Henleyville Road Race Report from Nick F. (2023)

Henleyville Road Race is a wrap! What a great experience. Drove up with Hussein and Zony from Kai Velo - two really great guys with lots of experience and smarts and willing to laugh the whole way - good humor makes such a difference! I raced 50+ 4/5s (six registered). We raced with the 35+ 3/4s and our total field was something just over 20 (I think). The course is essentially flat but there's a very small climb you can attack to make things a little harder for the sprinters. There was lots of wind today and the trick was shifting your position at every turn so that you could stay protected. We gradually shelled guys off the back during these laps as heat and attrition took their toll. Russ (my age group winner) and I realized we had dropped all the other 50s so we stayed in the lead 3/4 group and just hammered to the end. I felt great. At the final 1/4 mile before the uphill sprint finish both my hamstrings suddenly cramped up badly. It cost me the win for sure. Russ was fading too. But hey, that's bike racing. I ended up with second place. Not sure how that sat in the broader field with the 3/4s. This was a very successful race for me. I stayed in the front group the entire time, pulled back some attacks, pulled the group a few times. And had a blast.

Race Report from Nick F.