Race day has arrived!!! Gears 2 a Cure for MS rolled across the start line with vigor as they pushed off on their 3,000+ miles journey to Annapolis. The team packed up, Jeff gave his inspiring pre-race speech, Jill shared her appreciation for us all on behalf of the wives and significant others, Rob added some words of wisdom, Tom shared with the team a box of cards from students to lift our spirits and Eric sent us off with a wonderful prayer of hope. We arrived at our check in plenty early (required to be there 1 hour before race start) and had some time to watch all the 2-person and 4-pereson teams cross the start line.
All 8 of our riders hit the road together as they crossed the start line. The beginning of the race sends the riders on a bike path that cars aren't allowed to travel on, so we jumped ahead to find a good exchange point. 4 riders (the ZZZ team) stopped and made their way back to the RV after about the 7 mile mark. While the Green team continued on the road for their first shift. The first leg of the journey is probably one of the most tiring and treacherous. There is a fairly decent climb which will wear on the riders followed by a 4,000 foot decent called the Glass Elevator. Markus decided to take on the Glass Elevator this year which I'm sure Kurt's wife Joy is very grateful to hear.
Here is where the heat decided to rear it's ugly head. The valley after the glass elevator and low lying area following was physically draining. The temperature reached 113 degrees and the cyclists were doing everything they could to stay hydrated and cool. Thankfully preparations were made, so there was plenty of water and cold towels. Kurt, Clark, Keegan and Markus all did an amazing job of pushing through the sweat and heat to keep a nice steady pace.
The RV had positioned itself in Blythe, CA for our first full team exchange. Fun fact about Blythe, they have a law that states "In Blythe, California, a person must own two cows in order to legally wear cowboy boots in public." Why was that law even made and do they actually police it? The exchange went great and now the ZZZ Team has their first crack at the daunting task ahead.
All 8 of our riders hit the road together as they crossed the start line. The beginning of the race sends the riders on a bike path that cars aren't allowed to travel on, so we jumped ahead to find a good exchange point. 4 riders (the ZZZ team) stopped and made their way back to the RV after about the 7 mile mark. While the Green team continued on the road for their first shift. The first leg of the journey is probably one of the most tiring and treacherous. There is a fairly decent climb which will wear on the riders followed by a 4,000 foot decent called the Glass Elevator. Markus decided to take on the Glass Elevator this year which I'm sure Kurt's wife Joy is very grateful to hear.
Here is where the heat decided to rear it's ugly head. The valley after the glass elevator and low lying area following was physically draining. The temperature reached 113 degrees and the cyclists were doing everything they could to stay hydrated and cool. Thankfully preparations were made, so there was plenty of water and cold towels. Kurt, Clark, Keegan and Markus all did an amazing job of pushing through the sweat and heat to keep a nice steady pace.
The RV had positioned itself in Blythe, CA for our first full team exchange. Fun fact about Blythe, they have a law that states "In Blythe, California, a person must own two cows in order to legally wear cowboy boots in public." Why was that law even made and do they actually police it? The exchange went great and now the ZZZ Team has their first crack at the daunting task ahead.