Welcome back to the CWC 2009, please stay tuned for the race call as seen from the very myopic eyes of an older, attractive bike racer.

 

            Sunday, June 07^th started like many other days in the 20+ year career of this racer. The sun shown brightly and the weatherman called for a beautiful day. I woke at my usual time, 04:50 and packed the car heading off to D-and-D for my pre-race meal. Today, albeit lit like so many prior, was not an ordinary day. What lay before us was the Charity World Championships. 100 miles of the fastest, flattest road CT has to offer. The terrain was not my worry; it was the 60+ riders gunning for the title. Even though today’s ride was to benefit the ongoing research into a Cure for Multiple Sclerosis, we were also here for the ‘bragging’ rites of another year. I have worn that mantel before, and it can be very heavy on one’s shoulders, especially in its defense.

 

            This year I brought the boys with me: Spike ‘The Hammer’ McLaughlin and Mark ‘Tail Gunner’ Guinn. As the start time neared, the nerves kicked in. Am I ready? Did last week’s crash take it out of me? Are the antibiotics out of the system? Will I get sun poisoning again? So many questions, but so few answers! I look around the start line at the warriors preparing for battle: David ‘Faux-NERAC’ Hildebrand, Jr., Terry ‘The Anvil’, Steiner “The Viking’, ‘Singapore’, Singapore’s Brother, ‘Specialized Man’, ‘Top Donation Getter 2007’, ‘The Hammer’, ‘Tail Gunner’ and me.

 

            Go…..the ‘race’ is on. The pace is brisk, but not over bearing as we head out of town. The tempo for the day is quickly set as the town line sprint is on within a few short miles. Oh, it will be a fun day. We spent the next 50-miles at the mercy of ‘The Anvil’ and ‘Singapore’. Both of these guys were making my legs hurt, with Singapore doing more than his fair share. At some point, Faux-NERAC had a clairvoent moment, predicting the demise of Singapore. (Little did we realize that “Singapore’ flew in Saturday night from half-way around the world…his loss.) The group stayed together going into the feed zone at 45+ miles. In together-out-together. It was in this next few miles that lost the gunner. As the group dwindled the pace seemed to quicken. Keeping this more interesting was the constant search and sprint for townlines, which bu this point in the ‘race’ I have a slight lead.

 

            The miles tick on, the pace quickens, and the group dwindles. So, were heading into the last 20-miles and the group is less than 14 riders with the main protagonists still there. Low on water, long on cramps the real ‘race’ is on. There is no group stops….done are the free will offerings….the jersey is at stake. I call Spike up to discuss ou options. ‘The Anvil’ is crushing us. “Singapore’ is napping at the back. Jr. is riding strong and keeping his cards close, Steiner is OTB with a mechanical, ‘Specialized man’ has whored himself out to us and I am fighting off the cramps. So, what needs to be done? ATTACK! Spike started the salvo. Every little rise in the last 20-miles was an opportunity to attack. Rider after rider took their shots. Some riders fell by the wayside, but most were hanging on. My legs came around, and I was able to solidify and place-in-the-bag my Sprint Jersey. Terry ‘The anvil’ had won the Polka Dotted Jersey, so all that was left was the World Champ’s Jersey.

 

            Coming into the industrial park, I jumped and was quickly reeled in. Spike went next and captured the last intermediate sprint. I think that Jr took over from there with ‘The Viking’ in tow. Yes, the Viking. Hard right, Hard right, 100 meters to go. I sit third wheel, unable to get around Steiner and watching Jr take the jersey in a strong statement. Third I scream, well inside my head……wait, wait…..DQ’d, DQ’d……2^nd place has been relegated. After careful review of the tapes, Steiner had not completed the whole course, he has been DQ’d….Silver Medal goes to Wenzel. The golden boy has been toppeled…..from 2008 Gold to 2009 First Loser.

 

The Stats: 21+ mph 100.2 miles

 

1^st Place David ‘Faux-NERAC’ Hildebrand, Jr. 2009 WC

2^nd Place Zane ‘Attractive Older Guy’ Wenzel

3^rd Who Cares

 

Best Rookie Rider; Spike ‘The Hammer’ McLaughlin

KOM; Terry ‘The Anvil’

Green Jersey: Zane ‘Attractive Older Guy’ Wenzel

 

 

            As we sat around after enjoying the meal provided we discussed this very post. We all had a great day and look forward to the 2010 edition of this superior event.

 

Special thanks to the MS Society for a quality event. Thanks to the countless volunteers that make this ‘race’ possible. Let us not forget the real reason we are here! We may fight our battles on Saturday and Sunday, but there are millions that are afflicted with MS fighting battles every day. May the money we help raise, help those close to us who battle daily: Erika, Louise, and Laura