Gold Nugget Stage Race - Day 3 - GC Finale

We now return to the third, and final day of the Gold Nugget Stage Race - as we left our racers, Bjorn and Skyler had made significant progress in the GC, and had each won an event in the previous day.

On Sunday morning, we were fortunate to (1) only have to drive about 10 minutes to the race start, and (2) have an 8 AM start time, which meant it was cool.

That was the good news. However the course was fairly tough - a 12-mile loop with almost no flat spots - a lot of rolling riding, and some moderate climbs, particularly the last mile or so which was a long sustained climb along the side of canyon.

The 15-16 group was first out, and had a 3-lap race for 36 miles. I ended up in the follow van, to bring along spare wheels in case of flats. It was interesting to watch the race unfold over the 2 1/2 hours.

Junior 15-16 group at the start.

The Junior 13-14 group headed out a few minutes later, and Skyler and the boys traded lead for the first lap before the race began to break apart.

Junior 13-14 boys at the start.

The 15-16 race started out fairly fast, with the group sticking together, but pushing fairly quickly. They kept together through the first lap, but it was clear that there were going to be breaks coming up. Bob and Spence worked in the front for awhile, to help pace the group and support Bjorn.

Junior 15-16 on lap 1 (that's me in the follow van behind).

At one point in the race, Bjorn had to take a "nature break" off the side of the road - Bob and Spence saw that he'd disappeared off the back, so they quickly moved up front, and slowed down the pack to allow Bjorn time to catch back up to the pack. He was successful and then the pack sped up again.

Lap 2 of the Junior 15-16 group.

On lap 3, the attacks started in earnest. Bjorn took off and solo'd for a few miles, trying to stay away, but Chris Flanagan and Alastair Eckmann, who were both fighting for first place in the GC, wouldn't let that happen. They pushed the group hard and it split apart, into two pieces (Bob, Spence and Dom, who'd been working hard on the front, got popped off the back. Bjorn stayed with the front group).

There was a four-rider chase gruppeto that caught Bjorn, then the five of them hammered out the remaining few miles of the race on lap 3. Moving up the final climb, Chris and Alastair turned it on, and the other three (Bjorn and two others) worked to keep up with them.

In the last kilometer, Bjorn was pushing hard to catch and pass Chris and Alastair, but he'd probably burned too many matches on his solo - they were able to stay away, and the two sprinted for the final. Bjorn rolled in with the other two, and came in with fifth place for the stage, and with Third Place for the GC overall.

Skyler's race was two laps - the pack went out at a mellow pace, and after the first lap, it was down to Skyler, Henry and Ryan, who fought out the last half lap. In the end Skyler powered past the others, held onto a lead and solo'd a few seconds ahead for a First Place on the stage, and another Third Place on the GC.

Skyler finishing the 13-14 race - First Place!

Bjorn sprinting up towards the finish
(he ended up with Fifth Place in the race)

Bob, Spence and Dom rolling into the finish
after their workout as domestiques.

Spence, Bob, Dom and Skyler resting after the finish.

Enjoying the many amenities of the Fox's Sprinter!

Junior 13-14 General Classification:
Skyler with two wins, and Third Overall.

Junior 15-16 General Classification:
Bjorn - Third Place, Bob - Eighth Place, Spence - Ninth Place

Skyler and the other Junior 13-14's on their "podium"

Bjorn, Bob and Spence on the Junior 15-16 "podium"

This was a long (maybe even "epic") weekend of racing, with 94 miles total for the 15-16 racers, and 62 miles for Skyler in the 13-14 class.

The boys performed great, and it was really impressive to watch them work as a team, notably in the road races, where Bob and Spence worked hard for Bjorn. Both Bjorn and Skyler raced across the four stages and really pulled in impressive results, each with two stage wins.

The AC Juniors were the second largest group at this race, and really put on an impressive team effort - it was clearly the result of a lot of work in their training and racing over the past year. It also really showed that their teamwork and friendships helped them persevere against some very strong and determined opponents. This bodes well for the coming seasons for the AC Junior team!