Lap 4: Shortly after the start/ finish I see Stefano making his way back into the pack after fixing his flat. This last lap started off fairly fast and stayed that way till the back side stretch heading towards the KOM hill. I knew being in the front in this section would be critical. Jess R. from Safeway attacks by himself and the pack was content to let him go solo. Alan and I rode pretty much stayed top 10 from here out. Right before the KOM hill Jess is absorbed by the pack. As we crest the KOM hill I was sitting 4 or 5 th place. Before we hit the corner going into the nasty section I found Steve Gregorios wheel with Peter Allen from Safeway at the front driving the pace. I was sure Peter was trying to set up his teammate Gregg Betonte. I look  back and we have a gap on the field. About 100m from the last corner Peter sits up and ask Steve  G. to pull thru but Steve wasn’t having any part of leading anyone out so I also stay on his wheel. After Peter sat up Jonatahn Laine from Safeway jump and leads us out of the last corner with Steve G. on his wheels and I on Steve’s wheel. At around 250m mark is a slight down hill and the last 100m is a slight up hill. Steve wait until we reach the bottom of the hill and he jumps and I’m glue to his wheel. I wait about 2 second and I start my sprint. I pull up next to him and can see I was slowly passing him and with a quick throw of the bike I was able

to hit the finish line first! Thought at the time I really didn’t know I won except that I know it was close and I was carry more speed as we crossed the line then Steve so from that I had high hopes.

 

As I commented before it was more rewarding to see my teammate truly happy for me then I was from actually getting the win. Thanks to my teammate as they continue to push me and more importantly the comraderie and the fellowship of being brothers in Christ!

 

Ted