Hartford ‘Cross race report

A few weeks ago I made a solo trip down to CT for the Hartford ‘Cross race. While the majority of the New England racers were fighting the mud up in Maine, we were basking in the southern New England sunshine with temps in the 50′s. The location of the race was Riverside Park, along the Connecticut river. This was a fun course, with a wicked run-up, a fast section through the woods, and two long, wet, grassy straights that got progressively slower as the race went on. The cat 4 race was 40 minutes, with a field of roughly 40 racers. We started off on a paved section next to a boathouse and hopped a curb leading to the hole shot on the first grassy section. I didn’t have a great start but was in the top half of the field, and as we made our way through the grassy field towards the base of the levee I picked up a few spots. The run-up was a grassy slope to the top of the levee, longer than the run-up at Gloucester but less steep.

Tackling the run-up

At the top we headed across the levee, and then across and down the slope through some off-camber turns. I had a good warm-up and rode three laps of the course, so I knew that when I hit the bottom of the slope I wanted to shift into the big ring for the fast section through the woods.

This was probably the best section of the course, where you could really pick-up speed and make up a few spots. Two tricky turns and we exited the woods, back onto the grassy field heading towards the boathouse. Little ring for this section, then back in the big ring when we hit the pavement that wrapped behind the boathouse. Another dismount and then up a staircase, around some more on the paved paths, then a brief grass section and through a rideable sandbox to begin the loop again.

Heading across the levee

Second time around I was trying to figure out how far back I was from the leaders. On the third lap there was a cheering section along the grass yelling for a guy in front of me, and when we hit the run-up someone yelled out that he could make the podium. This didn’t sound right to me as I thought we were further back in the race. But I worked hard to make up a few spots when we hit the woods, and when we landed on the pavement by the boathouse I took off. Ran the stairs, and headed towards the back end of the park where there was an almost 180 degree turn on the pavement up a little slope. Of course, this is where I crashed, sliding out as I tried to take the corner with speed to go up the little hill. I was in the big ring and when I hopped back on the bike I couldn’t get moving because of the slope, and I foolishly tried to drop the chain to the little ring as guys caught and passed me. Then the lightbulb finally went off and I ran up the slope, remounted, and tried to catch back on. At this point I think I must have been in 12th place or so.

I caught up to the guys who had passed me, and began moving through the group again as we neared the run-up. I saw a small group of riders heading down the slope when we hit the base of the levee, and I thought it might be the front group. Through the woods again, a safer trip through the paved section, and then to the run-up for the final time. If I remember correctly I was in a group of 3 at this point — one of the guys was Lance, the guy with the cheering section (great race Lance!). I had a good run up the hill and a clean remount, then booked it across the levee and down the hill to get some separation before we entered the woods. I think our little group came together again as we neared the end of the wooded section, but frankly I was afraid to look back.

Riverside Park

When we hit the grass for the final time I tried to keep the speed up to stay in front. Just before the jump onto the pavement we approached a rider we were about to lap. For a second I thought of slotting in behind but thankfully I heard that voice saying “no, pass him” and I went by on the inside, rounded the corner and sprinted for the line. It paid off as I ended up in 9th. Great course, great weather, and a good result. I hope to do this one again next year.