Primavera I & II at Lago Vista

By Alex Vasquez

March 3 & 4, 2007 -- The corners are not very sharp and with a very short circuit the tempo would be high at all times. The course is actually through a subdivision and the officials and volunteers (and deer) did a great job of keeping everyone safe and rolling. It was the usual suspects representing Team Tilson Homes in the 80 plus P12 field; Greg, Koob Jimmy and myself healthy, accounted for and ready to race. We had the team Lexus and had the luxury of staying with Bill and Beverly in their lovely home overlooking Lake Travis. There girls were also present Mia, Tina and Laura (Koob’s Wife) for the Tilson support zone…I can still hear the cheers. The National Pro teams were well represented (Slipstream, Mercy, VMG) which brought the intensity up a couple of notches, the weather was great, the crew was intact so let’s get to the racing!!

Day 1
The plan was to get Jimmy in a break and keep me safe and intact for the field sprint. Koob and Greg kept me fueled and out of danger while Jimmy was in the front dishing out the pain. Jimmy instigated a couple of breaks but the one that stuck got away with out us. It was Wenger (Health Coach), Stefan (Mercy) McCarty (Slipstream) Scottie (GS Tenzing) and a Zach (VMG). As the race progressed we had even bigger misfortunes
First: Jimmy had a mechanical that sidelined him from finishing the race.
Second: To a greater demise Koob and Will took a bad spill on one of the fastest decent on the course. They had to be going 35mph when they went down. The crash happened 10 ft in front of me and my brain saw it in slow-mo but I could not tell you what happen. But Thankfully Koob was o.k. and back on the trainer the next day and with no major injuries just some major road rash and a much bruised hip.
So: It was just me in the pack so I decided to just keep safe and rested and would try my tactics at a field sprint. Another break got away but I stuck to the plan and saved my efforts for the last lap. There were several attacks so getting yourself on a good position was luck. I was in front going up the last hill and decided to punch it. I got a small gap but someone put something in my spokes or let the air out of my tires because I could not move another inch up that hill. The field swallowed me up and got 34th. Lessoned learned.

Day 2
The Plan was to have fun and try to get in a break because as yesterday showed a break was going to win today with new riders with fresh legs and a slightly shorter circuit it was going to be fast. The big dogs went from the gun attacking left and right. With Koob out Jimmy, Greg and I tried to represent in a break but it got away early and without us again but we were aggressive. Jimmy went down on the top corner taking him out in a race (but also escaped major injuries) and Greg was spent from bridging me up to a break (Thanks again Pauer). So it was just me again but my legs felt great, I was climbing well so I was trying to make something happen in the field sprint. I knew how to time it the sprint this time. I found cover till the last hill and jumped behind Mercy Sprinter Jason Macom and took the field sprint for 21st. Small victory I know ...but with the weekend mishaps I will take it because that’s bike racing!

I was proud to hear the boys talk about the weeks to come rather than get hung up on what derailed us this weekend. We have a lot more racing to do this year a ways to go before we hit any NRC’s. Thanks to Bill, Bev and Kujo for their hospitality,

Laura, Tina and Mia for making the long trip for much needed support. Jimmy and Koob are healing well and back on the bikes.