May 16, 2011 (Wiarton, ON) – Driving a few hours up to Owen Sound way is worth the trip when you have a well-run race like Bike the Bruce to attend. This was my first O-Cup of the year so I was very excited to get back home from the US Crits Speedweek down south and see all my buddies and fellow racers from all of the rival Ontario teams. 

We had a plan to match me up with Jeff Schiller (Garneau-Club Chaussures- Norton) and try to get a break with the two of us in it. I don’t think it was a big surprise to anyone that it didn’t take long for the two of us to find each other in a move.

My Jet Fuel Coffee/LaBicicletta teammates were aggressive from the gun and after a few solids moves off the front a group of five of us did our thing and rode away into the wind. Chris Gruber (Mazur), Derrek Ivey (Mazur), Erik Box ((Nativo/Devinci), Schiller and myself worked very well and had a 4-min gap at the half way point of the first lap.

We continued to work well together until just before one to go when Gruber decided has was going to attack the group. Schiller, Box and I let him dangle as Ivey sat on (the couch) in tow while his teammate went up the road. Schiller and I traded pulls back and forth until Box had enough and slipped off the wheel on the last lap.

With Ivey (last year’s provincial champ) sitting on Schiller and I took hard aggressive pulls to make sure he wasn’t getting the free ride he wanted. Jeff and I worked great together considering we are rivals, but there was no choice… we had too.  But all of the team work between us went bad as soon as we turned on to the final straight into the wind with 1km to go.

Ivey launched and Jeff and I marked each other and just let him go. It was kind-a like a track race from then on… Hoy vs Bos with the window closing on the win and with Gruber 10 seconds up the road and now Ivey TT’ing away to the line we both knew it was now or never. We exchanged words and then Schiller jumps and tries to lose me. I give it everything to catch on to his wheel and then he sits up.  

After a few more heated exchanges I try to drop him up with an attack up the right side of the road. We are closing fast and it looks like there is a tiny chance I can nip them on the line for the win. I peek between my legs and no Schiller. I keep hammering away closing hard on the two Mazur team mates. I take another peek and see his wheel locked on mine.

I knew I was in trouble. With 100 meters to go into a massive head wind Schiller came around me and threw his bike out to steal the win from Gruber and Ivey. It was really close. The only way I knew he had won was when he lifted his arm to celebrate. The pain kicks in and I take 4th knowing I just gift wrapped a win for him. It was a tough loss.

After riding so well to lose it in the last 30 feet is tough. I’m proud of the way I rode and gave myself a chance to win, I don’t have a single excuse…but man is it hard coming 4th!! Still, I really enjoyed myself yesterday.

I think the racing in Ontario is great and I gotta say we have some extremely talented people entering these events. Thanks to everyone who works hard to make these events what they are. Can’t wait to do it all again next weekend.

Full results here.