Boler "Mountain" O'Cup

Just recovering from stop #4 in the Ontarion Cup Series... Boler "Mountain" in London.... probably the worst drive in the circuit and possibly the least interesting course. I did well there last year (first win after getting over pneumonia) and i was feeling pretty tired going into it. I was peaking for Hardwood last weekend.. and now i was just trying to hold onto some of that peak for this last race before some rest. Being busy at school and having a sick wife never makes it easier... A few of my bigger competitors were not attending, so as much as i wanted to have an easier race... Andrew Croutch and Jason Everaert decided to show up and make me work. Not a bad thing, but i just had to get my head in the game. Andrew flatted after 2 laps and Jason still doesn't have his race fitness after some knee problems, so i was able to get away on lap #3 and stretch out a gap. Funny story of the race for me... along what may be the least enjoyable section of trail on ANY race course... going along the back rutted, dried out, rough, slightly uphill and dusty straight away.. i was hating it every time. The only good thing about the section was that that finish line was 1km away. And of course Barry Near (sponsor and cycling massochist - he loves to see us suffer) was at the end of this section. Last lap.... coming into this piece i thought to myself "Ok Barnes... just get it done... go hard... stand the whole thing... big gear... impress Barry with a strong finish".... which quickly turned into "OK Barnes... Barry's not here anymore... just sit down and take it easy".... How quickly we lose our momentary enthusiasm. I almost started my recovery week before i crossed the finish line.... So that makes it 4 for 4 with the O'Cups... a good start to the year... but now it's time to build another training block to get ready for Bromont and Nationals.... should be fun.... Congrats to the Trek Store Team.... 1st place for Elite Women (Emily), Elite Men (Adam) and the Old Man Category (me)...Emily has some good pics on her camera.... i'll post the as soon as i get them.