TEMECULA VALLEY CENTURY RECAP
Our own Jeff Baxter and Ursula Cuneen took the KING AND QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS awards at the TemeculaValley Century (footnote 1).
Jeff took the overall KING OF THE MOUNTAINS and Ursula took first place for winning one of the three KOM competitions. The contest consisted of three timed climbs within the 100 miles. Jeff had the lowest combined time for all three climbs and Ursula placed first or second on all three climbs. For his effort Jeff walked away with at least 3 medals plus a KOM jersey. Ursula won one medal and huge bragging rights. Ursula's results all the more impressive as on climb two she dropped a chain and lost 30-60 seconds jumping off the bike and getting the chain right.
Ride Recap:
Four intrepid NCCCers returned to ride the Temecula Valley Century for it's second year, Ursula, Jeff, Anthony/Bill, and Sean. That may look like five but more on that later. We approached the ride with skepticism as the inaugural event last year was less than perfect with the entire field getting lost except Anthony and Sean due to really bad road markings. This year a huge improvement. The rodas were marked beautifully and brought a tear to my eye. The entire event was first class including the advanced VIP entry, the cost, the start, the sag stops, the jersey, the food and the beer. Please consider joining us next year.
Now onto the recap. As mentioned there were four riders, now stick with me, Bill rode as Anthony because Anthony registered, then came up with some lame excuse about a foot or so of titanium being hammered into his femur and he was not recovered enough to ride. I say suck it up, get your ass on a bike and ride a 100 miles. In any case Anthony's entry was sold, given, auctioned, transferred to Bill who rode as Anthony. So I hope Anthony is happy with Bill's results as his name is stamped all over them. However, as usual with Cy-Bill there is a bit of controversy with his finishing time. Did he really finish, the results do indicate, but I, as a witness can verify that at approximately mile 90 Cy-Bill's rear derailleur exploded in La Cresta. shrapnel flying everywhere, wheels, metal bits, screws scattering the road. Was this a mechanical failure or yet another planned “mechanical failure†to avoid finishing the ride. All I know is the last time I saw Cy-Bill on the course he was in an air-conditioned pick-up truck surrounded by girls heading for the beer tent leaving me to pedal to the finish alone. Again, I let the reader decide..........but the controversy surrounding Cy-Bill is mounting. You cannot ignore the evidence. I will give Cy-Bill props as he tried to ride for about a mile without the derailleur and there was some thought that he could make it, but again.....just part of the act. How convenient a large air-conditioned white pick-up truck happened along only minutes after the explosion. Planned????
Now taking Cy-Bill's failed bike part out of the equation, his results were impressive and as usual beating the crap out of me. His results would have been even better if we could have kept him from the sag stops. This is fair warning for anyone joining Bill on an organized ride, be warned, he LOVES to hang at the sags. And by hang I mean sit, and by sit I mean the man can find a beach chair in a church. No matter where the stop, no matter how the stop Bill would end up lounging in someone's chair. I think at one point he took a nap. And he took full advantage of the food and drink, with the exception of the pulled pork sandwich offered at one of the sag stops.
Let me break and publicly thank Ursula, Jeff, and Bill for pulling me, pushing me, shaming me, waiting for me and encouraging me to to finish. I would not have made it without their support and they were kind to wait and wait for me. Thanks.
Back to the recap.......overall it was a great event. Good organization, great roads, great sag stops and a fun finishing event.
Footnote 1: they could not have done it with out their domestique and super domestique Sean and Bill. Ursula was ordering Bill and I around demanding water bottles, food and unusually large foot massages. OK not really but it sounds good.
Note photos.........The King and the queen in all their glory and Jeff letting the second place finisher know who won:)
Hail Ursela full of grace .... Jeff is with thee...Congradulations! U 2 are "representin"!!!!An honor to be in your court...
Congratulations to both of you!!!!
Very well done.
Sounds like an awesome ride.