Colavita Southwest Cycling Team Blog

I’m a little behind in my reports..

but first, I’m in second in the NMCX series (travis has more races than me) and first in the FCCX series. I am not going to do the NM series and instead go for the win in the FCCX series. But I’m considering going to Castle Rock to do the CO State CX champs, in 45+. I won’t be able to win the jersey as I’m not ACA but I’ll give it a go.

cheers tino

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Race report:

Dec 4 Cortez, CO A35+

Cold and some snow on the course. A BMX track, and a short soft dirt run up. Lots of grass, a pond, a sand volleyball court. The make up for the course. Our race started off pretty fast, by the second lap I got a gap with Michael Carroll, but a stupid crash by me messed up MC’s bike, I waited a bit, and he had to run. I rode the rest of the race solo with no further incidents, and finished first.

Dec 10 ABQ 40+

Fun sandy and flat course around Polk Elementary School. The best feature was an off-camber loose dirt section which initially had to be run, but eventually was ridable. After 2 laps with a couple of guys, I put the hammer down for the solo win, my sixth of seven races. I’m second overall in the series after missing two races in Las Cruces and El Paso, TX.

Open ABQ SM123

The usual cast of characters, including me, broke from the rest of the field in the first lap of the hour long race. I was a bit tired from my first race and began to fade after 5 or so laps, clinging to 5th. A puncture put one of the riders in front of me out of contention and I held on for fourth. I think I’ll be sixth overall in the SM123 race.

Dec 11 Aztec NM.

A return to course at Riverside Park, including a BMX track, some tight trees, a beach ride, some sidewalks and slippery leaves. A pretty fast start put me sitting comfortably in the fourth position for the first couple of laps. A surge on the second lap put me in 3rd, a rider in front crashed in the BMX track and I was sitting second. I attacked and held on to first with one chaser for two or three laps. I waited and sat in for a couple of laps leading up to the finish. A missed gear change was all the impetus I needed to go hard once again, finishing first. I now hold the lead in the 35+ FCCX series and will finish it up in Durango, on Dec 18.

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Report on Nov 19 Night CX#8 in ABQ.

Short circuit night race at SY Jackson Elementary School, lots of twists and turns, through a playground with wood chips under the swings, curb hops, two sets of stairs, sand, off camber, you name it.

Cat3/MastersM/MasW/open: Last race of the night. Got a good start and was off the front from the second lap. The biggest surprise was the sprinklers came on, making parts of the dry course a little wet. Buckets were put over the sprinklers, but some enterprising kids decided to direct the water onto the racers as they came by. I as able to relax in the last couple of laps, practiced some runs through the sand pit, and had fun dodging the sprinklers.

C123: Not the last race of the night, for a change. A group of five of us were able to get a gap within the first couple of laps. And three of us were fighting for second-5th place for quite a few laps. A mis-dismount on the second set of stairs, when I was third, let the 4th place rider by me. I was able to hold on for 4th.

I continue to hold on to 1st in the 40+ series and am now 8th in the 123 series.

Cheers, Tino

Saturday, the wintry CX race in Dolores, I place 2nd in the 35A race. Sorry you missed it, muddy and slippery, but it was cool, everyone crashed multiple times.

Sunday, Sunnislope CX in The Q (ABQ). I won the Cat 3/30+/40+/50+/W123 race outright, by a minute or so. so also won the 40+ race. It was dry and relatively warm, sandy, and fast. I took off solo after using the 1st lap to warm up. Al crashed in the opening couple hundred meters coming out of an arroyo. But finished strong in the 3rd overall (2nd 40+).

Cheers,

TINO SONORA

ABQs race was 65 degrees and felt HOT to Tino and Keith who went down from the cold four corners. A beautiful day at Vietnam Veterans park for Veterans Day. The DASH people set up another interesting course. Tino rode away from the Masters field in the morning for the win, and then was top 5 in the Pro, 1,2,3 race. Keith showed up for the P,1,23, race and suffered, as usual!

The Four Corners series #3 was held at the Durango Fairgrounds. It was supposd to be a night race, but the expense of turning the lights on was too much, so Dave Hagen bumped it earlier to 3 and 4 pm. Good thing too, because it was raining all day, and there was a bitter cold breeze across the course. James Rowan, Tino, and Keith raced the A race (Pro, 1,2,3, Masters 35+). We are still waiting on the official results, but Tino looked well placed, James was in the first half, and Keith just suffered at the back. Fotunately the drizzle rain had stopped in time for the A race, and racers didn’t get as wet as the B race tha was earlier. The longish course was quite creative, with loose pebble rock streches, cement stairways, switchback handicap ramps, fast but sketchy dirt radius, and lots of twisty smooth grass. Lots of spectators also.

www.nmcross.com