April 12 - April 15, Sea Otter Classic
Race info

Results

Photography:
Mike Norris
Ken Conley, Spare Cycles
Bo Hebenstreit, Webcor / Alto Velo
Kevin King
Scott Paz, Team DFL
Michael Roberts

Video:
Damian Gonzalez, XPMultimedia.com, Pacific State Bank/Anderson Homes Racing Team

Reports:

Cat 4 Circuit Race: Damian Gonzalez, Pacific State Bank/Anderson Homes Racing Team
Expert 30-34 XC MTB: Damian Gonzalez, Pacific State Bank/Anderson Homes Racing Team

Report by Damian Gonzalez, Pacific State Bank/Anderson Homes Racing Team

DATE: April 14


Had a good time. I filmed all day in the rain and the womens race was stopped. We waited for the pro race to start and it was pushed back a couple hours and we started imediately after them.

I was literally getting dressed with one hand and filming with the other. So needless to say I had no warm up and our race was cut short to about 35-40 min.

I was mostly trying to warm up the whole time and with two to go I took off by myself for about half a lap. No one went with me, like all the road racing I do, no one ever wants to put themselves out there near the end of a race. I guess people have to conserve to get top 20.

I was caught and ended up 18th or something. Here's some video from Sea Otter.

Report by Damian Gonzalez, Pacific State Bank/Anderson Homes Racing Team

DATE: April 16

Wow, I felt great during this race. I had a feeling it was going to play out well.

I skipped the aid station and later realized I was going to run out of fluids sooner than I thought. This is not how a race should go down. I shouldn't bum sips from other guys and I shouldnt have to beg for a bottle at the neutral feed just to get turned down. I can drink plenty when I have it. I just better not compromise my hydration like that again.

So towards the end of the race I had slipped from like top 5 to 14th. Then, after the race I had an injured knee. Can't say things went the way I planned. It was tough to deal with and had to cancel XTERRA Arizona the following weekend. I got over it and really made me think about all the shortcuts I had tried to make. You end up injured or thirsty.

It was nice to see our old friend Kyle Stock out there who won the expert 30-34's! Congrats!

Damian Gonzalez
Photo by Michael Hernandez © 2007 Safeway Team Cycling

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