kept going. It took two laps to get up the MM rider and we stayed away for another 2.  Back in the pack the pace was going up and down for the next few laps. I knew we had to be getting close to time, I roll up next to Justin in the back to check the time, he said 40min. The race was playing right into our plans. I attacked hard between turns 3-4 and had a few guys come with me. I was standing on the pedals swerving all over the road to shake them. The last thing I wanted was to be in a 2-3 man break this close to the end.   It worked and led to some confusion in the pack. I slipped away and the chasers came back. I didn’t think I was going to be able to hold it for 3 laps. I made it around once and was expecting to see the pack come up on the back. A quick glance back and I couldn’t see anybody. 1 to go and I still didn’t see anybody.   This is the great thing about the dark course on the back.   I came around the final corner and knew I had.  I could see the pack lighting up the sprint.  Tria Market/Ivan Leonard take 1-2-3.